Pols 1333 Final Exam Study Guide
What is a political party? - correct answer ✔✔is an alliance of like-minded people who work together to
win elections and control of the government. Political parties compete against one another for political
power and for the ability to put their philosophies and policies into effect. A group of persons who seek
to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office.
What is the difference between a political party and an interest group? - correct answer ✔✔political
party-organizations that try to get their members into office
interest groups-groups that influence public policy in order to promote their ideals in government. 1. An
interest group is an organization of people with similar policy goals that tries to influence the political
process to try to achieve those goals. In so doing, interest groups try to influence every branch and every
level of government.
2. This multiplicity of policy arenas helps distinguish interest groups from political parties.
3. Interest groups may support candidates for office, but American interest groups do not run their own
slate of candidates. By contrast, interest groups in many countries with multiparty systems often form
their own political parties to push for their demands.
4. Interest groups are often policy specialists, whereas parties are policy generalists.
5. Unlike political parties, interest groups do not face the constraint imposed by trying to appeal to
everyone.
.
Why do we have a 2 party system in the U.S.? - correct answer ✔✔historical foundations of the system,
self-perpetuation of the parties, political culture of the US, winner take all electoral system, state and
federal laws in favor.
-Historical influence, Washington despised them and consensus
-Money (demo and repub. loaded with money)
-Structural reasons:
--Single member districts
--Winner take all elections
, What is a party convention and when did they originate? - correct answer ✔✔- A meeting of a political
party, typically to select party candidates. They originated in 1831 by Anti- Masons
the meeting held once every 4 years by each of the major and some minor parties to select their
presidential and vice-presidential candidates and write a party platform. The National Party Convention
is attended by the delegates (most of whom will have been chosen in the presidential primaries), and
much of the national media. normally held during August or early September - lasts for around 3/4 days.
The challenging party will hold its convention first. Party conventions originated, In 1831, the Anti-
Masonic Party held a national convention to nominate their presidential candidate in hopes of gaining
press attention.
What functions do political conventions serve today? - correct answer ✔✔The National Party Convention
is said to have 3 main functions:
1) To choose the presidential candidate.
2) To choose the vice-presidential candidate.
3) To decide on the party platform
-Generate publicity and define the parties
- Launch the campaign
- Launch political careers
What role do national committees, the party chair, and congressional campaign committees play in the
political party structure? - correct answer ✔✔-structure: national convention ultimate power; nominate
presidential candidate; national committee composed of delegates from stages manages affairs between
conventions; national chair manages daily work
-national committee: delegates who run party affairs between national conventions
-congressional committees: party committee in congress that provides funds to members and would-be
members
-national chairmen: day-to-day manager elected by the national committee
What is Partisan realignment theory? - correct answer ✔✔when the voters are tired of the current
system and blame the party in majority and start supporting the opposing party.
What is a political party? - correct answer ✔✔is an alliance of like-minded people who work together to
win elections and control of the government. Political parties compete against one another for political
power and for the ability to put their philosophies and policies into effect. A group of persons who seek
to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office.
What is the difference between a political party and an interest group? - correct answer ✔✔political
party-organizations that try to get their members into office
interest groups-groups that influence public policy in order to promote their ideals in government. 1. An
interest group is an organization of people with similar policy goals that tries to influence the political
process to try to achieve those goals. In so doing, interest groups try to influence every branch and every
level of government.
2. This multiplicity of policy arenas helps distinguish interest groups from political parties.
3. Interest groups may support candidates for office, but American interest groups do not run their own
slate of candidates. By contrast, interest groups in many countries with multiparty systems often form
their own political parties to push for their demands.
4. Interest groups are often policy specialists, whereas parties are policy generalists.
5. Unlike political parties, interest groups do not face the constraint imposed by trying to appeal to
everyone.
.
Why do we have a 2 party system in the U.S.? - correct answer ✔✔historical foundations of the system,
self-perpetuation of the parties, political culture of the US, winner take all electoral system, state and
federal laws in favor.
-Historical influence, Washington despised them and consensus
-Money (demo and repub. loaded with money)
-Structural reasons:
--Single member districts
--Winner take all elections
, What is a party convention and when did they originate? - correct answer ✔✔- A meeting of a political
party, typically to select party candidates. They originated in 1831 by Anti- Masons
the meeting held once every 4 years by each of the major and some minor parties to select their
presidential and vice-presidential candidates and write a party platform. The National Party Convention
is attended by the delegates (most of whom will have been chosen in the presidential primaries), and
much of the national media. normally held during August or early September - lasts for around 3/4 days.
The challenging party will hold its convention first. Party conventions originated, In 1831, the Anti-
Masonic Party held a national convention to nominate their presidential candidate in hopes of gaining
press attention.
What functions do political conventions serve today? - correct answer ✔✔The National Party Convention
is said to have 3 main functions:
1) To choose the presidential candidate.
2) To choose the vice-presidential candidate.
3) To decide on the party platform
-Generate publicity and define the parties
- Launch the campaign
- Launch political careers
What role do national committees, the party chair, and congressional campaign committees play in the
political party structure? - correct answer ✔✔-structure: national convention ultimate power; nominate
presidential candidate; national committee composed of delegates from stages manages affairs between
conventions; national chair manages daily work
-national committee: delegates who run party affairs between national conventions
-congressional committees: party committee in congress that provides funds to members and would-be
members
-national chairmen: day-to-day manager elected by the national committee
What is Partisan realignment theory? - correct answer ✔✔when the voters are tired of the current
system and blame the party in majority and start supporting the opposing party.
