Chapter 12

Question 1

Closed Primary

Answer 1

primary elections in which only registered party members may vote

Question 2

Open Primary

Answer 2

primary elections in which eligible voters do not need to register as a party member

Question 3

Dealignment

Answer 3

a trend among voters to identify themselves as independents rather than members of major parties

Question 4

Nominating convention

Answer 4

formal party gathering to choose a party’s candidates to run for office

Question 5

Party activists

Answer 5

the “party faithful”; the rank-and-file members who actually carry out the party’s electioneering efforts.

Question 6

Party bosses

Answer 6

party leaders, usually in an urban district, who exercised tight control over electioneering and patronage

Question 7

Party eras

Answer 7

extended periods of relative political stability in which one party tends to control both the presidency and Congress

Question 8

Party-in-government

Answer 8

members of the party who have been elected to serve in government

Question 9

Party machines

Answer 9

mass-based party systems in which parties provided services and resources to voters in exchange for voters

Question 10

Party platform

Answer 10

a list of policy positions a party endorses and pledges

Question 11

Political gridlock

Answer 11

the stalemate that occurs when political rivals refuse to budge from their positions to achieve compromise

Question 12

Realignment

Answer 12

a substantial and long-term shift in party allegiance by individuals and groups, usually resulting in a change in policy direction

Question 13

Critical election

Answer 13

an election signaling a significant change in popular allegiance from one party to another

Question 14

Electioneering

Answer 14

the process of getting a person elected to public office

Question 15

Partisanship

Answer 15

to a political cause or party

Question 16

Party base

Answer 16

members of a political party who consistently vote for a particular party’s candidates

Question 17

Party discipline

Answer 17

the ability of party leaders to bring party members in the legislature into line with the party program

Question 18

Party identification

Answer 18

voter affiliation with a political party

Question 19

Party-in-the-electorate

Answer 19

ordinary citizens who identify with the party

Question 20

Patronage

Answer 20

system in which successful party candidates reward supporters with jobs or favors

Question 21

Political party

Answer 21

a group of individuals united by ideology and seeking control of government in order to promote their ideas and policies

Question 22

Soft money

Answer 22

unregulated campaign contributions by individuals, groups, or parties that promote general election activities but do not directly support individual candidatews

Question 23

Party organization

Answer 23

the official structure that conducts the political business of parties