Party Purposes & Systems
American Political Parties
Third Parties
Party Organization
The Nomination Process
100
the term for political offices or favors given to loyal party members
What is "patronage"?
100
Which current party is older--the Democrats or the Republicans?
What are the "Democrats?"
100
third party that forms around a particular social or economic concern that voters feel is not being addressed by the two major parties
What is a "single-issue third party"?
100
the most basic unit of party organization is the...
What is "precinct"?
100
the most common method states use for determining which candidates to nominate for different political offices
What is a "direct primary"?
200
party system common in autocracies and theocracies
What is a "one-party system"?
200
Of the two parties that first came into existence in American politics, the one that favored a stronger federal government.
Who are the "Federalists"?
200
third party type exemplified by the Bull Moose Progressive Party that formed to support Teddy Roosevelt's bid for president in 1912
What is a "splinter-party"?
200
the most important part of each state's political organization
What is the "state central committee"?
200
of the different types of primaries, the one that restricts voting to party members
What is a "closed primary"?
300
in a two-party system, the party that is out of power at any given time serves as a ___________________, ensuring that the party currently in power does not abuse its privilege or ignore the concerns of the people
What is a "watchdog" or "loyal opposition"?
300
Most important early leader of the "Democratic-Republicans"?
Who is "Thomas Jefferson'?
300
Which tends to have a briefer life-span--an ideological third party or a splinter third-party?
What is a "splinter third-party"?
300
of the two parts to a national political party, the one that operates even in non-election years
What is the "national committee"?
300
the oldest method of nominating a party's candidates
What is a "caucus" or a "Congressional caucus"?
400
party system at work in many European nations--such as France or England--where unstable coalition governments often form and dissipate quickly
What is a "multi-party system"?
400
President responsible for forming the Democratic Party.
Who is "Andrew Jackson"?
400
Major parties gain automatic access to this, but third party candidates must obtain petition signatures to gain access to it in most states.
What is the "election ballot"?
400
TRUE or FALSE: All of the efforts of a state central committee--raising money, providing aid to local party offices, coordinating the efforts of local parties--are aimed at achieving the election goals that the national party organization sets for the state.
What is "FALSE" -- The national party organization has no authority to "set goals" that the state party organization must follow. The state parties set their own goals.
400
a committee at a national convention that must negotiate the differences between different factions within the party to produce agreements on policy issues in order to present a united front during an election; if this committee fails to do this, a party can become so divided that it falls apart
What is the "platform committee"?
500
A key purpose of political parties in our system, it encapsulates the idea that the existence political parties dramatically simplifies the decision voters must make during an election.
What is "Educating the Public"?
500
Event that ended the era of Republican political dominance.
What is the "Great Depression"?
500
When a third-party that is more liberal than the Democratic party enters an election race, what effect is most likely? --a) the Democratic candidate will drop out of the race; b) the Democratic candidate will become more liberal in his views; or c) the Democratic candidate will become more conservative in his views
What is "b) the Democratic candidate will become more liberal in his views"?
500
When a state governor or U.S. senator needs recommendations for judges or administrative officials, they will often seek advice from a local party official. Which one?
What is a "county chairperson"?
500
Critics of the current presidential nomination process often point out how much undue influence states with early primaries seem to have. The biggest problem this presents for candidates is...a) the fact that earlier primary voters will be more informed about their positions on important issues; b) the fact that states with early primaries will not guarantee a candidate delegates even if they win the primary election; c) the fact that poor showings in early primary elections will make it more difficult to raise money or earn votes in later elections
What is "c) the fact that poor results in the initial primaries can hurt candidates chances of winning in later elections"?
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