Chapter 9 - Political Parties Terms

Vocabulary flashcards covering government terms related to political parties, elections, party structures, and voter alignment.

Political party

An organization that seeks to gain political power by electing its memvers of government

National convention

Meeting where a political party officially selects a presidential candidate and adopts its platform

Two-party system

A political system dominated by two political parties

Single-member district

An electoral district that elects one representative

Plurality election

Election where the candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority

Majority election

An election requiring the candidate to receive more than half of the votes to win

Run-off election

A second election between two candidates when no candidate wins the required majority

Proportional representation

A system in which parties receive seats based on their share of the vote

Third party

A political party other than the two major parties

Caucus (party caucus)

A meeting of party members to discuss candidates, party goals, or political issues

Socialization function

Political parties that help teach people beliefs and values

Electoral function

Political parties organize elections and help select candidates

Formal party organization

The official structure of a political party at different levels

Platform

A political party official statement of its beliefs and policy goals

National committee

The organization's responsibility for coordinating a party's national activities

State committee

An organization that manages a political party's activities within a state

Coalition

A group of different parties/organizations working together to achieve a common goal.

Party in the government

Party members who hold electoral positions

Party system

The arrangement and relationship of political parties within a political system

Realignment

A major shift in which groups of voters support a different political party

Dealignment

A decline in voters' attachment to political parties

Party decline

A weakening of political parties' influence/control over politics

Coattail effect

When a popular candidate helps other candidates from their party win elections

Incumbency advantage

The advantages an elected official has when running for reelection

Shadow campaign

Informal campaigning that happens before a candidate officially announces their campaign

Winner-takes-all system

The candidate with the most votes wins the election or all of a state's electoral votes.