19 Flashcards
partisan journalism
Journalism that advances the viewpoint of a political party.
party activist
A person who is deeply involved with a party; usually more ideologically extreme than an average party voter.
party-centered politics
Campaigns and politics that focus on party labels and platforms.
party-column ballot
A ballot that groups candidates by party; also called the Indiana ballot.
party identification
Feeling connected to a political party.
party in government
The role and function of parties in government, particularly in Congress.
party in the electorate
Party identification among voters.
party organization
The formal structure and leadership of a political party.
party platform
The collection of issue positions endorsed by a political party.
party reform
Measures aimed at opening up party leadership adopted by the major parties following the 1968 election.
patronage
Government jobs and contracts given out to political allies in exchange for support.
Pendleton Act
Another name for the Civil Service Reform Act of 1883.
per curiam
An unsigned decision issued by an appellate court; it reaffirms the lower court’s ruling.
pigeonholing
The ability of a committee to kill a bill by setting it aside and not acting on it.
Plessy v. Ferguson
The Supreme Court case of 1896 that upheld a Louisiana law segregating passengers on trains; it created the separate but equal doctrine.
pluralism
The view that society contains numerous centers of power and many people participate in making decisions for society.
plurality
More votes than any other candidate but not a majority.
plurality opinion
An opinion written by the majority of justices on the winning side.
pocket veto
An unusual type of presidential veto: When the president neither signs nor vetoes a bill, after ten days the bill dies if Congress is not in session.
political action committee
An organization, usually allied with an interest group, that can donate money to political campaigns.
