AP GOV CHAPTER 9 Flashcards
What are political parties?
Organized groups that attempt to influence the government by electing their members to important government offices.
What are primary elections?
Elections held to select a party’s candidate for the general election.
What is a two-party system?
A political system in which only two parties have a realistic opportunity to compete effectively for control.
What is nomination?
The process where political parties select candidates for election to public office.
What is micro-targeting?
When political campaigns tailor messages to individuals in small, homogenous groups based on their group interests to support a candidate or policy issue.
What is a caucus?
A normally closed political party meeting of citizens or lawmakers to select candidates, elect officers, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters.
What is party organization?
The formal structure of a party, including leadership, committees, and staff.
What is a national convention?
A meeting convened by the Republican National Committee or the Democratic National Committee to nominate official candidates for president and vice president, establish party rules, and adopt the party’s platform.
What is soft money?
Money contributed directly to parties and other organizations for political activities not regulated by federal campaign spending laws.
What is a platform?
A party document, written at a national convention, that contains party philosophy, principles, and positions on issues.
What were party machines?
Strong party organizations in late 19th and early 20th century cities, often led by corrupt “bosses” who controlled party nominations.
What is patronage?
Resources available to make partisan appointments to offices and to confer grants, licenses, or special favors to support a political agenda.
Who is a policy entrepreneur?
An individual who identifies a problem as a political issue and brings a policy proposal into the political agenda.
What is the majority party?
The party that holds the majority of legislative seats in either the House or Senate.
What is the minority party?
The party that holds the minority of legislative seats in either the House or Senate.
What is party identification?
An individual voter’s psychological ties to one party or another.
Who are party activists?
Partisans who contribute time, energy, and effort to support their party.
What is the gender gap?
A distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men.
What is dealignment?
A movement away from the major political parties; decline in partisan attachment.
What is electoral realignment?
The point in history when a new party supplants the governing party, becoming in turn the dominant political force.
What is divided government?
The condition wherein the executive is controlled by one party, while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress.
What is party polarization?
The division between two major parties on policy issues, with members of each party unified around their party’s positions with little crossover.
What are third parties?
Parties that organize to compete against the two major American political parties.
