Chapter 9: Political Parties

caucus

A meeting of party members to select delegates backing one or another primary candidate

critical or realignment period

When voting patterns have shifted and new coalitions of party supporters have formed

ideological party

A party that values principled stands on issues above all else

dealignment

When significant numbers of voters no longer support a particular political party, identify as independents and believe they own no loyalty to any particular political party

national chairman

Day-to-day party manager elected by the national committee

national committee

Delegates who run party affairs between national conventions

national convention

A meeting of party delegates held every four years

personal following

The political support provided to a candidate on the basis of personal popularity and networks

plurality system

An electoral system in which the winner is that person who gets the most votes, even if they do not receive a majority; used in almost all American elections

political machine

A party organization that recruits members by dispensing patronage

political party

Group of people organized to influence government through the winning of elections and the setting of policy

solidary incentive

The social rewards that lead people to join political organizations

split ticket

Voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election

sponsored party

A local or state political party that is largely supported by another organization in the community

straight ticket

Voting for candidates who are all of the same party

superdelegates

Party leaders and elected officials who become delegates to the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses

two-party system

An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in national elections

Office-bloc ballot

A ballot listing all candidates of a given office under the name of the office

Party column ballot

A ballot listing all candidates of a given party together under the name of that party

Divided government

A condition in which one political party controls the presidency and the opposing party controls one or more both houses of Congress

gridlock

When opposing parties and interests often block each other’s proposals, creating a political stalemate