1. Chapter 11 Parties

2.  A group of officials (or those who want to be leaders) who are linked with a sizable group of citizens into an organized group  A primary goal of a party is to ensure that its officials keep or attain power (this is what makes a party different from an interest group)  Versatile tool for communication and power Political Party

3.  Developed for self-serving purposes  Parties first developed in United States (Jefferson and Hamilton)  By 1820s parties in US were well-organized  US has weak two party system  Most other states have a multi-party system Origins of the Modern Party

4.  Parties can organize and mobilize people for special purposes and to meet crises (example: an assassination)  Party can also mobilize against a totalitarian regime Parties and Mobilization

5.  Main goal is to have power  Seek people to run for office  One party states are different Political Parties

6.  Party identification: a political science term used to describe a voter’s underlying allegiance to a specific political party.  Term first used in US in 1950s  Term used less now because of party weakening, realignment, changes in party allegiances among peopel Party Identification

7.  Provide support and control of officials or candidates  Some states have formal organizations while others are informally organized  Party is a supporting structures Party Organization

8.  One of party’s primary jobs is to raise money for elections  Money can come from: 1.Public Finance (states pay part) 2.Individuals 3.Bribes and kickbacks 4.Interest-group donations 5.Profits from business enterprises 6.Subsidies from foreign countries Party Finance

9.  Party System: Set of all parties  Political scientists distinguish party systems by the number and size of the parties in a system Political Party Systems

10.  Only a single party is allowed to be active  Example: former Communist Russia  Government enforces rule that no other party may exist  The one-party focuses on mobilization, communication & control One-Party System

11.  Similar to one-party system b/c only one party holds power all the time  Differs in that other political parties are allowed to function openly and with reasonable effectiveness  Example: Mexican government  Alternative parties provide basis for criticism so tolerance thereof varies Dominant-Party System

12.  Offer more regular variety and choices of candidates with two dominant political parties  A single party usually wins the election  Other parties can exist  Example: United States has a weak two-party system Two-party System

13.  Consists of more than two major parties  Most democratic systems; depends on electoral system  Most of time, multiparty systems require party coalitions to make majority decisions Multiparty System