AP Gov Chapter 8

Blanket primaries

elections to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of candidates from all the parties. Voters can then select some democrats and some republicans if they like

Candidate centered politics

politics that focuses directly on the candidates, their particular issues, and character, rather than on party affiliation

Caucus

a meeting of party members to select delegates backing on or another primary candidate

Closed primary

elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for the party’s candidates thus encouraging greater party loyalty

Coalition

a group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends

Coalition government

when two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. This form of government is quite common in the multiparty systems of Europe

Congressional campaign committee

a party committee in Congress that provides funds to members and would

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. Critical election periods are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election to bring a new party era (2010 was a critical election because Republicans took the House of Representatives)

Critical or realignment period

periods when a major, lasting shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting gone or both parties

Divided government

where one party controls the presidency and the other party controls Congress

Economic

protest party

Factional party

parties formed by a split within one of the major parties (i.e. Bull

Federalists

people who want the power to be shared between the national, state and local governments

Governmental party

the office holders who organize themselves and pursue policy objectives under a party label

Ideological party

a party that values principled stand on issues above all else

Linkage institution

the channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media

Minor party

smaller sized political party that plays a lesser role than the major political parties (i.e. Communist party)

Mugwumps/progressives

Republican party faction of the 1890s to the 1910’s composed of reformers who opposed patronage

National chairman

day

National committee

delegates who run party affairs between national conventions

National convention

a meeting of party delegates held every four years

Nominating convention

political convention held every four years to decide who will become the Presidential candidate for that party. Today it is more symbolic considering the primaries and caucuses decide the winner.

Office

bloc ballot

One

issue party

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 contest

Organization party

the workers and activists who make up the party’s formal organization structure

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 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

Party dealignment

the gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties as seen in party 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

Party image

the voter’s perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism

Party in the electorate

the voters who consider themselves allied or associated with the party

Party platform

the statement of policies of a national political party

Party realignment

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

Party

column ballot

Personal following

the political support provided to a candidate on the basis of personal popularity and networks

Plurality system

an electoral system in which the winner is the person who gets the most votes, even if they do not receive a majority; used in almost all American elections

Political machine

a party organization the recruits members by dispensing patronage

Political party

a group that seeks to elect candidates to public office

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

Responsible party model

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

Split ticket

voting for candidates of different parities for various offices in the same election

Straight ticket

voting for candidates who are all of the same party

Superdelegates

party leaders and elected officials who become delegates to the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses

Think tank

institutional collection of policy

Third party

any party other than Republicans or Democrats that plays a significant role in an election

Two

party system