Exam 3

Political organization whose major purpose is to get candidates elected.

Interest groups - what they believe, more narrowly focused, pay membership fee

Organization - people that work or volunteer for party Party in Government - Elected to government Party in Electorate - Group of citizens who identify with a specific political party.

Organize Elections Candidate Recruitment/Nomination - looking for candidates Campaign Resources Voter Registration Voter Mobilization Propose government programs/policies (Party websites) Coordinate Efforts of Gov Officials

Historically, US has always been a two party system

Winner-Takes-All, single member districts, system discourages third party

State and Federal election law favor two major parties

Drawing district lines for political gains

Periods in which the names of the major political parties, their supporters, and the issues dividing them have remained stable.

A change in the size or composition of the party coalitions or in the nature of the issues that divide the parties. Realignments typically occur within an election cycle or two, but they can also occur gradually over the course of a decade or longer.

Parties are central to our electoral system. It is difficult to get elected without the support of a major political party in the US. Candidate Centered Politics Greater reliance on mass media Candidates can go straight to media

Spoils (patronage) system is replaced by merit system for government hiring. Increased Reliance on Primary Elections Parties used to pick candidates through nominating conventions Now, general public picks candidates

Party Column Ballot -> Office Bloc Ballot

Rise in Interest Groups/PACs (Political Action Committee) Candidates receive money from PACs Groups can help mobilize voters

Even split b/w Democrats and Republics in US Many independent “leaners” act like partisans “Split-ticket” voting

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Groups that identify with a political party, usually described in demographic terms such as Black Democrats or evangelical Republicans

The modern Congress is polarized It can be difficult to get things done Particularly, in divided government

Paradox: More individuals are acting loyal to one party at the same time party ID is lower than in the past Fear/Hate of the “other” party

For most of 20th Century Democratic held a fairly substantial edge in state and local politics Democratic Party ID more common in the public Over time Republicans have become much more powerful in the South Party Realignment: More conservative southern democrats have joined republican party Party Competition varies from state to state Ideology of political parties differs from state to state

Actions of Citizens Seek to influence government and politics

Electoral Activities - Anything involving elections Non-Electoral Activities - Interest groups, protests, ect

Time through research voting time off work Gas

The probability of you being the deciding vote Altruistic benefit, having the right to choose, minimize regret