Political Parties – Chapter 12 Pg and Pg. 426 – 428

Functions of the Party System  Mobilizing support and building coalitions.  Encouraging stability in the political system.  Providing accountability for public policy.  Running candidates for office.  Providing a cue for voters.  Formulating policy through a national party platform.national party platform

Functions of the Party System  Mobilizing support and building coalitions.  Encouraging stability in the political system.  Providing accountability for public policy.  Running candidates for office.  Providing a cue for voters.  Formulating policy through a national party platform.national party platform

Minor Parties  Winner-take-all system makes it difficult to win office.  Sharp contrast to proportional systems used elsewhere.  Rooted in sectionalism, protest, issues, and people.  Do best when there is little trust in other parties.  Can have success in putting issues on agenda.

Purposes of Elections  Legitimize government, even in authoritarian systems.  Organize government.  Choose issue and policy priorities.  Electorate gives winners a mandate.

Elections – Chapter 13 Pg

Types of Elections  Primary elections can be open or closed.  Crossover voting or raiding can occur in open primaries.  Runoff primaries held if no candidate wins a majority.  General elections determine who will fill public offices.  Ballot measures: initiative, referendum, and recall.

Nominating a President  Delegates to convention chosen by election or caucus.  Elections may be winner-take-all or proportional.  Caucuses are better for the party organization.  Elections allow for broader participation.  Trend toward front-loading.Trend toward front-loading

Party Conventions  Each party has its own rules about delegates.  Democrats no longer subscribe to unit rule.  Delegates tied to candidate, except superdelegates.  Require representation of women and minorities.women  Republicans do not bind delegates to candidate.  Media extensively cover happenings.

Electoral College  Representatives from each state who select president.  Electors equivalent to senators plus representatives.  Framers favored system to remove power from people.  Originally president and vice president selected alone.  Changed after Twelfth Amendment.  1876 and 2000 elections demonstrate concerns.

Reforming the Electoral College  Three major proposals have been made.  Select the president by popular vote.  Each congressional district has a vote.  Keep the College, abolish the electors.