AP Gov Chapter 8 Vocabulary

Party Polarization:

The growing gap between the stands of the parties on policy issues

Political Party:

In the words of the economist Anthony Downs, “a team of men [and women] seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.”

Linkage Institution:

The channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda

Rational Choice Theory:

A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians

Ticket Splitting:

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

Party Machines:

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

Patronage:

One of the key inducements used by party machines

Closed Primary:

Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party’s candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty

Open Primary:

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

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 Realignment:

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

Party Dealignment:

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

Third Parties:

Electoral contenders other than the two major parties (Democratic & Republican)

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