AP Gov Chapter 8 Vocab

Question 1

Party Competition

Answer 1

The battle of the parties for control of public offices. Ups and downs of the two major parties are one of the most important elements in American politics.

Question 2

Political Party

Answer 2

According to Anthony Downs, a “team of men (and women) seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.”

Question 3

Linkage Insitutions

Answer 3

The channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’’s policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

Question 4

Rational-choice theory

Answer 4

a popular theory in political science to explain the action of voters as well as politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.

Question 5

Party Image

Answer 5

The voter’s perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism.

Question 6

Party Identification

Answer 6

A citizen’s self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other.

Question 7

Party Machines

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Patronage

Answer 8

One of the key inducements used by part machines. Patronage job , promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.

Question 9

Closed Primaries

Answer 9

Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advanced with the party can vote for that party’s candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty.

Question 10

Open Primaries

Answer 10

Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests.

Question 11

Blanket Primaries

Answer 11

election to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of candidates from all the parties. Voters can then select some Democrats and some Republicans if they like.

Question 12

National Convention

Answer 12

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party’s platform.

Question 13

National Commitee

Answer 13

One of the institutions that keep the party operating between conventions. The national committee is composed of representatives from the states and territories.

Question 14

National Chairperson

Answer 14

The national chair person is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the party and is usually handpicked by the presidential nominee.

Question 15

Coalition

Answer 15

A group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends.

Question 16

Party Eras

Answer 16

Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections.

Question 17

Critical Election

Answer 17

An electoral “earthquake” where new issues emerge, a new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. Critical election periods are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election to bring about a new party era.

Question 18

Party realignment

Answer 18

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

Question 19

New Deal Coalition

Answer 19

A coalition forged by the democrats, who dominated American Politics from the 1930s to the 1960s. Its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals.

Question 20

Party Dealignment

Answer 20

The gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties as seen in part by shrinking party identification.

Question 21

third parties

Answer 21

Electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections.

Question 22

Winner-take-all system

Answer 22

An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in the constituencies. In american presidential elections, the system in which winner of the popular vote in a state receives all the electoral votes of that state.

Question 23

Proportional representation

Answer 23

an electoral system used through out most of Europe that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an electoral election.

Question 24

Coalition Government

Answer 24

when two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. this form of government is quite common in the multiparty systems of Europe.

Question 25

Responsible Party Mode

Answer 25

A view favored by some political scientists about how parties should work. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters, who can then use those choices as cues to their own preferences of candidates. Once in office, parties would carry out their campaign promises.