Chapter 7 Vocab

Question 0

Divided government

Answer 0

When one party controls the presidency and another controls the congress

Question 1

Direct primary

Answer 1

The selection of a political party’s candidate for the general election by vote of ordinary citizens

Question 2

Duvergers law

Answer 2

The tendency for a single member district plurality system to favor a two party system, as documented by French sociologist Maurice Duvergers

Question 3

Merit system

Answer 3

A system of governing in which jobs are given based on relevant technical expertise and the ability to perform

Question 4

Multiparty system

Answer 4

A political system in which 3 or more political parties effectively compete for political office, and no one party can win control of all

Question 5

One-party system

Answer 5

A political system in which representatives of one political party hold all or almost all of the major offices in government

Question 6

Parliamentary system

Answer 6

An electoral system in which the party holding the majority of seats in the legislature selects the chief executive

Question 7

Party discipline

Answer 7

Requiring political party members in public office to promote or carry out the party’s agenda and punishing those who do not

Question 8

Party in the electorate

Answer 8

The component of the political party that is made up of the people in public who identify with a political party

Question 9

Party in government

Answer 9

The component of a political party that is made up of elected and appointed government office holders who are associated with a political party

Question 10

Party in organization

Answer 10

The component of a political party that is composed of party professionals who hold office positions in the party

Question 11

Party professionals

Answer 11

Party activist whose incentives for participating in party activities are primarily material and social in nature

Question 12

Party vote

Answer 12

A vote in which a majority of democrats vote on one side and a majority of republicans vote on the other

Question 13

Policy-motivated activist

Answer 13

Party activist whose incentives for participating in party activities are primarily purposive and social. They are dedicated to implementing certain principles in public policies, and they are less willing to compromise those principle than are party professional

Question 14

Political machine

Answer 14

A political organization characterized by a reciprocal relationship between voters and office holders. Political support is given in exchange for government jobs and services. Headed by a “party boss”, political machines and party bosses maintain their power and control over government offices with techniques such as control over nomination, patronage, graft and bribery, vote buying, and election-rigging

Question 15

Political party

Answer 15

An organization that nominates and runs candidates for public office under its own label

Question 16

Political patronage

Answer 16

The giving of government jobs to people based on their party affiliation and loyalty

Question 17

Presidential system

Answer 17

A political system in which the chief executive and the legislature are elected independently

Question 18

Proportional representation

Answer 18

A method of selecting representatives in which representation is given to political parties based on the proportion of votes obtained. This method has the effect of encouraging multiple parties

Question 19

Responsible party model

Answer 19

A concept that describes democracies with competitive parties in which one party wins control of the government based on its policy proposals, enacts those proposals once it is in control, and stands or falls in the next election based on its performance in delivering on its promises

Question 20

Role theory

Answer 20

A behavioral model of politics based on the assumption that human beings have a psychological need for predictability in their relations with each other

Question 21

Single-member district plurality system(SMDP)

Answer 21

A method of selecting representatives in which a nation or state is divided into separate election districts and voters in each district choose one representative. The candidate in each district with a plurality of the votes wins the seat

Question 22

Straight ticket voters

Answer 22

Voting for the same party’s candidates for president and congress

Question 23

Third parties

Answer 23

Minor political parties that periodically appear but have little success in winning office

Question 24

Two-party system

Answer 24

A political system in which only two political parties have a realistic chance of controlling the major offices of government