Unit 6: Political Parties

Canvass

To go door- to-door handing out information and asking people which candidates they support.

Nominate

When a political party selects and names a candidate to run for public office.

Planks

Position statements on each specific issue in a party’s platform.

Platform

A statement of a party’s official stand on major public issues.

Political Party

An organisation of citizens who wish to influence and control government by getting their members elected to office.

Independent Voter

People who do not support a particular political party.

Patronage

The system in which party leaders do favors for loyal supporters of the party.

Precincts

Voting districts

Split Ticket

The practice of voting for candidates of more than one party on a ballot.

Straight Ticket

The practice of voting for candidates of only one party on a ballot.

Caucus

A meeting of party leaders to discuss issues or to choose candidates.

Closed Primary

An election in which a voter must be registered as a party member and may vote only in that party’s primary.

Direct Primary

An election in which members of a political party choose candidates to run for office in the name of the party.

Open Primary

An election in which voters do not need to declare a party before voting but may vote in only one party’s primary.

Self-Nominate

Declaring yourself as a candidate for public office.

Write-In candidate

A candidate whose name does not appear on a ballot but who asks voters to write his or her name in as their choice.

Bipartison

Supported by two parties.

Minor Party

One of the political parties not widely supported.

Multiparty

A system in which several major and many lesser parties exist, seriously compete for, and actually win, public offices.

Two-Party System

A political system dominated by two major parties.

Electorate

All of the people entitled to vote in a given election.

Faction

A conflicting group.

Incumbent

The current office holder.