AP U.S. Government & Politics Study Guide
Unit 4 – Political Parties, Interest Groups, & Elections
(Chapters 8, 9, and 11 in the textbook & Chapters7, 8, and 11 in the Crash Course book)
Political Parties:
political party – meaning?
political party’s role as…
- electorate
- organization
- government
forms:
- one-party system
- multi-party system
- two-party system
party era
critical election
party realignment
party dealignment
Federalists v. Democratic-Republicans
Whigs v. (Jacksonian) Democrats
Democratic Party & Republican Party
New Deal coalition
third parties (minor parties)
obstacles encountered by third parties
types of third parties:
- issues
- “splinter parties”
- charismatic leadership
purpose(s) of third parties
party organization
Interest Groups:
interest group – meaning?
interest groups’ goals
similarities/differences between political parties
types of interest groups (pg. 311 in textbook)
strategies:
- lobby
- raise money
- influence public opinion
successful interest groups
free-rider problem
selective benefits
role of lobbyist
amicus curiae briefs
political action committee
Super-PACs
Elections:
political party = process
interest group = campaign finance
history of primary elections
1968 Democratic National Convention
caucus v. primary
open/closed primaries
Iowa & New Hampshire
frontloading
national convention
party platform
history of campaign financing
Federal Election Campaign Act (1974)
Federal Election Commission
matching funds
Presidential Election Campaign Fund
Buckley v. Valeo
soft money
McCain-Feingold Act (2002)
Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
*Don’t forget that your terms are due the day of
the test! 