Chapter 7: Political Party Flashcards
Political Party
A group of individuals who organize to win election operate the government and determine policy
Realigning Election
A process in which the popular support for and relative strength of the parties shift and the parties are reestablished with different coalitions of supporters
GOP
A nickname for the Republican Party - “gran old party”
Dealignment
Among voters, a growing detachment from both major political parties
Primary
A preliminary election held for the purpose of choosing a party’s final candidate
Minority Party
The political party that has fewer members in the legislature than the opposing party
Majority Party
The political party that has more members in the legislature than the opposing party
Coalition
An alliance of individuals or group with a variety of political party’s platform
Electorate
All of the citizens eligible to vote in a given election
Party Identifier
A person who identifies himself or herself as being a supporter of a particular political party
Party Activist
A party member who helps to organized and oversee party functions and planning during and between campaigns, and may even become a candidate for office
Solidarity
Mutual agreement among the members of a particular group
Patronage
A system of rewarding the party faithful and workers with government jobs or contracts
Ward
A local unit of a political party’s organization, consisting of a division or district within a city
Precinct
A political district within a city, such as a block or a neighborhood, or a rural portion of a county; the smallest voting district at the local level
National Covention
The meeting held by each major party every four to nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates, write a party platform, and conduct other party business
Party Ticket
A list of a political party’s candidates for various office
Party Platform
The document drawn up by each party at its national convention that outlines the policies and positions of the party
National Party Committee
The political leaders who conventions, organize the next national convention, and plan how to support the party’s candidate in the next presidential election
National Party Chairperson
An indivuals who serves as a political party’s administrative head at the national level and directs the work of the party’s national commitee
Two-Party System
A political system in which two strong and established parties compete for political offices
Third PArty
In the US, any party other than the two major parties (Republican and Democrats)
