Political Parties – Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental terms, concepts, factions, and historical shifts related to U.S. political parties.

Political Party

An ongoing coalition of interests joined together to elect candidates under a common label and present broad policy choices to voters.

Party of the Electorate

Voters who identify with and consistently support a particular political party.

Party of Candidates

Individuals who run for public office under a party’s label.

Party Organization

The formal structure of a political party and the active members responsible for coordinating party behavior and supporting candidates.

Party-Centered Politics

Campaigns in which the party organization is the principal driver of strategy, messaging, and voter mobilization.

Candidate-Centered Politics

Campaigns dominated by individual candidates who build their own organizations and messaging, often bypassing the party apparatus.

Two-Party System

An electoral arrangement in which two major parties dominate elections and win virtually all offices.

Single-Member District

An electoral district that elects one representative; the candidate with the most votes wins (plurality).

Plurality Voting (First-Past-the-Post)

Election rule in which the candidate with the greatest number of votes wins, regardless of vote share.

Majoritarian Voting

Election rule requiring a candidate to win at least 50 % of the vote, possibly through a run-off.

First-Past-the-Post

Another term for plurality voting, where the top vote-getter wins the seat.

Proportional Representation

Election system in which parties win legislative seats in proportion to their share of the vote.

Safe Seat

A legislative district drawn so a party’s candidate is virtually guaranteed victory by a comfortable margin.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating legislative district boundaries to favor a particular party or candidate.

Reapportionment

Reallocation of U.S. House seats among states to reflect population changes.

Redistricting

Redrawing of electoral district boundaries, typically after reapportionment.

National Party Organization – Primary Function

To raise and spend money assisting party candidates in their election bids.

National Party Organization – Secondary Functions

Polling, research, media production, advertising, get-out-the-vote drives, and planning nominating conventions.

State Party Organization

The party unit focused on statewide contests for governor, U.S. Senate, and state legislature.

Precinct

The smallest unit of party organization, usually encompassing a neighborhood or small geographic area.

Political Machine

A party organization that secures votes or support in exchange for political favors, such as government jobs.

Bipartisanship

Cooperative action and compromise between members of different political parties.

Divided Government

Situation in which the presidency and at least one chamber of Congress (or a state legislature) are controlled by different parties.

Majority Party

The party holding more than half the seats in a legislative body, enabling agenda control.

Minority Party

The party holding fewer than half the seats in a legislative body.

Moderate

An individual whose ideological views fall near the center of the political spectrum.

Party Identifiers

People who publicly present themselves as members of a political party.

Party Platform

A written statement of a party’s official positions on key issues.

Party Polarization

The movement of party positions away from the center toward ideological extremes.

Realignment

A deep, lasting shift in party coalitions, issues, and voter loyalties, producing a new dominant party era.

Critical Election

An election signaling a sharp, long-term shift in voter allegiance and often launching a realignment.

Dealignment

An enduring decline in partisan loyalty, creating an electorate more likely to switch between parties.

Party-in-Government

Elected officeholders who belong to a political party and work to enact its agenda.

Party-in-the-Electorate

Voters who consider themselves members of or loyal to a political party.

Sorting

Process by which voters change party allegiance in response to shifts in party positions on issues.

Personal Politics

A campaign style emphasizing direct relationships with voters rather than party platforms or ideology.

Republican Party Factions – Neoconservatives

Faction advocating strong U.S. global leadership, robust defense, and promotion of democracy abroad.

Republican Party Factions – Neoliberals

Faction favoring market-oriented economic policies, free trade, and limited government intervention.

Republican Party Factions – Libertarians

Faction emphasizing individual liberty, limited government, and free-market principles in both social and economic policy.

Democratic Party Factions – Social Democrats

Faction supporting expansive welfare programs and regulation within a capitalist framework.

Democratic Party Factions – Democratic Socialists

Faction advocating extensive government involvement and public ownership in key sectors to achieve social and economic equality.

Democratic Socialism (Ideology)

Philosophy favoring political democracy alongside social ownership or strong regulation of the means of production.

Single-Member Plurality Effect

Tendency of single-member districts to discourage third-party success by awarding the seat only to the top vote-getter.

Third Parties

Minor political parties formed as alternatives to the Republican and Democratic parties.

Two-Party System – Cultural Factors

U.S. political culture stresses compromise and inclusion, supporting the endurance of two major parties.

Party Realignment – Four Elements

1) Divisive issue emerges; 2) Voters shift sharply to one party; 3) Dominant party enacts major policies; 4) New coalitions endure.

Civil War Realignment

Shift in which Republicans became the majority party as voters punished Democrats for ties to slavery and secession.

1896 Realignment

Economic panic and depression under a Democratic president reinforced Republican dominance.

Great Depression Realignment

Economic collapse beginning in 1929 led voters to embrace Democrats and an expanded government role.

Dealignment Trend (1960-2020)

Rise of self-identified Independents from 21 % to 42 %, with partisan loyalty falling steeply among Democrats.