AP Government Ch 8 Edwards

Blue Dog Democrats

Fiscally conservative Democrats who are mostly from the South and/or rural parts of the United States.

Closed primaries

Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party's candidate, thus encouraging greater party loyalty.

Coalition

A group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends.

Coalition government

When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. This form of government is quite common in the multiparty systems in Europe.

Critical election

An electoral "earthquake" where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. Critical election periods are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election to bring about a new party era.

Linkage institutions

The political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. In the United States, they include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

National chairperson

The person responsible for the day-to-day activities of the party.

National committee

One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. It is composed of representatives from the states and territories.

National convention

The supreme power within each of the parties. It meets every four years to nominate the party's presidential and vice-presidential candidates and to write the party's platform.

New Deal coalition

A coalition formed by the Democrats, who dominated American politics from the 1930s to the 1960s. Its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics, Jews, the poor, Southerners, African American, and intellectuals.

Open primaries

Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests.

Party dealignment

The gradual disengagement of people from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification.

Party eras

Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections.

Party identification

A citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other.

Party image

The voter's perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism.

Party machines

A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern.

Party realignment

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

Patronage

One of the key inducements used by party machines. A job, promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.

Political party

According to Anthony Downs, a "team of men [and women] seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election."

Proportional representation

An electoral system used throughout most of Europe that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election.

Rational-choice theory

A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.

Responsible party model

A view about how parties should work, held by some political scientists. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters and once in office, should carry out their campaign promises.

Third parties

Electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections.

Ticket splitting

Voting for one party for one office and another party for other offices. It has become the norm for American voting behavior.

Winner-take-all system

An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies.