Based on self-identification with a certain party.
What is party membership?
100
It supported a strong national government and dominated the U.S. government until the 1800 election.
What is the Federalist Party?
100
Political realignment that formed basis for long-lasting Democratic majority. Included majority of blacks, Jews, Catholics, labor unions, and women.
What is the New Deal Coalition?
100
Sharp changes in the existing patterns of party loyalty due to changing social and economic conditions.
What is critical election?
100
Ideology-base parties
Splinter parties resulting from splits of national parties
Parties based on a single issue
Parties form as a means for protest
What are types of third parties in the United States?
200
A person who is not a member of any political party.
What is an independent?
200
Formed by Jefferson to challenge the Federalists. Dominated the U.S. government from 1800 up to the Civil War (1860).
What is the Democratic Party (pre-Civil War)?
200
Democratic and Republican Parties vie for power, with control often shifting. Characterizes U.S. government since 1968, with no dominant political party.
What is divided government?
200
Party loyalty becomes less important to voters and they vote for the other party candidates or independents.
What is dealigning election?
200
Third parties based on a particular ideology, such as the Communist Party, the Socialist Party, and the Libertarian Party.
What are ideological parties?
300
Family tradition
Political ideology (liberal or conservative)
What are influences on party membership?
300
The leading opposition party challenging the Democratic Party, but disbanded in the political realignment before the Civil War.
What is the Whig Party?
300
Condition in which there is no dominant party and both parties have power to block the changes sought by the other. Result of divided government and party majorities in Senate generally not large enough to end filibusters.
What is gridlock?
300
A two-party system often produces these, however they have difficulty wining elections and are often short-lived.
What are third parties?
300
Third parties formed as a result of a split in one of the two major parties. Usually formed for a particular election campaign and seldom last longer.
What are splinter parties?
400
These are not mentioned in the Constitution and George Washington warned of their dangers.
What are political parties?
400
Rose to prominence under Lincoln and dominated politics between 1860 and 1932.
What is the Republic Party?
400
Democratic shift in voting patterns as a new political party coalition is formed. Often results in replacement of dominant party and a new political era.
What is electoral realignment?
400
These parties have been instrumental in producing new ideas and reforms. Success brings them to an end as major parties adopt their most popular ideas.
What are third party contributions to U.S. politics?
400
Bull Moose Party: Founded by Theodore Roosevelt after failing to win the Republican nomination in 1912.
States' Rights Party: Founded by Strom Thurmond after failing to win the Democratic nomination in 1948.
What are examples of splinter parties?
500
They arose out of debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists over ratification of the Constitution.
What are political parties?
500
Main opposition party from the Civil War until the Great Depression, and the dominant party from 1932 until 1968.
What is the Democratic Party (post-Civil War)?
500
Used to describe the decline in numbers of voters identifying with any political party.
What is electoral dealignment?
500
These parties seldom win elections, but often affect outcomes by siphoning off votes from one candidate.
What is the third party role as "spoiler"?
500
Act of the legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them without benefit of trial. State and federal governments prohibited from making such laws by the Constitution (Article I, Section 9).