US Gov; Unit 8 Vocab Parties & Interest Groups

political party

a group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office

major parties

political parties that hold substantial influence in a country’s politics

minor parties

a political party whose electoral strength is so small as to prevent its gaining control of a government except in rare and exceptional circumstances

partisanship

government action based on firm allegiance to a political party

bipartisan

supported by two parties

faction

a conflicting group

ideological parties

parties based on a particular set of beliefs, a comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters

single-issue parties

parties that concentrate on only one public policy matter

economic protest parties

parties rooted in poor economic times, lacking a clear ideological base, dissatisfied with current conditions and demanding better times

splinter/factional parties

parties that have split away from one of the major parties

political machine

parties headed by a single boss or small, autocratic group that command enough votes to maintain political and administrative control of a city, country, or state

public policy

all of the many goals that a government pursues in all of the many areas of human affairs in which it is involved

labor union

an organization of workers who share the same type of job, or who work in the same industry, and press for government policies that will benefit their members

propaganda

information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view

lobbying

activities by which group pressures are brought to bear on legislators, the legislative process, and all aspects of the public-policy-making process

grass roots

pressure on public officials from members of an interest group or the people at large

think tank

a research institution that gathers experts to study and offer advice on specific topics, often related to policy, and can influence public opinion and shape policies

purposive incentive

a motivation to join or support an interest group based on an individual’s beliefs in the group’s ideology and goals, driven by a desire to advance a specific cause or make a difference

material incentive

a motivation to join or support an interest group based on economic benefits or opportunities, such as discounts, insurance, or travel planning

solidarity incentive

a motivation to join or support an interest group based on non-material benefits like camaraderie and social connections, that foster a sense of belonging and shared identity