Chapter 8 Terms Flashcards
Democratic and Republican
Major parties
Smaller parties that are usually organized around a particular issue
Minor parties (or third parties)
To name candidates for a public office
Nominate
A strong devotion to a political party
Partisanship
The dominant feature of American politics with which most of the electorate identifies
Two-party system
Legislative districts from which only one representative is chosen
Single-member district
The largest number of votes cast for the office
Plurality
A spirit of two-party cooperation
Bipartisan
A formal statement of a party’s position on current issues
Party platform
One whose political view seeks to change the political, economic, and social status quo to encourage the development and well-being of the individual
Liberal
One whose political view defends the status quo against major changes in the political, economic, and social institutions of society
Conservative
Several parties compete for majority support
Multiparty system
A temporary alliance of several groups
Coalition
Party representatives elected from each state to nominate candidates for president and vice president
Delegates
A small meeting of a party’s top leaders and legislators in Congress
Caucus
The practice of giving jobs to friends and supporters
Patronage (or spoils system)
An organized effort by a political party or candidate to attract voter support in an election
Political campaign
A state election in which voters select the candidates who will run on each party’s ticket in the general election
Primary
Voters elect the state party’s delegates that will go to their political party’s national convention to select the party’s candidate
Presidential primary
System of government in which only one political party is allowed
One-party system
Organized to gain power by winning elections
Political parties
Generally concentrates on strengthening national ties to the state organizations and thereby building a more unified party
Republican National Committee
Traditionally placed more emphasis on presidential politics and has been less effective at building strong state organizations
Democratic National Committee
What city districts are divided into for the purpose of city council elections
Wards
The smallest units of election districts and party administration
Precincts
Groups formed around a particular issue or agenda
Interest groups
Voters who have no party affiliation
Independent voters
Voting for candidates of both parties for different offices
Ticket splitting
