CHAPTER 7- SECTION 9 FINAL

These flashcards cover the key vocabulary and concepts related to political parties as discussed in the lecture notes on American and Texas government.

527 organization

A type of tax-exempt organization created to influence the selection, nomination, election, appointment, or defeat of candidates for public office.

Coat-tail Effect

The phenomenon where a popular candidate helps attract votes for other candidates on the same party ticket.

Caucus conference

A meeting of party members to select candidates or decide on policy; often an alternative to a primary election for candidate selection.

Dealignment

The process by which voters become less attached to political parties, leading to a decline in party loyalty.

Divided government

A situation in which one party controls the presidency while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress.

Issue ownership

The tendency of one political party to be seen as more competent or trustworthy in handling a particular issue area.

National committee

The chief administrative party organization, comprising representatives from states and territories, responsible for planning national conventions and managing party affairs between conventions.

New deal coalition

A political alliance formed by Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s that united diverse groups (e.g., urban working classes, ethnic groups, Southern whites) under the Democratic Party.

Nominating conventions

A gathering of party delegates to formally nominate a presidential candidate and adopt the party's platform.

Open/closed/semi-closed/jungle primaries

Different types of primary elections:

• Open Primary: Voters are not required to be registered with a party to vote in its primary.
• Closed Primary: Only voters registered with a particular party can vote in that party's primary.
• Semi-closed Primary: Unaffiliated voters can vote in a party's primary, but registered party members can only vote in their own party's primary.
• Jungle Primary (or Nonpartisan Blanket Primary): All candidates, regardless of party, are on one ballot, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election.

Party coalitions

Alliances of various interest groups and individuals who cooperate to elect candidates and influence government policies for a particular political party.

Party identification

A citizen's long-term psychological attachment to a particular political party.

Party organization (party in government, electorate, etc)

The three components of a political party:

• Party in the Electorate: The voters who identify with a political party.
• Party Organization: The formal structure and leadership of a political party (committees, activists).
• Party in Government: The elected officials who are members of a political party.

Party platform

A formal set of principal goals and policy positions that are supported by a political party or individual candidate to appeal to the public.

Party principle

The fundamental beliefs, values, and objectives that guide a political party's actions and policies.

Party systems (general ideas, not specific eras)

The categorization of political parties into different eras or systems based on their significance, characteristics, and competitive dynamics.

Permanent campaign

The idea that governing has become a continuous campaign, where politicians constantly attempt to influence public opinion and maintain electoral support.

Political parties

An organization that seeks to gain political power by electing its members to public office.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Organizations formed to raise and spend money for the purpose of electing and defeating candidates.

Primary election

An election in which registered members of a political party nominate candidates for the general election.

Realignment

A significant change in the political landscape, usually occurring every 40 or 60 years, that causes a major shift in the support of political parties.

Republican and Democratic party organization structure

The hierarchical structure of the major parties, including national, state, and local committees, and various auxiliary groups, responsible for party functions and campaigning.

Republican and Democratic National Committees

The national governing bodies of the Republican (RNC) and Democratic (DNC) parties, responsible for fundraising, strategizing, and organizing national campaigns.

Revolution of 1800

The peaceful transfer of power from the Federalist Party to the Democratic-Republican Party with the election of Thomas Jefferson, marking a significant shift in American politics.

Spoils system

A practice in which a political party, after winning an election, gives government civil service jobs to its supporters, friends, and relatives as a reward for working toward victory.

Superdelegates

A delegate to the Democratic National Convention who is not bound to vote for a specific candidate and may support any candidate they choose.

Unified government

A situation where the same party controls both the presidency and both houses of Congress.

Whig party

A major political party in the United States during the 1830s to 1850s, formed in opposition to Andrew Jackson's policies and promoting a strong Congress and national institutions.