Key Terms
Two broad categories
Economic and noneconomic.
LOBBYING
The formal attempt by a group to influence a political outcome
Key distinction from interest groups
Parties try to CONTROL government from within by winning elections. Interest groups work with whoever wins.
TWO-PARTY SYSTEM (US)
Democrats and Republicans. Third parties exist but have no realistic path to controlling government.
MULTIPARTY SYSTEM
Governments are typically formed by coalitions. Germany's 2016 election produced a six-party government.
SINGLE-PARTY SYSTEM
One party holds all power. Elections may exist but are not competitive.
Martin Wattenburg and Thomas Patterson
Since the late 1980s, candidate- centered campaigns have replaced party-driven campaigns.
Result
Parties lose control over their own candidates; populist outsiders can win nominations without party support.
PIKETTY FLIP
Historically, low-income and less-educated voters supported left-wing parties; high-income, highly-educated voters align
POPULISM
The appeal by public leaders to the belief of ordinary people that established elites disregard their concerns. Arises w
PATRONAGE AND COLLAPSE
In countries like Venezuela, Indonesia, and Peru, party systems collapsed due to corruption, patronage (rewarding suppor
VOTER TURNOUT
The number of eligible voters who actually cast a ballot
VOTING ELIGIBLE POPULATION (VEP)
All citizens at voting age who are legally eligible, regardless of registration
US participation rate
52% to 66% over the last 20 years. US ranks 30th out of 35 OECD countries in voter turnout.
Highest-turnout demographic
Wealthy, older, educated white voters