Chapter 8 APGOVPO Vocab

political party

An organization that sponsors candidates for political office under the organization's name

nomination

 designation as an official candidate of a political party

political system

 a set of interrelated institutions that link people with government 

electoral college

A body of electors chosen by voters to cast ballots for President and Vice President

caucus

 a closed meeting of the members of a political party to decide questions of policy in the selection of candidates for office

national convention

 a gathering of delegates of a single political party from across the country to choose candidates for President and Vice President into adopt a party platform

party platform

 the statement of policies of a national political party

critical election

 an election that produces a sharp change in the existing pattern of party loyalties among groups of Voters

electoral realignment

 the change in voting patterns that occurs after a critical election

two-party system

 a political system in which two major political parties compete for control of the government. candidates from a third party have little chance of winning office 

electoral dealignment

A lessening of the importance of party loyalties in voting decisions

majority representation

 the system by which one office, can tested by two or more candidates, is won by the single candidate who collects the most votes

proportional representation

 the system by which legislative seats are awarded to a party in proportion to the vote that party wins in an election

party identification

 a voter sense of psychological attachment to a party 

national committee

A committee of a political party composed of party cheers persons and party officials from every state

party conference

 a meeting to select party leaders and decide committee assignments, held at the beginning of a session of Congress by Republicans Or democrats in each chamber

congressional campaign committee

 an organization maintained by a political party to raise funds to support its own candidates in Congressional elections

party machine

 a centralized party organization that dominates local politics by controlling elections

responsible party government

 a set of principles formalizing the ideal role of parties in a majoritarian democracy