Unit 1 Lesson 3: Political Parties

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on political parties.

Political Party

An organization that seeks to gain political power by electing members to public office so that their political ideas are reflected in public policies.

Two-Party System

A system in which two major political parties dominate elections in the United States.

Candidate

A person running for political office.

Public Policy

Government actions and laws.

Public Opinion

How the public perceives political parties and issues, influencing votes.

Democratic Party / Liberal

Democrats/Liberals believe the government should regulate the economy and provide housing, education, and jobs for the poor (big government); originated with Thomas Jefferson as the Democratic-Republicans.

Republican Party / Conservative

Republicans believe in less government control and less government interference; small government. Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican President (1860).

Third Parties

Parties other than the two major ones; rarely win elections; difficult to raise money for campaigns; examples include Tea Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party, independents.

Special Interest Group

A group focused on a specific issue that tries to influence lawmakers to act in their favor; examples include NEA, NRA, Sierra Club, Humane Society, PETA.

Lobbyist

A person who tries to persuade lawmakers to support a group’s interests on policy issues.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

An independent political organization that raises money to influence elections and campaigns to support a candidate; PACs often spend money on advertising and contribute to campaigns.

Endorsement

Publicly supporting a candidate or incumbent by an individual or organization.

Incumbent

The current officeholder.

Informed Voter

A voter who learns about candidates’ views, watches debates, and consults multiple sources before voting.

Independent

A candidate not affiliated with a major political party.