AP Gov Unit 5 chapter 8-10.

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.

political party

According to Anthony Downs, a

“team of men [and women] seeking

to control the governing apparatus by

gaining office in a duly constituted

election.”

linkage institutions

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.

rational-choice theory

A popular theory in political science

to explain the actions of voters as well

as politicians. It assumes that indi-

viduals act in their own best interest,

carefully weighing the costs and ben-

efits of possible alternatives.

Party Image

The voter’s perception of what the

Republicans or Democrats stand for,

such as conservatism or liberalism.

party identification

A citizen’s self-proclaimed preference

for one party or the other.

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.

party machines

A type of political party organization

that relies heavily on material induce-

ments, such as patronage, to win votes

and to govern.

patronage

One of the key inducements used by

party machines. A patronage job, pro-

motion, or contract is one that is given

for political reasons rather than for

merit or competence alone

closed primaries

Elections to select party nominees in

which only people who have regis-

tered in advance with the party can

vote for that party’s candidates, thus

encouraging greater party loyalty.

open primaries

Elections to select party nominees in

which voters can decide on Election

Day whether they want to partici-

pate in the Democratic or Republican

contests.

national party convention

The meeting of party delegates every

four years to choose a presidential

ticket and write the party’s platform.

national committee

One of the institutions that keeps the

party operating between conventions.

The national committee is composed

of representatives from the states and

territories.

national chairperson

The person responsible for the

day-to-day activities of the party.

coalition

A group of individuals with a com-

mon interest on which every political

party depends

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

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 some-

times marked by a national crisis and

may require more than one election to

bring about a new party era.

party realignment

The displacement of the majority

party by the minority party, usually

during a critical election period.

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

party dealignment

The gradual disengagement of people

from the parties, as seen in part by

shrinking party identification.

third parties

Electoral contenders other than the

two major parties. American third

parties are not unusual, but they rarely

win elections.

winner-take-all system

An electoral system in which legis-

lative seats are awarded only to the

candidates who come in first in their

constituencies.

proportional representation

An electoral system used throughout

most of Europe that awards legisla-

tive seats to political parties in propor-

tion to the number of votes won in an

election.

coalition government

When two or more parties join

together to form a majority in a

national legislature. This form of gov-

ernment is quite common in the mul-

tiparty systems of Europe

responsible party model

A view about how parties should

work, held by some political scien-

tists. According to the model, parties

should offer clear choices to the vot-

ers and once in office, should carry out

their campaign promises.

Blue Dog Democrats

Fiscally conservative Democrats who

are mostly from the South and/or

rural parts of the United States.