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Party of the Electorate

Voters who identify with a political party and vote for its candidates.

Party in Government

Elected officials who belong to a political party and work in government.

Party Organization

The formal structure of a political party, including leadership, workers, and volunteers who help run campaigns and raise funds.

Southern Realignment

The shift in the South from supporting Democrats to supporting Republicans after the Civil Rights Movement.

Secular realignment

A long-term change in voting patterns and political party affiliation, usually driven by changes in demographics or issues.

Critical Election

An election that marks a significant change in the political system, often leading to a new party alignment.

New Deal Coalition

A group of voters, including minorities, labor unions, and Southern whites, that supported Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal policies.

Ticket Splitting

When voters choose candidates from different parties for different offices.

Dealignment

A decline in party loyalty or identification, where voters become less aligned with any political party.

Multi-party system

A political system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government offices.

Patronage vs. Merit system

Patronage awards jobs based on political support, while the merit system awards jobs based on qualifications.

Political Machines

Political organizations that use patronage and other methods to control local governments and win elections.

Divided Government

When one party controls the presidency, and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress.

GOP

A nickname for the Republican Party, stands for 'Grand Old Party.'

Mascots

Symbolic animals or characters that represent political parties.

Blue vs. Red

Blue represents the Democratic Party, and Red represents the Republican Party.

3rd parties in America

Minor political parties that challenge the two major parties, often bringing attention to new issues.

History of the 5 party systems

Refers to the historical shifts in the dominant political parties in the U.S.

Nast-Harper’s Weekly

Thomas Nast was a cartoonist who shaped public opinion through his political cartoons in Harper's Weekly.

Two-Party system

A political system dominated by two major parties, typically Democrats and Republicans.

Suffrage

The right to vote in elections.

All of the suffrage Amendments

The 15th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, and 26th Amendments that expanded voting rights.

Literacy test

A test to determine if someone could vote, often used to disenfranchise minorities.

Poll tax

A fee required to vote, often used to restrict voting rights of poor citizens.

White Primary

A primary election in which only white voters could participate, used to exclude African Americans.

VRA of 1965

The Voting Rights Act aimed at eliminating discriminatory voting practices.

Cracking-stacking-packing

Methods of gerrymandering to manipulate district boundaries to favor a party.

Progressive reforms

Political changes meant to improve democracy, such as direct elections and secret ballots.

Motor Voter law

A law allowing people to register to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Primary vs. Caucuses

Primaries are private elections, while caucuses involve public meetings for candidate selection.

Open/closed primaries

Open primaries allow any voter to participate, while closed primaries restrict voting to party members.

Super Tuesday

A day in the early primary season when multiple states hold their primaries.

Permanent Campaign

The idea that politicians continually campaign to maintain public support.

Retrospective Voting

Voting based on how a candidate or party has performed in office.

Prospective Voting

Voting based on the promises and plans of a candidate for the future.

Electoral College

A system where electors vote to elect the president, based on state popular votes.

Voting rights Amendments

Amendments that protect and expand voting rights, including 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th.

12th, 24th-23th 20th Amendment

12th revised presidential elections; 20th set terms; 23rd gave DC votes; 24th banned poll taxes.

Conventional/Unconventional political participation

Conventional includes voting and donations; unconventional includes protests and civil disobedience.

Social Rootedness

How deeply a person is connected to social groups, influencing political views.

Barriers to Registration

Obstacles like ID requirements and complex forms hindering voter registration.

Super Delegates

High-ranking party members who can vote for their preferred candidate at the national convention.

Front loading

When states move their primary elections earlier to gain influence in the election cycle.

Raiding

When voters from one party participate in another party's primary to influence the outcome.

Initiative vs. Referendum

An initiative allows citizens to propose laws; a referendum allows voters to approve or reject laws.

Balance the ticket

Choosing a vice-presidential candidate with complementary qualities.

Purpose of Electoral College

To formally elect the president based on state-level popular votes.

Faithless electors

Electors who do not cast votes for their pledged candidate.

Coattails

When a popular candidate helps others from the same party get elected.

Winner take all (WTA)

A system where the candidate with the most votes gets all of a state's electoral votes.

Party Identification

The political party with which a person aligns or feels a connection to.