Ap US Governmeny Vocab 5B

Linkage Institutions

Linkage Institutions

Structures within society that connect people to the government, including elections, media, political parties, and interest groups.

Political Parties

mobilize voters, recruit candidates, set platforms, and manage campaigns, fundraising, and nominations.

Critical Elections

Elections that signal a major realignment in the political system, often bringing new issues to the forefront and shifting party alliances.

Realigning Elections

Elections in which the balance of power between a country's political parties changes greatly, often leading to a new dominant party.

Third Parties/Minor Parties

Political parties outside the two major parties; in the U.S., third parties often focus on specific issues or ideologies and face structural challenges

Single-Issue Groups

Interest groups that focus on one specific issue, such as the NRA (gun rights) or PETA (animal rights).

Party Identification

An individual's psychological attachment to a political party, often shaping their voting behavior.

Candidate Centered Campaigns

Campaigns focused on individual personalities and qualifications rather than on party platforms

Issue-Centered Campaigns

Campaigns focused on specific issues rather than party loyalty or candidate personalities.

Free Rider Problem

When individuals benefit from resources or services without paying for them, common in large public goods like national defense.

First Past the Post/Winner-Takes-All

Electoral system where the candidate with the most votes wins, often disadvantaging third parties.

Incumbency Advantage

The electoral edge afforded to those already in office, often due to name recognition and access to campaign finance.