Political_Groups-_Political_Parties_Intro_and_History_Notes.pptx

Political Party

A team of men and women seeking to control the government by gaining office in elections.

Winner-take-all system

An electoral system that discourages third parties by allowing only one candidate to win in each electoral district.

Proportional Representation

An electoral system where the percentage of votes for a party's candidates is directly applied to the percentage of representatives in the legislature.

Linkage Institutions

Channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government’s agenda, with political parties being a major example.

Party Identification

A citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one political party over another.

Downs Model

A theory that explains the actions of voters and politicians by assuming individuals act in their own best interest.

Ticket Splitting

Voting with one party for one office and with another party for another office.

Patronage

The support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another.

Critical election

An election that leads to a significant change in the control of the majority party, often due to new coalitions or national crises.

Dealignment

The gradual disengagement of people from political parties, leading to a rise in independents.

Consensus of values

A general agreement among a group about core values, which contributes to the dominance of two major political parties in the U.S.