188 CHAPTER 6|POLITICAL PARTIES
SUMMARY
The modern party comprises three parts. The party organi-
zation is a loosely defi ned group of individuals and organiza-
tions focused on supporting political candidates who share
the same policy goals. The party in government consists of
elected offi cials who are members of a particular party. The
party in the electorate consists of citizens who identify with
a particular party.
KEY TERMS
national committee (p. 169)
political action committee (PAC) (p. 170)
527 organization (p. 170)
brand names (p. 170)
caucus (congressional) (p. 171)
conference (p. 171)
party identifi cation (party ID) (p. 173)
party coalitions (p. 174)
PRACTICE QUIZ QUESTIONS
- The Democratic and Republican party organizations
__ hierarchical; they are __ to
force state and local parties to share their positions on
issues.
a) are not; able
b) are not; unable
c) are; able
d) are; unable
e) are; sometimes able- A group of elected offi cials of the same party who orga-
nize to debate and strategize is called a __.
a) cabal
b) conditional party government
c) primary
d) political action committee
e) caucus or conference - The modern Congress is ____; the distance be-
tween the parties has ___ over the past 60 years.
a) polarized; increased
b) polarized; stayed the same
c) not polarized; decreased
d) not polarized; stayed the same
e) not polarized; increased
S PRACTICE ONLINE
“Critical Thinking ” exercise: Politics Is Everywhere—
Party Identifi cationMODERN AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES
E Describe the main characteristics of American parties as organizations, in the government, and in the electorate.
Pages 169–75
SUMMARY
Political parties serve two major roles in the political sys-
tem. First, they contest elections by recruiting and nomi-
nating candidates and supporting candidate campaigns.
Second, they facilitate cooperation in government by pro-
viding a framework for agenda setting, coordination, and
accountability among members of the same party.
KEY TERMS
primary (p. 176)
caucus (electoral) (p. 177)
nominating convention (p. 178)
party platform (p. 180)
unifi ed government (p. 183)
party in power (p. 183)
divided government (p. 183)CRITICAL THINKING AND DISCUSSION
Suppose you are the leader of your party’s caucus or con-
ference in the House of Representatives. In what situations
would you want to convince your party’s elected offi cials
to support the party’s position on an issue? In what situ-
ations might you want to let them vote as they think best?THE ROLE OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN AMERICAN POLITICS
E Explain the important functions that parties perform in the political system. Pages 175–83