Questions and Answers
What is a political party?
An organization of citizens who wish to influence government by getting their members elected to office.
What is a platform?
A statement of its official stand on major public issues.
What does philosophy refer to in the context of political parties?
An orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation.
How do your views on issues influence which political party you support?
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What are the two major political parties in the United States?
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What are some similarities between political parties?
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What are some differences between political parties?
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What is the Democratic party's platform?
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What are some issues that the Democratic party platform supports?
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What is the Republican party's platform?
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What are some issues that the Republican party platform supports?
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What are some similarities between the Democratic and Republican party regarding support?
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What are some similarities between the Democratic party and the Republican party?
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How do Republicans and Democrats influence their platforms in Congress?
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What are the three characteristics that political parties have in common?
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Study Notes
Definition of Political Party
- An organization composed of citizens aiming to influence government by electing members to office.
Understanding Political Platforms
- A political platform is a formal declaration summarizing a party's stance on key public issues.
Significance of Philosophy
- Represents the ideological framework guiding the beliefs and actions of a political group or nation.
Influence of Support on Party Affiliation
- Individual viewpoints on various issues can determine which political party a person chooses to support.
Major Political Parties in the U.S.
- The two predominant political parties are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.
Similarities Between Political Parties
- Political parties monitor each other, select candidates for public office, establish governmental goals, and provide leadership to achieve those objectives.
Differences Between Political Parties
- Parties vary in their positions on social issues, overall platforms, and philosophical beliefs.
Democratic Party's Platform
- Advocates for federal government involvement in social programs, including aid for the poor.
Additional Democratic Party Issues
- Generally supports tax increases to fund social programs and is more favorable towards labor unions compared to Republicans.
Republican Party's Platform
- Emphasizes minimizing federal government power while favoring state and local governance for social programs.
Additional Republican Party Issues
- Strongly endorses maintaining a robust military for national defense.
Similarities in Support Structures
- Both parties conduct national conventions every four years to energize supporters and nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
Core Values Shared by Both Parties
- Both Democrats and Republicans uphold the principles of equal respect, freedom, justice, and equality for all Americans.
Influence in Congress
- Both parties exert influence on their respective platforms by swaying legislators, demonstrating significant power in the legislative process.
Common Characteristics of Political Parties
- Political parties universally share three foundational characteristics: philosophy, platform, and support.
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Description
Explore the essential concepts related to political parties with these flashcards. Each card defines key terms such as 'Political Party', 'Platform', and 'Philosophy', providing a helpful resource for understanding the role of political parties in government. Perfect for students and anyone interested in political science.