| A | B |
|---|
| Party | A group of like minded people that share similar views that work together to select candidates, win elections and control the government. |
| Organize elections | function in which parties help with candidate selection funding and ballot organization |
| Inform and stimulate | function in which parties help to bring new issues to the public debate, distribute information and explain weaknesses in the arguments of the other party. |
| Seal of Approval | Function in which parties state that candidates, bills and issues are supported or not |
| Watchdog | Function in which parties make sure that the other party is acting in an appropriate manner. |
| Positives of a one party system | Efficient, consistent, national unity |
| Negatives of a One party System | no new ideas no watchdog |
| Positives of a two party system | some choices, watchdog not overwhelming |
| Negatives of a two party system | no need for the parties to work together, parties may not fit your views |
| Positives of a multiparty system | many views find the best fit for your beliefs, many watchdogs parties have to work together |
| Negatives of a multiparty system | increased cost too many options |
| Republicans | Conservative party on the right of the political spectrum |
| Democrats | Liberal party on the left of the political spectrum |
| George W. Bush | Most recent Republican President |
| Barack Obama | Current Democratic President |
| Elephant | Symbol of the Republican Party |
| Donkey | Symbol of the Democratic Party |
| Less is More | General stance of the Republican Party |
| Government has a role in helping all in the nation | General stance of the Democratic party |
| Single Issue | Third Party that is focused on one issue |
| Prohibition Party | Example of a Single Issue party |
| Splinter Party | Third party that has broken away from a larger party |
| Ideological party | Third party that wants to change all aspects political, social and economical. |
| Family | Largest factor in political socialization. |
| Political Socialization | the process and factors that shape your political identity and activities. |
| Rust Belt | East Coast and Upper Midwest strong industrial and union history tends to be more liberal |
| Sunbelt | Southern third of the US Strong in states rights more conservative |
| Farm belt | Midwest economy based on agriculture tends to be more conservative |
| Too Busy | most common reason given for not voting |
| Motor Vote Act | allowed for citizens to register to vote when getting a drivers license helped to increase registration |
| Factors in higher voting rates | higher education, older, wealthy, female, white or black |
| Factors in lower voting rates | less education, younger, low income, male, Asian or Latino |
| Party Affiliation | number one factor in how someone will vote |
| Conventional Participation | done within the system |
| Voting | most common form of conventional participation |
| Unconventional participation | done outside the system |
| Protests | common form of unconventional participation |
