POLITICAL PARTIES

---

Unit Summary

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

Political parties are a central feature of American political life

Political parties attempt to represent a broad coalition of like-minded citizens

The goal of political parties is to recruit members and elect representatives to public office

Major American political parties tend to represent a general philosophy about governing rather than narrow positions

One can remain a member of a political party without agreeing with every party position

KEY TERMS or CONCEPTS*

Political Ideology: A pattern of complex political ideas presented in an understandable structure that inspires people to act to achieve certain goals (Gitelson, Dudley, & Dubnick, 2001, p.130).

Opinion: A view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter; belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge; a formal expression of judgment or advice by an expert; the formal expression (as by a judge, court, or referee) of the legal reasons and principles upon which a legal decision is based.

Political Platform: Statements of party goals and specific political agendas that are taken seriously by the party's candidates but are not binding (Gitelson, Dudley, & Dubnick, 2001, p.159).

Electoral Coalition: Groups of loyal supporters who agree with the party's stand on most issues and vote for its candidate for office.

Political Parties: Coalitions of people organized formally to recruit, nominate, and elect candidates for public office. They are also instrumental in running the government, creating and implementing shared political goals through the election of officials to the executive and legislative branches of government, and bringing stability to the political system (Gitelson, Dudley, & Dubnick, 2001, pp. 154-155, American Government, Houghton Mifflin).

*Unless otherwise noted, all definitions are taken from Webster Dictionary at http://www.m-w.com