Shape of Modern Political Parties – Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Section 9.3 on the modern shape of U.S. political parties.

Party in the Electorate

Members of the voting public who see themselves as part of a political party and usually vote for its candidates.

Party Identifiers

Voters who publicly align with a party, often donate, attend events, and reliably choose that party’s nominees.

Party Organization

The formal, active structure of a party that coordinates strategy, recruits candidates, raises money, and mobilizes voters.

Party in Government

Elected or appointed officeholders from a party who work together to achieve the party’s policy goals.

Precinct

The smallest unit of election administration where voters cast ballots and local party activity begins.

County Party Organization

Local party level that recruits candidates, mobilizes voters, staffs polls, and handles day-to-day campaign tasks.

State Party Organization

Party structure that oversees statewide candidate recruitment, fundraising, platform drafting, primaries/caucuses, and selection of national-convention delegates.

National Party Organization

Top-tier party body that raises money for presidential races, plans the national convention, and coordinates congressional campaigns.

Primary Election

State-run vote in which party members choose their nominee for public office.

Caucus (Electoral)

Town-hall style meeting where party voters in a precinct gather to discuss and select their preferred candidate.

Party Platform

Formal statement of policy positions adopted by a party at its state or national convention.

National Convention

Quadrennial gathering where delegates nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates and adopt the party platform.

Party Conference

Closed meeting of Republican members in each congressional chamber to set agenda, choose leaders, and assign committees.

Party Caucus (Congressional)

Closed meeting of Democratic members in each congressional chamber to plan strategy, elect leaders, and make committee assignments.

Majority Leader

Chief strategist and spokesperson for the party holding more than half the seats in a legislative chamber.

Minority Leader

Head of the party with fewer seats in a legislative chamber who coordinates opposition strategy.

Party Whip

Legislator who counts votes, ensures member attendance, and rallies colleagues to support the party line.

Speaker of the House

Presiding officer of the U.S. House elected by the majority party; controls agenda and committee assignments.

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of government authority among executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Federalism

System that allocates powers between the national government and the individual states.

Supermajority Requirement (60 Votes)

Threshold in the U.S. Senate needed to invoke cloture and overcome a filibuster or hold.

Filibuster

Senate tactic where prolonged debate is used to delay or block legislative action.

Hold (Senate)

Informal practice by which a senator signals opposition and can delay floor consideration of a bill or nomination.

Cloture

Procedure that ends debate in the Senate; currently requires 60 votes.

Fundraising

Collecting money by party organizations and candidates to finance increasingly expensive political campaigns.