Chapter 7: Political Parties and Elections

Chapter Outline

Parties and Elections Have Been Vital to American Politics and Government

• Political Parties Arose from the Electoral Process
• Parties Recruit Candidates
• Parties Organize Nominations
• Parties Help Get Out the Vote
• Parties Facilitate Voter Choice
• Parties Organize Power in Congress
• Presidents Need Political Parties

America Is One of the Few Nations with a Two-Party System

• Electoral Alignments and Realignments Define American History
• American Third Parties Have Altered the Shape of the Major Parties
• Group Affiliations Are Based on Voters' Psychological Ties to One of the Parties

Voters Decide Based on Party, Issues, and Candidate

• Party Loyalty Is Still Important
• Issues Can Shape an Election
• Candidate Characteristics Are More Important in the Media Age

Elections Are Important to Democracy, but the System Can Seem Complicated

• Voter Turnout in America Is Low
• The Two Types of Elections Are Primaries and General Elections
• The Electoral College Still Organizes Presidential Elections

The 2008 Elections

Money Is the Mother's Milk of Politics

• Campaign Funds Come from Direct Mail, the Rich, PACs, and Parties
• Campaign Finance Reform Was Enacted in 2002
• The Current System Has Negative Implications for Democracy

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