chapter 8 Flashcards
elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party’s candidates
closed primaries
a group of individuals w a common interest upon which every political party depends; an alliance
coalition
an electoral “earthquake” whereby new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party
critical election
a high tech method of raising money for a political cause or candidate;
direct mail
one of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions; responsible for the day to day activities of the party
national chairperson
on of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions; composed of representatives from the states and territories
national committee
the meeting of party delegates every 4 years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party’s platform
national convention
a coalition forged by fdr and the democrats, who dominated politics from the 1930s to the 1960s; elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, catholics and jews, the poor, southerners, blacks, and intellectuals
new deal coalition
elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on election day whether they want to participate in repub or demo contests
open primaries
the gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the political parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification
party dealignment
historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections
party eras
a type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern
party machines
the displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period
party realignment
one of the key inducements used by political machines; given for political political reasons rather for merit or competence alone
patronage
according to anthony downs, a team of men and women seeking to control the gov apparatus by gaining office in a duly contstitued election
political party
a popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians; assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives
rational choice theory
parties should offer clear choices to the voters, who can then use those choices as cues to their own preferences of candidates
responsible party model
an informal term commonly used for some of the delegates to the dnc. these are seated automatically
superdelegates
electoral contenders other than the two major parties; american third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections
third/ minority political parties
voting with one party for one office and w another for other offices
ticket splitting
