Political Parties Review

1. Political PartiesReview American Government Mr. Bordelon

2. Vocabulary • Multiparty • Minor party • Split-ticket voting • One-party system • Consensus • Splinter parties • Two-party system • Economic protest party • ward • Major parties • Partisanship • Bipartisan • Plurality • Coalition • Incumbent • Ideological party • Single-issue party • precinct

3. True/False • A plurality is more than half the votes cast.

4. True/False • A plurality is more than half the votes cast. • False. A plurality is the largest number of votes cast.

5. True/False • A ward is a unit into which cities are often divided for the election of city council members.

6. True/False • A ward is a unit into which cities are often divided for the election of city council members. • True.

7. True/False • An ideological party arises over a particular issue or crisis and soon fades away.

8. True/False • An ideological party arises over a particular issue or crisis and soon fades away. • False; this would be typically an economic protest party.

9. True/False • Partisanship means membership in one of the major parties.

10. True/False • Partisanship means membership in one of the major parties. • False; partisanship means firm allegiance to a party.

11. Main Idea • What is the major function of a political party?

12. Main Idea • What is the major function of a political party? • To control government by winning elections and holding public office.

13. Main Idea • What are the two major parties in the United States?

14. Main Idea • What are the two major parties in the United States? • Democrats and Republicans.

15. Main Idea • In what two ways does the American electoral system tend to promote a two-party system?

16. Main Idea • In what two ways does the American electoral system tend to promote a two-party system? • Single-member district systems discourage minor parties, and election laws have been deliberately written to discourage non-major candidates.

17. Main Idea • How can the diversity of views represented in a multiparty system be seen as both a strength and a weakness?

18. Main Idea • How can the diversity of views represented in a multiparty system be seen as both a strength and a weakness? • It is a strength because it gives voters more choices and more broadly represents the electorate, and a weakness because it leads to instability in government.

19. Main Idea • Which political party was the first appear in the United States? Who was its leader and what type of government did it favor?

20. Main Idea • Which political party was the first appear in the United States? Who was its leader and what type of government did it favor? • Federalist Party • Alexander Hamilton, favored a strong central government.

21. Main Idea • What unusual feature characterizes the present era of American two-party history?

22. Main Idea • What unusual feature characterizes the present era of American two-party history? • Divided government, where one party controls the White House, and the other, Congress.

23. Main Idea • Briefly describe the four major types of minor parties.

24. Main Idea • Briefly describe the four major types of minor parties. • Ideological parties are based on a particular set of beliefs. • Single-issue parties concentrate on one public policy issue. • Economic protest parties express general discontent with the ruling party. • Splinter parties have split from one of the major parties.

25. Main Idea • What are the most important roles of minor parties? Explain.

26. Main Idea • What are the most important roles of minor parties? • Critic and spoiler.

27. Main Idea • Why is the party is in power more cohesive than the opposition party?

28. Main Idea • Why is the party is in power more cohesive than the opposition party? • It has a strong party leader (the President) with leadership tools that bring about cooperation and cohesion.