Chapter 8 Keyterms

Party Polarization

The growing gap between the stands of the parties on policy issues. On the negative side, polarization makes compromise more difficult, whereas on the positive side, clear differences between the parties make politics easier to understand for voters.

Political Party

In the words of economist Anthony Downs, a "team of [people] seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election."

Linkage Institutions

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

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.

Party Image

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

Party Identification

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

Ticket Splitting

Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices.

Party Machines

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

Patronage

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

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 candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty.

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.

National Convention

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

National Committee

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

National Chairperson

The person responsible for running the ongoing activities of the national party organization.

Coalition

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

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.

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.

Party Realignment

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

New Deal Coalition

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

Party Dealignment

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

Third Parties

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

Winner-Take-All System

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

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.

Coalition Government

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

Responsible Party Model

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