AP Government

Fork

Wilson: Chapter 9 Reading Guide and Vocabulary

Directions: While reading the assigned chapter, write notes under each subsection as well as answering questions when prompted. At the end of the reading guide is the vocabulary for the chapter, which you will need to write on separate index cards.

Political Parties:
Parties Here and Abroad:

o A party is a group that seeks to elect candidates to public office by supplying them with a label. o Reasons for differences from European parties 1. Federal system decentralizes power 2. Parties closely regulated by state and federal laws 3. Candidates chosen through primaries, not by party leaders 4. President elected separately from Congress 5. Political culture
The Rise and Decline of the Political Party: The Founding:

o Founders' dislike of factions o Federalists vs. AntiFederalists

Jacksonians:

o Political participation a mass phenomenon o More voters to reach

The Civil War and Sectionalism:

o Jacksonian system unable to survive slavery issue o New Republicans become dominant Because of victory of Union side.
The Era of Reform: o More so of:

1. 2. 3. 4.

Primary elections Nonpartisan elections No party-business alliances Strict voter registration requirements

Party Realignments:

o Definition: sharp, lasting shift in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties o Differences vs Party dealignment and realignment
Party Decline:

o Fewer people identify with either party o Increase in ticket splitting

-

AP Government

Fork

The National Party Structure Today: National Conventions:

o National convention ultimate power; nominates presidential candidate - Composed of delegates from states - National committee sets time and place; issues call setting number of delegates for each state o Democrats shift the formula away from the South to the North and West o Republicans shift the formula away from the East to the South and Southwest - Result: Democrats move left, Republicans right o Republicans represent traditional middle class o Democrats represent the "new class"
State and Local Parties: The Machine:

o High degree of leadership control o Both self-serving and public regarding o Winning above all else
Ideological Parties:

o Principle above all else o Usually outside Democrats and Republicans

Solidary Groups:

o Most common form of party organization o Advantage: neither corrupt nor inflexible o Disadvantage: not very hard working
Sponsored Parties:

o Created or sustained by another organization o Not very common

Personal Following:

o Advantage: vote for the person o Disadvantage: takes time to know the person o Examples: Kennedys, Curley, Talmadges, Longs
The Two-Party System: Minor Parties:

o o o o

Evenly balanced nationally, not locally Ideological parties: comprehensive, radical view; most enduring One-issue parties: address one concern, avoid others Economic protest parties: regional, oppose depressions
2

AP Government

Fork

o Factional parties: from split in a major party

Nominating a President:

o Two contrary forces: party's desire to win motivates it to seek an appealing candidate, but its desire to keep dissidents in party forces a compromise to more extreme views. o Primaries now more numerous and more decisive
Are the Delegates Representative of the Voters?:

o Democratic delegates much more liberal o Republican delegates much more conservative
Who Votes in Primaries?:

o Primaries now more numerous and more decisive o Little ideological difference between primary voters and rank-and-file party voters
Who Are the New Delegates?:

o Advantages of new system a. Increased chance for activists within party b. Decreased probability of their bolting the party c. Disadvantage: may nominate presidential candidates unacceptable to voters or rank and file
Parties versus Voters:

o Democrats: win congressional elections but lose presidential contests o Formula for winning president - Nominate candidates with views closer to the average citizen (e.g., 1996 election) Fight campaign over issues agreed on by delegates and voters (e.g., 1992 election)
Write a 3-5 sentence summary on the whole chapter:

o A political party could exist in three difference areas. The first among those who could psychologically identify with the party. Second, organizations of the particular party run by activists. Three, groups of elected officials who follow its lead in lawmaking. In the issued direct primary has made it harder for the parties to control who is nominated for elected office. As for Democrats, delegated selection rules since they are ultimately the ones in charge for election the president.
Page 198: Answer the 4 questions? Explain using evidence. Who Governs? 1. How has two-party system changed, and how does it differ from the party system of other representative democracies?

o In the past, America had strong organizations that would choose their presidential candidate. This is also seen in Europe. However, now that the voters loyalty to a

AP Government

Fork

particular party has weakened, candidates now are chosen through direct primary elections.

2. How much do parties affect how Americans vote?

o Today, there are both registered and nonregistered voters. However, at the same time American citizens are becoming more so individualistic, and think for themselves. This is a threat to major parties as they become unable to recruit more voters on their side. As a result, parties can not entirely determine the outcome of an election.
To What Ends? 1. Did the Founding Fathers think that political parties were a good idea?

o No. The founders had recognized this as a faction and were against it in general. This in Federalist 10 was recognized as a dangerous vice and therefore sought to be controlled through Federalism government.
2. How, if at all, should Americas two-party system be reformed?

o In my opinion it shouldnt. Currently America in a sense is reforming within itself. Much and much less people are actually identifying within a party. This is the natural of competition and it ensures that the best men win.
Vocabulary for Chapter 9: (19 words) Political party Mugwumps or realignment period Critical or realignment period straight ticket Party-column ballot national convention Congressional campaign committee national chairman Political machine ideological party Sponsored party personal following Plurality system split ticket office-bloc ballot national committee superdelegates solidary incentives two-party system