Chapter 9

Question 1

Political parties

Answer 1

Organized groups that attempt to influence the government by electing their members to important government offices

Question 2

Partisanship

Answer 2

Identification with or support of a particular party or cause

Question 3

Two party system

Answer 3

Political system in which only two parties have a realistic opportunity to compete effectively for control

Question 4

Nomination

Answer 4

Process by which political parties select their candidates for election to public office

Question 5

Primary elections

Answer 5

Elections help to select a party’s candidate for the general election

Question 6

Caucus (political)

Answer 6

A meeting of political or legislative group to select candidates, plan strategy, and make decisions

Question 7

Party organization

Answer 7

Formal structure of a political party, including its leadership, election committees, active members, and paid staff

Question 8

National convention

Answer 8

to nominate official candidates for president and vice president in upcoming election, establish party rules

Question 9

Platform

Answer 9

Party document that contains principle and positions on issues

Question 10

Soft money

Answer 10

Money contributed directly to political parties and other organizations

Question 11

527 committees

Answer 11

Nonprofit independent groups that receive and disburse funds to influence the nomination, election

Question 12

501 (c)(4)s

Answer 12

Politically active nonprofits can spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns

Question 13

Party machines

Answer 13

Strong party organizations

Question 14

Patronage

Answer 14

Resources available to higher officials , usually opportunities to make partisan appointments to confer grants

Question 15

Policy entrepreneur

Answer 15

Individual who identifies a problem as a policial issue

Question 16

Majority party

Answer 16

Party that holds the majority legislative seats in house or senate

Question 17

Party identification

Answer 17

Individuals voter psychological ties to one party or another

Question 18

Party activists

Answer 18

Partisans who contribuye time, energy, effort, to support their party and it’s candidates

Question 19

Gender gap

Answer 19

Distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting differences in views between woman and men

Question 20

Dealignment

Answer 20

Movement away from the major political parties

Question 21

Electoral realignment

Answer 21

When new party supplants the ruling party becoming in turn the dominant political force

Question 22

divided government

Answer 22

Presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress

Question 23

Party polarization

Answer 23

Division between two major parties on most policy issues

Question 24

Third parties

Answer 24

Parties that organize to compete against the two major American political parties