Chapter 8 vocab

Anti-Masonic Party

A 19th century minor political party in the United States that strongly opposed Freemasonry and was founded as a single-issue party.

Caucus

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.

Closed Primaries

Elections to select party nominees in which only registered party members can vote for that party's candidates.

Coalition

A combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose.

Coalition Government

When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature.

Congressional Campaign Committee

A party committee in Congress that provides funds to members and potential members.

Critical Election

An election marked by significant changes in traditional patterns of party loyalty.

Critical (or realigning) Period

Periods when a sharp lasting shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties.

Democratic-Republicans

An early political party headed by Thomas Jefferson, which favored less centralized government.

Factional Parties

Parties formed by a split within one of the major parties.

Factions

Political groups that agree on objectives and policies; the origins of political parties.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution.

Hatch Act

A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics.

Ideological Parties

Parties based on a particular set of beliefs and a comprehensive view of political matters.

Initiative

A procedure allowing voters to propose a law or constitutional amendment.

Linkage Institution

Channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda.

Machine

A device that changes a force.

Mugwumps

Individuals who are unable to make up their mind on an issue; neutral on controversial matters.

National (party) Chair

The day-to-day party manager elected by the national committee.

National Committee

Delegates who run party affairs between national conventions.

National Convention

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.

New Deal Coalition

A coalition forged by the Democrats from the 1930's to the 1960's, comprising various social groups.

Nonpartisan Election

A local election where candidates are not endorsed by political parties and party affiliation is not listed on ballots.

Office Bloc Ballot

A ballot listing all candidates of a given office under the name of that office.

Open Primaries

Elections in which voters can decide on Election Day whether to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests.

Organizational Party

The workers and activists that make up the party's formal organization structure.

Party Column Ballot

A ballot listing all candidates of a given party together under the party's name.

Party Dealignment

The gradual disengagement of people from the parties, reflected in shrinking party identification.

Party Eras

Historical periods where a majority of voters persistently support the party in power.

Party Identification

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

Party Image

The voter's perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for.

Party Polarization

A situation where a majority of Democratic legislators oppose a majority of Republican legislators.

Party Realignment

The displacement of the majority party by the minority party during a critical election period.

Patronage

Granting favors or making appointments to office in exchange for political support.

Personal Following

Political support provided to a candidate based on personal popularity and networks.

Plurality System

An electoral system in which the winner gets the most votes, without needing a majority.

Political Machine

A party organization that recruits members by dispensing patronage.

Political Party

A group of individuals with common interests organized to nominate candidates and conduct government.

Proportional Representation

An election system where each party receives legislative seats proportional to its vote share.

Rational-Choice Theory

A theory explaining voter and politician actions based on self-interest and weighing costs and benefits.

Referendum

A legislative act referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate.

Responsible Party Model

A view on how parties should work by offering clear choices to voters for their preferences.

Republican

A person advocating or supporting republican government.

Second-Party System

The political system that emerged with Andrew Jackson seeking presidency in 1824.

Solidary Groups

Parties organized around sociability rather than tangible rewards or ideology.

Solidary Incentives

The social rewards that motivate individuals to join political organizations.

Split Ticket Voting

Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices in the same election.

Sponsored Parties

Parties supported by a person holding a current Sponsorship Certificate.

Stalwarts

A faction of the Republican party in the late 1800s that supported the political machine and patronage.

Superdelegates

National party leaders who automatically gain a delegate slot at the Democratic national party convention.

Tammany Hall

A political organization within the Democratic Party in New York City known for corruption.

Third Parties

Electoral contenders other than the two major parties; relatively rare in winning elections.

Two-Party System

An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in national elections.

Winner-take-all

A system where the primary winner automatically gains all delegates chosen in the primary.