Political parties

How often does the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee meet?

Twice a year

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What are the purpose of committees found in both houses of Congress for each party?

Oversee policy making and campaigning

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When is the power of the state parties seen?

Election time in the process of selecting candidates for elections to Congress

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In the 2010 Republican primary in Deleware, moderate Mike Castle was defeated by conservative Christine O'Donnell because of what state party support?

Tea Party

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What are the 4 types of Democrats?

New, conservative, liberal, moderate

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What are the 4 types of Republican?

Moderate, conservative, Christian conservative, compassionate conservative

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What has caused the break up of the Solid South and their association with the Democrats?

Widen the differences between the two major parties and lessen them within, cause both parties to become more ideologically cohesive, increase partisanship in Congress

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What are the key features of the Republicans?

Male, white, Protestant, wealthy, rural, Southern or Midwestern, conservative

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What are the factors leading to an increase in partisanship?

Shift of southern conservative Democrats to the Republican Party, end of the Cold War consensus in foreign policy, polarising presidents (Obama, Bush, Clinton), effect of new media

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What is a liberal view?

One that seeks to change the political, economic and social status quo in favour of the well-being, rights and liberties of the individual, especially those who are disadvantaged

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What is a conservative view?

One that seeks to defend the political, economic and social status quo, and therefore tends to oppose changes in the institutions and structures of society

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What is a two party system?

A party system in which two major parties regularly win the vast majority of votes in general elections, regularly capture nearly all the seats in the legislature and alternately control the executive branch of government

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Evidence the US has a two-party system?

Every president since 1856 has been either R or D, since 1916 the combined D and R vote exceeds 80%, 1984 99% of the vote went to R or D, 2013 48/50 senators were either R or D, 2013 all members of the House were R or D, 49/50 state governors R or D

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What are the 2 main reasons why there is a two-party system?

FPTP winner takes all system, all embracing nature of the two parties allows little room for third parties

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What are the other analysis's of the party system?

50-party system, one party system, no-party system

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What are the theories for party decline?

Parties have lost control over presidential candidate selection, new media replaced party rallies as the way candidates communicate with voters, campaigns more candidate focused or issue focused, emergence in movements like Tea Party and Occupy

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What are the theories for party renewal?

Party decline is exaggerated (all presidents still R or D), parties have regained control over candidate selections (super delegates in 1984 - helped Obama in 2008), nationalising campaigns, increased level of partisanship (2010 no R voted for health

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What are the different kinds of Third parties?

National (Green Party), regional (George Wallace's American Independent Party 1968), state (New York Conservative Party), permanent (Green), temporary (Reform Party), issue based (Green), Ideological (Constitution Party)

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Who was the last third-party candidate to gain any Electoral College votes?

Ross Perot 1968 - 46

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What are the obstacles third parties face?

Electoral system (1992 Perot got 19% but no ECVs), federal campaign finance laws (need at least 5% of the popular vote - Perot did not qualify in 1992), state ballot access laws (Areas like Montana need 5% of all registered voters), lack of resources

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Pt 2

Lack of media coverage, lack of well-known, well-qualified candidates, regarded as too ideological (Constitution Party), tactics of the two major parties (1992 Clinton spoke about the deficit after Perot gained support for doing it first)

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When was the Tea Party created?

2009

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Why was the Tea Party created?

Opposition to Obama's economic stimulus package

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What are the Tea Parties key beliefs?

Strict adherence to the Constitution, limited government, reducing the size and scope of the federal government, reducing spending and taxation, reducing the national debt and federal budget deficit

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Political parties

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