3A Vocab Flashcards
Political party
An organization that seeks political power by electing people to office so that its positions and philosophy become public policy
Nonpartisan election
A local or judicial election in which candidates aren’t selected or endorsed by political parties and political affiliation isn’t listed on ballots
Patronage
The dispensing of government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party
Honeymoon
Period at the beginning of the new president’s term during which the president enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress, usually lasting about six months
Caucus
A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide on the platform
Party convention
A meeting of party delegates to vote on matters of policy and in some cases to select party candidates for public office
Direct primary
Election in which voters choose party nominees
Open primary
Primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote
Crossover voting
A member of one party voting for a candidate of another party
Closed primary
Primary election in which only voters registered in the party holding the primary may vote
Proportional representation
An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote
Winner-take-all system
Election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins
Realigning election
An election during periods of expanded suffrage and change in the economy and society that proves to be a turning point, redefining the agenda of politics and the alignment of voters within parties
Minor party
A small political party that rises and falls with a charismatic candidate or, if composed of ideologies on the right or left, usually persists over time; also called a third party
Divided government
Governance divided between the parties, as when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress
