Chapter 8 - AP Government Puente

blanket primaries

Elections to select party nominees in which voters get a list of candidates from all parties

Blue Dog Democrat

Fiscally conservative Democrats who are mostly from the South and/or rural parts of the United States.

closed primary

voters must be registered with their party in advance and can only vote for that party

coalition

A group of individuals with a common interest upon which every political party depends.

coalition government

Two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature

critical election

An electoral "earthquake" where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party.

Free Soil Party

a former U.S. political party (1848-56) that opposed the extension of slavery to the Territories not yet admitted to statehood.

Gold standard

System of backing a country's currency with its gold reserves, for which the currency could be exchanged. It was generally abandoned in the Depression of the 1930s.

linkage institutions

Channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda. E.g.: elections, political parties, interest groups, media

national chairperson

The person responsible for the day-to-day activities of the party and is usually nominated by the presidential nominee.

national committee

One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions.

national convention

The meeting of party delegates every 4 years to choose a presidential ticket and to write the party's platform.

New Deal Coalition

A coalition forged by the Democrats, who dominated American politics from the 1930s to the 1960s. Its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals.

open primary

Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on election day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests.

party competition

The battle of the parties for control of public offices. Ups and downs of the two major parties are one of the most important elements in American politics.

party dealignment

The gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification

party eras

Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections.

party identification

​A citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other.

party image

Voter's perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism

party machine

A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern.

party neutrality

A term used to describe the fact that many Americans are indifferent toward the two major political parties.

party platform

A political party's set of goals and policies for the next 4 years

party realignment

The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period.

patronage

One of the key inducements used by party machines. A job, promotion, or contract that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.

proportional representation

An electoral system used throughout most of Europe that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election

rational-choice theory

A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as those of politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.

responsible party model

​A view favored by some political scientists about how parties should work. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters, who can then use those choices as cues to their own preferences of candidates. Once in office, parties would carry out their campaign promises

third party

​Electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American _______ are not unusual, but they rarely win elections.

ticket-splitting

Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. It has become the norm in American voting behavior.

winner-take-all system

An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies. In American presidential elections, the system in which the winner of the popular vote in a state receives all the electoral votes of that state.