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Party of the Electorate
Voters who identify with a political party and vote for its candidates.
Party in Government
Elected officials who belong to a political party and work in government.
Party Organization
The formal structure of a political party, including leadership, workers, and volunteers who help run campaigns and raise funds.
Southern Realignment
The shift in the South from supporting Democrats to supporting Republicans after the Civil Rights Movement.
Secular realignment
A long-term change in voting patterns and political party affiliation, usually driven by changes in demographics or issues, rather than a single event.
Critical Election
An election that marks a significant change in the political system, often leading to a new party alignment.
New Deal Coalition
A group of voters, including minorities, labor unions, and Southern whites, that supported Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal policies and the Democratic Party.
Ticket Splitting
When voters choose candidates from different parties for different offices
Dealignment
A decline in party loyalty or identification, where voters become less aligned with any political party.
Multi-party system
A political system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government offices.
Patronage vs. Merit system
Patronage gives government jobs based on political support, while the merit system awards jobs based on qualifications and exams.
Political Machines
Political organizations that use patronage and other methods to control local governments and win elections.
Divided Government
When one party controls the presidency, and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress.
GOP
Stands for "Grand Old Party," a nickname for the Republican Party.
Mascots
Symbolic animals or characters that represent political parties
Blue vs. Red
Blue represents the Democratic Party, and Red represents the Republican Party.
3rd parties in America
Minor political parties that challenge the two major parties (Democrats and Republicans). They often bring attention to new issues but rarely win elections.
History of the 5 party systems
Refers to the historical shifts in the dominant political parties in the U.S., from the era of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists to the current system of Democrats and Republicans.
Nast-Harper’s Weekly
Thomas Nast was a cartoonist who used his work in Harper's Weekly to shape public opinion, especially with his political cartoons supporting the Republican Party.
Two-Party system
A political system dominated by two major parties, typically the Democratic and Republican Parties in the U.S.
Suffrage
The right to vote in elections.
All of the suffrage Amendments --
The 15th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, and 26th Amendments that expanded voting rights to African Americans, women, DC residents, and 18-year-olds.
Literacy test
A test to determine if someone could vote, is often used to keep minorities from voting.
Poll tax
A fee people had to pay to vote was often used to prevent poor people, especially African Americans, from voting.
White Primary
A primary election where only white people could vote, was used in Southern states to exclude African Americans.
VRA of 1965
The Voting Rights Act, aimed to end discriminatory voting practices like literacy tests and poll taxes.
Cracking-stacking-packing
Methods of gerrymandering, where district boundaries are manipulated to favor a party. Cracking splits opposition voters, packing concentrates them, and stacking combines them unfairly.
Progressive reforms
Political changes meant to improve democracy, like direct elections, secret ballots, and limiting party control.
Motor Voter law
A law that allows people to register to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles and other public offices.
Primary vs. Caucuses
Primaries are elections where voters choose candidates in private, while caucuses involve public meetings where people debate and vote.
Open/closed primaries
In an open primary, anyone can vote regardless of party. In a closed primary, only party members can vote.
Super Tuesday
A day in the early primary season when multiple states hold their primaries.
Permanent Campaign
The idea is that politicians are always campaigning, even when not in an election year, to keep public support.
Retrospective Voting
Voting is based on how the candidate or party has performed in office.
Prospective Voting
Voting is based on the promises and plans a candidate has for the future.
Electoral College
A system where electors from each state vote to elect the president, based on the popular vote in their state.
Voting rights Amendments
Amendments like the 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th that protect and expand voting rights.
12th, 24th-23th 20th Amendment
12th: revised presidential election process.
20th: set terms for presidents and Congress.
23rd: gave DC electoral votes.
24th: banned poll taxes.
Conventional/Unconventional political participation
Conventional participation includes voting and donating, while unconventional includes protests, strikes, and civil disobedience.
Social Rootedness
How deeply a person is connected to social groups, influences their political views and participation.
Barriers to Registration
Obstacles like complicated forms, ID requirements, and limited access to registration offices make it harder for people to vote.
Super Delegates
High ranking members of the Democratic Party can vote for the candidate of their choice at the national convention.
Front loading
When states move their primary elections earlier in the election cycle to gain more influence.
Raiding
When voters from one party vote in the other party's primary to hurt that party's candidate.
Initiative vs. Referendum
An initiative is a way for citizens to propose new laws. A referendum is when voters approve or reject laws passed by the government.
Balance the ticket
When a presidential candidate picks a vice-presidential candidate who has qualities or appeal that complement their own.
Purpose of Electoral College
It formally elects the president based on the popular vote in each state, aiming to balance power across states.
Faithless electors
Electors who do not vote for the candidate they’re pledged to, go against the popular vote of their state.
Coattails
When a popular candidate helps other candidates from the same party get elected due to their popularity.
Winner take all (WTA)
A system where the candidate with the most votes in a state wins all of that state’s electoral votes.
Party Identification
The political party with which a person aligns or feels a connection to, influences their voting choices.