1. POLITICAL PARTIES Chapter 7
AP GOVERNMENT
POLITICAL PARTIES
Chapter 7

2. What is a political party?
A group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office

3. Two Major Political Parties:
Republican
Democrat

4. What do political parties do?
Connect citizens to their government
Linkage institution
Increases political efficacy

5. Running members for office
Nominating the party’s candidate

6. 3. Unify the Electorate
Moderate Conflict by bringing together different viewpoints under one party
Extreme Conservative
Extreme Liberal

7. 4. Help Organize Government
Not as cohesive or “vital” in the US as in Europe
CONGRESS-Chamber officers and committees are usually majority party members
Same with state leg except Nebraska

8. 5. Enact policies and implement campaign promises (effectively changing government with legislation)
No guarantee that candidates will follow party platform
Soft Money usually means candidates follow party platform

9. 6. Provide opposition to the party that controls the White House or Congress
Honeymoon period

10. Inform the public of the party’s policies
Convey an image to get the electorate to support their side
8. Raise Money!

11. Party Column Ballot Office Block Ballot Know the following terms:
Favors Straight Ticket Voting
Office Block Ballot
Nonpartisan

12. How do parties nominate a candidate?
Caucus - closed meeting to pick candidate
Party convention - candidates chosen by party members
Direct primary - elections to determine candidates (mostly used today!)

13. Different types of Primaries:
Open Primaries - any voter can participate in elections (no matter the party affiliation)
Crossover voting
Closed Primaries - only voters registered as that party can vote

14. Party System Know the following terms: Two-party system
Multiparty system
Presidential system
Parliamentary system
Coalition gov’t
Proportional representation
Winner-take-all system

15. Minor Parties Third parties Grouped by ideology
Examples: Bull Moose Party, American Independent Party, Reform Party, Green Party