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AP Government Unit 7 Flashcards

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9596613485political partya group of people who seek to control the government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office0
9596613486particular party takes a stand on an issue and then try to ...criticize the views of the opposing party1
9596613487partisanshipgoverning based on party support and policy2
9596613488party in powerthe party who currently holds office3
9596613489party out of power acts as political ..."watchdog"4
9596613490party-in-the-electoratemembers of the general public who identify with a political party or who express a preference for one party over another5
9596613491party preference resembles ...a favortie sports team6
9596613492party organizationthe formal structure and the leadership of a political party; this includes election committees, local, state, and nation executives, and a paid professional staff7
9596613493national conventiona meeting held every four years by a major party to select presidential and vice-presidential candidates; also writes a platform, choose a committee, and conducts party business8
9596613494platforma party's stance on key issues9
9596613495patronagerewarding faithful party workers and followers with government employment and contracts (giving "friends" jobs)10
9596613496party-in-governmentall of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a political party11
9596613497divided governmenta situation in which one major party controls the presidency and the other controls Congress12
9596613498Beginnings of Political PartiesFeds and Anti-Feds were the 1st parties during the Constitutional era 1790s- Feds believed in commercial interest and a strong national government (included Washington, John Adams, and Hamilton) 1800 - Jefferson and Democratic Republicans emerge Election of 1800 sees 1st time we have a peaceful transfer of power; feds faded from power; DRs dominate13
9596613499Return of the Two Party System1824- DRs split into 2 groups bc the followers of Jackson started their own party and called it the democrats Jacksonian Democrats achieve success due to involving common citizens in the political process (populism) Republicans took name "Whigs" for a while (they were Anti-Jackson)14
9596613500Civil War Era (1840s-1890s)whigs united with anti-slavery Democrats and become the Republicans Reps believed government should promote business and the economy ("Wave the bloody shirt" idea) Dems became the party of the white South15
9596613501Republicans Divide and Democratic DominanceElection of 1912: Rep party split btw Roosevelt and Taft; allowed Wilson (Dem) to be elected; important bc before it was only Reps that wanted changes in economy Wilson becomes new Dem; which is one who is for government action in economy New Deal (1932) coalition - began under FDR; he was able to bring different groups of people together to vote for him because of the GD; managed to unite AF Ams and southern whites no party has dominated since 196816
9596613502Modern Erateh presidency and Congress have only been controlled by the same party about 1/3 of time America prefer balance? BREAKING TRENDS: 1st Af Am Pres, 1st female presidential candidate from major party, 1st Pres that used celebrity status to help get elected and had no previous political experience17
9596613503Traditional Democratswomen, Af Ams, hispnaics, Asians, people making less than $75,000 a year, unemployed people, single people, and Urban people18
9596613504Traditional Republicanswhite men, people making over $75,000 a year, married people, rural people19
9596613505Issues Democrats focus onhealth care, environment, bigger government, social welfare, higher taxes for wealthy, education, social issues (minority and gay rights)20
9596613506Issues Republicans focus onsmaller government, helping business, gun ownership, federal deficit (national debt), fighting terrorism, and reforming immigration21
9596613507Why has the two party system endured?It's in both the Reps and Dems best interest to keep two parties; they've lasted because of their moderation (lack of radical ideas)22
9596613508electoral collegea group of electors indirectly picked by the voters who officially elect the president and vice-president23
9596613509ideological partybased on a particular set of beliefs such as social, economic, and political matters EX// LIbertarian (individualism), Green (environment)24
9596613510splinter partiessplit away from major parties EX/ Past- Bull Moose (1912), Present- Green Party (environmental, economy)25
9596613511Importance of minor partiesplay the "spoiler" role (pull away votes from a major party) and bring up major issues to public's attention26
9596613512dealignmenta decline in party loyalties that reduce long-term party commitment27
9596613513party identificationlinking oneself to a particular political party28
9596613514straight-ticket votingvoting exclusively for one party29
9596613515swing votersvoters who frequently change their support from one party to another30
9596613516tippinga phenomenon that occurs when a group that is increasing in numbers over time grows large enough to change the political balance in a district, state, or country EX//CA31
