Government Chapter 8 Flashcards

Political Parties

groups that are organized to gain power by winning elections

Major Parties

dominant political competitiors

minor parties

smaller parties that are usually organized around a particular issue

third parties

same as minor party

nominate

name candidates for political office

partisanship

a strong devotion to a political party

two-party system

two major parties with which most of the electorate identifies

single-member district

legislative districts from which only one representative is chosen

plurality

largest number of votes cast for the office

bipartisan

a spirit of two party cooperation

party platform

a formal statement of a party's position on current issues

liberal

one whose political view seeks to change the political, economic, and social status quo to encourage the development and well-being of the individual

conservative

one whose political view defends the status quo against major changes in the political, economic, and social institutions of society.

multiparty system

common among many European democracies, several parties compete for majority support.

coalition

a temporary alliance of several groups

convention

first used by the Anti-Mason party in 1831 and then by the democratic party in 1832 is an assembly of party representatives, or delegates, elected from each state to nominate candidates for President and Vice-President.

delegates

party representatives

caucus

a small meeting of a party's top leaders and legislators in Congress.

patronage

the practice of giving jobs to friends and supporters

spoils system

another name for patronage

political campaign

an organized effort by a political party or candidate to attract voter support in an election

primary

a state election in which voters select the candidates who will run on each party's ticket in the general election

nominating primary

a state-run election for the purpose of selecting the party nominee for most local, state, and national offices.

presidential primary

voters elect the state party's delegate that will go to their political party's national convention to select the party's candidate.

one-party system

only one political party is allowed

Republican National Committee

carries on the administration of the party during the interim between national conventions. includes several state party chairmen.

Democratic National Committee

carries on the administration of the party during the interim between national conventions. includes all state chairmen and vice-chairmen as well as a number of mayors, governors, and members of congress.

wards

large cities, districts are divided into ?

precincts

wards are further divided into __? Smallest unit of election districts and party administration.

interest groups

groups formed around a particular issue or agenda

independent voters

voters who have no party affiliation, in the past 40 years

ticket splitting

voting for candidates of both parties for different offices