Political Parties & Elections Vocabulary

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards defining key political systems, election types, and voting laws based on the provided student notes.

Political Party

A group of people who share ideas about government and work to win elections.

Critical/Realignment Period

A time when major political shifts happen and party support changes a lot.

Split Ticket

Voting for candidates from different parties in the same election.

Straight Ticket

Voting for only one party’s candidates.

National Convention

A big meeting where a party officially picks its presidential candidate and platform.

National Committee

The group that runs a party’s operations between elections.

National Chairman

The leader of a political party’s national committee.

Superdelegates

Party leaders who can vote at conventions without being elected as delegates.

Political Machine

An organization that controls local politics through favors and jobs.

Ideological Party

A party focused strongly on a set of beliefs or principles.

Two-Party System

A system where two major parties dominate elections (like Democrats and Republicans).

Plurality System

The candidate with the most votes wins, even if it’s not over $50\%$.

Malapportionment

Unequal representation because districts have different population sizes.

Gerrymandering

Drawing district lines to benefit a political party.

General Election

The final election where voters choose between party nominees.

Primary Election

Election to choose a party’s candidate.

Closed Primary

Only registered party members can vote.

First-Past-The-Post System

Same as plurality; whoever gets the most votes wins.

Ballot Access Laws

Rules determining how candidates get on the ballot.

Open Primary

Any voter can choose which party’s primary to vote in.

Blanket Primary

Voters can choose candidates from different parties for different offices.

Soft Money

Political donations not directly given to candidates and less regulated.

$527$ Organizations

Groups that raise money to influence elections but don’t directly support candidates.

Prospective Voting

Voting based on what a candidate promises for the future.

Retrospective Voting

Voting based on how a candidate has performed in the past.

Electoral College

System used to elect the president through state electors.

Unit Rule

Winner-take-all system where the candidate who wins a state gets all its electoral votes.

Incumbent Advantage

Current officeholders have benefits that help them win reelection.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

Law that limited soft money and regulated campaign ads.

Platform

A political party’s official statement of beliefs and policies.

Party Identification

A person’s attachment to a political party.

Independent

A voter not aligned with any political party.

Democrat

Member of the Democratic Party (generally supports more government involvement).

Republican

Member of the Republican Party (generally supports less government involvement).

Dealignment

Decline in party loyalty among voters.

Institutional Barriers

Rules that make it hard for third parties to compete.

Single-Member District

An area that elects one representative.

Attitudinal Barriers

People’s beliefs that discourage voting for third parties.

Wasted Vote Syndrome

Fear that voting for a third party is a waste.

Libertarian Party

Supports minimal government and maximum individual freedom.

Green Party

Focuses on environmental issues and social justice.

Caucus

A meeting where party members choose candidates.

Party in the Electorate (PIE)

Ordinary voters who support a party.

Hard Money

Donations directly to candidates that are regulated by law.

Mandate

When voters strongly support a candidate’s ideas, giving them authority to act.

Ballot Measure

A proposed law voters can vote on directly.

Initiative

Citizens propose a law and vote on it.

Referendum

Voters approve or reject a law passed by the legislature.

Elector

A person chosen to vote in the Electoral College.

Linkage Institutions

Groups that connect people to government (parties, media, interest groups).

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

Government agency that enforces campaign finance laws.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Groups that raise money to support candidates.

$12th$ Amendment

Changed how the president and vice president are elected.

$15th$ Amendment

Gave Black men the right to vote.

$19th$ Amendment

Gave women the right to vote.

$26th$ Amendment

Lowered voting age to $18$.