Chapter 14

Political Party

An organized group of party leaders, office holders, and voters who work together to elect candidates to political office

Party Identification

The degree to which a voter is connected to and influenced by a particular political party

Straight-Ticket Voting

Voting for all of the candidates on the ballot from one political party

Split-Ticket Voting

Voting for candidates from different parties in the same election

Party Platform

A set of positions and policy objectives that members of a political party agree to

Recruitment

The process through which political parties identify potential candidates

Party Coalition

Groups of voters who support a political party over time

realignment

the groups of people who support a political party shift their allegiance to a different political party

critical elections

a major national election that signals a change in the balance of power between the two parties

Party Era

Time period when one party wins most national elections

Era of Divided Government

A trend in which one party controls one or both houses of congress and the president is from the opposing party

what are the three phases to a campaign?

1) candidates decide to run often with the help of party leaders and activist

2) parties choose a nominate to represent their party during the election

3) party support their nominees during the election campaign

nomination

The formal process through which parties choose their candidates for political office

Open primary

A primary election in which all eligible voters may vote, regardless of their party affiliation

closed primary

a primary election in which only those who have registered as a member of a political party may vote

caucus

A process through which a state’s eligible voters meet to select delegates to represent them in the nomination process

Superdelegate

usually a party leader or activist who is not pledged to a candidate based on the outcome of a states primary or caucus

Front loading

A decision by a state to push its primary or caucus to a date as early in the election as possible to gain more influence in the presidential nomination process

National convention

A meeting where delicates officially select their party’s nominee for the presidency

Candidate-Centered Campaign

A political campaign focused on promoting the candidate's image, personality, and platform rather than party affiliation.

Two-Party System

a system in which two political parties dominate politics, winning almost all elections

Proportional Representative System

An election system for a legislature in which citizens vote for parties, rather than individuals, and parties are represented in the legislature according to the percentage of the votes they receive

single-member plurality system

a system in which voters have a single vote for one candidate, and the candidate who gets the most votes in a state or congressional district wins the election

third party

a minor political party in competition with the 2 major parties — often focuses on a single issue that they think was not addressed to them