Crash Course: Political Parties

What is the primary goal of a political party?

• To make sure all people in the country have the same opinion

• To win control of government

• To influence policies

• To throw birthday parties for the president

What does it mean for political parties to facilitate collective action in the electoral process?

• They organize social events for voters

• They make it easier for voters to form groups that will vote in certain ways

• They directly influence government policies

• They provide financial support to all voters

What is the initial function of political parties in their effort to win elections?

• Getting out the vote

• Influencing national government

• Recruiting and nominating candidates

• Facilitating electoral choice

What is a characteristic of a closed primary system?

Explanation: A primary election is where political parties select their nominees. This means that democrats run against democrats and republicans run against republicans. The best democrat and the best republican will then run against each other in the general election.

• Any registered voter can participate, regardless of party affiliation.

• Only voters registered with a specific political party can vote in that party's primary.

• Voters can choose which party's primary to vote in on election day.

• Only independent voters are allowed to cast ballots.

What is a common consequence of low voter turnout in primary elections?

• Candidates tend to become more moderate to attract a broader base.

• The general election becomes less competitive due to clear frontrunners.

• More ideologically extreme candidates are often nominated.

• Independent voters gain significant influence over party platforms.

In your opinion, do you think that political parties are beneficial or harmful to our government and society? Explain your answer with at least one reason from the video.