Chapter 11: Political Parties

Question 0

Nomination

Answer 0

The process by which political parties select their candidate for election to public office

Question 1

Political party

Answer 1

An organized group that attempts to influence the government by electing its members to important government offices

Question 2

Closed primary

Answer 2

A primary election in which only those voters registered with the party a specified period before the primary Election Day can participate

Question 3

Open primary

Answer 3

A primary election in which voters can choose on the primary Election Day which party’s primary to vote in

Question 4

Majority party

Answer 4

The party that holds the seats in either the house or the senate

Question 5

Party identification

Answer 5

An individual’s attachment to a particular political party, which might be based on issues, ideology, past experience, or upbringing

Question 6

Party activist

Answer 6

A partisan who contributes time, energy, and effort to support a party and its candidate

Question 7

Gender gap

Answer 7

A distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men

Question 8

Caucus (political)

Answer 8

A normally closed meeting of a political or legislative group to select candidates, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters

Question 9

Parties in government

Answer 9

Parties organized in support of and I opposition to government actions and policies; parties select leaders in the House and Senate and make committee assignments; politicians who are in the same party often support one another’s legislation

Question 10

Parties in the electorate

Answer 10

Many voters identify with a political party that reflects their views and interests, once formed, this identification usually persists; voters use parties as a shortcut to decide whom to vote for in elections; some people develop strong attachments to a party and become party activists, organizing local campaign efforts on behalf of a party’s candidates

Question 11

Parties as institutions

Answer 11

Parties comprise networks of politicians, activists, interest groups, donors, consultants, and voters; parties recruit candidates to run for office and organize caucuses, primary elections, and conventions to select one candidate to compete against the other party’s candidate; parties raise money and perform on behalf of their members in congress and in state legislatures