Chapter 6: Parties & Interest Groups

Candidate-centered Politics

Politics in which candidates promote themselves and their own campaigns rather than relying on party organizations.

Cause Lobbyist

A person who works for an organization that tracks and promotes an issue, for example, environmental issues for the Sierra Club or gun ownership rights for the National Rifle Association.

Closed Primary

A nominating election in which only voters belonging to that party may participate. Only registered Democrats can vote in a closed Democratic primary, for example.

Contract Lobbyists

Lobbyists who work for different causes for different clients, in the same way that a lawyer represents more than one client.

Crossover Voting

Voting by a member of one party in another party's primary. This practice is not allowed in all states.

Direct Lobbying

A form of lobbying in which lobbyists deal directly with legislators to gain their support.

Factional Splits

Division between groups that struggle to control the message within a party; for example, a party may be split into competing regional factions.

Factions

Competing groups within a party.

General Elections

Decisive elections in which all registered voters cast ballots for their preferred candidates for a political office.

Independent Expenditure

Funds spent on ad campaigns or other political activities that are run by a party or an outside group without the direct knowledge or approval of a particular candidate for office.

Indirect Lobbying

A form of lobbying in which lobbyists build support for their cause through the media, rallies, and other ways of influencing public opinion, with the ultimate goal of swaying legislators to support their cause.

Nonpartisan Ballots

Ballots that do not list candidates by political party; still often used in local elections.

Open Primary

A nominating election that is open to all registered voters regardless of their party affiliations.

Party Conventions

Meetings of party delegates are called to nominate candidates for office and establish party agendas.

Polarization

A split among elected officials or an electorate along strictly partisan lines.

Political/Party Machines

Political organizations controlled by small numbers of people and run for partisan ends. In the 19th and 20th centuries, these organizations controlled party nominations for public office and rewarded supporters with government jobs and contracts.

Political Parties

Organizations that nominate and support candidates for elected offices.

Responsible Party Model

The theory that political parties offer clear policy choices to voters, try to deliver on those policies when they take office, and are held accountable by voters for the success or failure of those policies.

Runoff Primary

An election held if no candidate receives a majority of the vote during the regular primary.

Soft Money

Money not subject to federal regulation that can be raised and spent by state and political parties.

Super PACs

Political action committees that can spend unlimited funds on behalf of political candidates but cannot directly coordinate their plans with those candidates.