Elections

Republican

Represented by the elephant

Democrat

Represented by the donkey

Political Parties

Group of people who try to control government by winning Elections and holding public office

Electorate

All of the people entitled to vote in a given election

Allegiance

Loyalty

Political Spectrum

A political spectrum is a way of visualizing different political positions

Gauge

Judge

Nominate

Name

Inform

Give information

Activate

Put in motion or move to act

Bonding Agent

How the Party continues to keep its' registered voters to vote for their Party after they already have shown the link

Partisanship

Strong support of their party and its policy stands

Ins

Political Party that is "in" power. Their main goal is to remain the "In" Party

Outs

Political Party that is "out" of power. Their main goal is to become the "In" Party

Federalists

Supported the Constitution but opposed the Bill of Rights. One of the first Political Parties

Anti-Federalists

Opposed the Constitution because they wanted a Bill of Rights. One of the first Political Parties

Middle of the Road Candidates

When a Candidate has shared views from both Poltical Parties

Single Member District Elections

An election where only one person can win in a certain area

Plurality

Person who wins the most votes

Bipartisanship

A policy that emphasizes a united front and cooperation between the major Political Parties

Ideological Consensus

An overall agreement on the idea of what government should be like

Homogenous

Same

Pluralistic

Multiple

Multiparty System

Where there are more than 2 major Political Parties

1 Party System

More like a Dictatorship. Often known as a "no Party System"

Solid South

What the South was known as to the Democrats post Civil War...nowadays the South is more Republican

Election of 1796

Won by the Federalists and John Adams

Election of 1800

Won by the Anti-Federalists and Thomas Jefferson

Incumbent

Elected Official/Party that is already in Office

Factions

Opposing groups within Parties

Spoils System

System of employing and promoting civil servants who are friends and supporters of the group in power

Sectionalism

Loyalty to a state or section rather than the whole country

Bull Moose Party

Nickname for the new Progressive Party, which was formed to support Roosevelt in the Election of 1912

2000 Election

Al Gore vs. George W. Bush. Gore wins the overall popular vote but loses the overal Election

Minor Parties

One of the Political Parties not widely supported

Ideological Party

Having to do with an idea or belief, mostly the individual

Single-Issue

Political Party focused on one main issue

Splinter

Political Party that splits from one of the major Political Parties

Economic Protest

Political Party that rises up during times of economic struggle

Spoiler

Term used when a Party takes votes away from one of the major Political Parties

National Convention

A national meeting of delegates elected in primaries, caucuses, or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president, ratify the party platform, elect officers, and adopt rules

National Committee

One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. The national committee is composed of representatives from the states and territories

National Chairperson

Person responsible for the day-to-day activities of the party and is usually hand-picked by the presidential nominee to run the Political Party

Congressional Campaign Committee

A party committee in Congress that provides funds to members and would-be members and tries to get their Party elected to Congress

Ward

District into which a city or town is divided for the purpose of administration and elections

Precinct

Local voting districts