Election and Public Opinion Essay Example
Ch. 5
1. Political Party: group of individuals who seek to control government through winning elections.
2. Plurality: the largest number of votes cast for the office
3. Incumbent: current officeholder
4. Splinter Parties: those individuals who have split away from one of the major parties
5. Major Parties: American Politics, Republican and Democratic parties
6. Bipartisan: two major parties find common ground, in this endeavor.
7. Electorate: the people eligible to vote.
8. Precinct: smallest unit of election administration; the voters in each precinct report to one polling area.
9. Partisanship: secure commitment to a political party is the source for government action.
10. Pluralistic Society: contains of several diverse cultures and groups.
11. Ideological Parties: those based on particular sets of beliefs.
12. Two-Party System: in an election, only Republican or Democratic Party’s candidates have a realistic chance of winning public office.
13. Consensus: a general agreement among various groups- on fundamental matters.
14. Single-issue parties: concentrate on only one public-policy matter.
Questions
15. What is the major function of a political party?
- Political parties serve four essential functions; and in serving these functions, the parties allow the United States to more closely approach the ideal of democracy. The first and most important function of an American party is to organize elections by nominating candidates and seeking office.
17. Briefly explain two ways in which American Government is government by party?
- One reason for the two party systems is that the Electoral College is winner-takes-all, preventing 3rd parties from gaining power. Another one is to ensure the voters that they can take action towards the government through their selected party.
20. How is the ideological consensus of the American electorate reflected in the membership of the major parties?
- Since the beginning of the USA there has been a general
1. Political Party: group of individuals who seek to control government through winning elections.
2. Plurality: the largest number of votes cast for the office
3. Incumbent: current officeholder
4. Splinter Parties: those individuals who have split away from one of the major parties
5. Major Parties: American Politics, Republican and Democratic parties
6. Bipartisan: two major parties find common ground, in this endeavor.
7. Electorate: the people eligible to vote.
8. Precinct: smallest unit of election administration; the voters in each precinct report to one polling area.
9. Partisanship: secure commitment to a political party is the source for government action.
10. Pluralistic Society: contains of several diverse cultures and groups.
11. Ideological Parties: those based on particular sets of beliefs.
12. Two-Party System: in an election, only Republican or Democratic Party’s candidates have a realistic chance of winning public office.
13. Consensus: a general agreement among various groups- on fundamental matters.
14. Single-issue parties: concentrate on only one public-policy matter.
Questions
15. What is the major function of a political party?
- Political parties serve four essential functions; and in serving these functions, the parties allow the United States to more closely approach the ideal of democracy. The first and most important function of an American party is to organize elections by nominating candidates and seeking office.
17. Briefly explain two ways in which American Government is government by party?
- One reason for the two party systems is that the Electoral College is winner-takes-all, preventing 3rd parties from gaining power. Another one is to ensure the voters that they can take action towards the government through their selected party.
20. How is the ideological consensus of the American electorate reflected in the membership of the major parties?
- Since the beginning of the USA there has been a general