9596613517Republican strategists believed that rising Hispanic and Af Am populations in the U.S. spelled trouble for ...the Republican Party32
9596613518Requirements for President35 years old natural born citizen live in U.S. 14 years33
9596613519Requirements for Senate30 years old U.S. citizen for 9 years resident of state he/she represents34
9596613520Requirements for House25 years old U.S. citizen for 7 years resident of state he/she represents35
959661352121st Century Campaigns are centered on ...the candidate, not the party (probably because of TV, internet, changes in campaign funding, and other changes designed to reach potential voters)36
959661352221st century candidates must ...have organization raise significant funds obtain coverage from the media produce and pay for advertising, social media, and website convey positions on key issues conduct research on opposing candidates get voters to the polls37
9596613523political consultanta paid professional hired to devise a campaign strategy and manage the campaign38
9596613524finance chairpersona campaign professional who directs fundraising, campaign spending, and compliance with campaign finance laws39
9596613525pollstera person or firm who conducts public opinion polls for the campaign40
9596613526communications directora professional specialist who plans the communication strategy and advertising campaign for the candidate41
9596613527press secretaryan individual who interacts directly with the journalist covering the campaign42
9596613528"Get Out the Vote"an idea that describes the multiple efforts expended by campaigns to get voters out to the polls on election day43
9596613529tracking pollsa poll taken for the candidate on a nearly daily basis as election day approaches44
9596613530focus groupa small group of individuals who are led in a discussion by a professional consultant in order to gather opinions on and responses to candidates and issues45
9596613531hard moneypolitical contributions and campaign spending that is recorded under the regulations set forth in law and by the FEC46
9596613532PAC (Political Action Committee)a committee set up by and representing a corporation, labor union, or special interest group, they give and raise money to campaigns47
9596613533presidential primariesa state wide primary election of delegates to a political parties national convention; these are held to determine a party's presidential nominee48
9596613534front runnera presidential candidate who appears to be ahead at a given time in the primary season49
9596613535front loadingthe practice of moving presidential primaries to the early part of the campaign to maximize the impact of these primaries on the nomination50
9596613536keynote addressspeech given by a party well-known that sets the tone for the convention and the campaign to come51
9596613537battleground statea state likely to be so closely fought that the campaigns devote great effort to win the popular and electoral vote there52
9596613538most common battleground statesFlorida, Ohio, and Michigan53
9596613539voter turnoutthe percentage of citizens taking part in the election process or the number of eligible voters who actually turnout on election day to vote54
9596613540General thoughts on who votesmore education a person has, the more likely they are to vote wealthy people vote more competitive states have higher voter turnout55
9596613541rational ignorance effectwhen people purposely and rationally decide not to become informed on an issue because they believe that their vote on the issue is not likely to be a deciding one56
9596613542caucusa meeting of party members designed to select a candidate57
9596613543closed primarya type of primary in which the voter is limited to choosing candidates of the party in which he/she is a member EX// Illinois58
9596613544open primarya primary in which any registered voter can vote but must vote for candidates of only one party59
9596613545Australian ballota secret ballot distributed and tabulated by the government60
9596613546office-block ballotorganizes candidates for office into groups under the title of the office; aka Massachusetts ballot EX//St Clair county61
9596613547party-column ballotorganizes candidates in columns under party; emphasizes voting based on party62
9596613548presidential electorsa person elected by the voters to represent them in the election and vice president63
9596613549electoral votesvotes cast by electors in Electoral College64
9596613550Electoral College flawspopular vote winner is not guaranteed presidency electors not required to vote in accord with popular vote any election might be decided in House of Reps65
9596613551Electoral College ReformsDistrict plan and direct popular election66
9596613552district plancalls for electoral votes to be distributed based on congressional districts67
9596613553gerrymanderingredrawing of districts to suit party reelection68
9596613554direct popular electionwhen people straight vote for the president69
9596613555problems with direct popular electionneed a constitutional amendments to change this (which happens very slowly) smaller states would decrease even more in importance probably will never get approved (little states would never propose or ratify it)70

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