Chapter 9: Political Parties

Question 0

POLITICAL PARTY

Answer 0

A group of political activists who organize to win elections, to operate the government, and to determine public policy.

Question 1

INDEPENDENT

Answer 1

A voter or candidate who does not identify with a political party.

Question 2

FACTION

Answer 2

A group or bloc in a legislature or political party acting together in pursuit of some special interests or position.

Question 3

CADRE

Answer 3

The nucleus of political party activists carrying out the major functions of American political parties.

Question 4

FEDERALISTS

Answer 4

The first American political party, led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. Many of its members had strongly supported the adoption of the new constitution and the creation of the federal union.

Question 5

ANTI-FEDERALISTS

Answer 5

Those who opposed the adoption of the constitution because of its centralist tendencies and attacked the failure of the Constitution’s framers to include a bill of rights.

Question 6

ERA OF PERSONAL POLITICS

Answer 6

The years from 1816 to 1828, when attention centered on the character of individual candidates rather than on party identification.

Question 7

ERA OF GOOD FEELING

Answer 7

The years from 1817 to 1825, when James Monroe was president and there was, in effect, no political opposition.

Question 8

DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Answer 8

One of the two major American political parties evolving out of the Democratic (Jeffersonian) Republican group supporting Thomas Jefferson.

Question 9

WHIG PARTY

Answer 9

One of the foremost political organizations in the United States during the first half of the nineteenth century, formally established in 1836. The Whig party was dominated by the same anti-Jackson elements that organized the National Republican faction within the democratic (Jeffersonian) Republicans and represented a variety of regional interests. It fell apart as a national party in the early 1850s.

Question 10

REPUBLICAN PARTY

Answer 10

One of the two major American political parties, which emerged in the 1850s as an antislavery party. It was created to fill the vacuum caused by the disintegration of the Whig Party.

Question 11

DIVIDED GOVERNMENT

Answer 11

A situation in which one major political party controls the presidency and the other controls the chambers of Congress, or in which one party controls a state governorship and the other controls the state legislature.

Question 12

PARTY-IN-THE-ELECTORATE

Answer 12

Those members of the general public who identify with a political party or who express a preference for one party over the other.

Question 13

PARTY ORGANIZATION

Answer 13

The formal structure and leadership of a political party, including election committees; local, state, and national executives; and paid professional staff.

Question 14

PARTY GOVERNMENT

Answer 14

All of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a political party.

Question 15

NATIONAL CONVENTION

Answer 15

The meeting held every four years by each major party to select presidential and vice presidential candidates, to write a platform, to choose a national committee, and to conduct party business. In theory, the national convention is at the top of a hierarchy of party conventions (the local and state conventions are below it) that consider candidates and issues.

Question 16

PARTY PLATFORM

Answer 16

A document drawn up by the platform committee at each national convention, outlining the policies, positions, and principles of the party; it is then submitted to the entire convention for approval.

Question 17

NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Answer 17

A standing committee of a national political party est. to direct and coordinate party activities during the four-year period between national party conventions.

Question 18

STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Answer 18

The principle organized structure of each political party within each state. This committee is responsible for Carr out policy decisions of the party’s state convention.

Question 19

UNIT RULE

Answer 19

All of a state’s electoral votes are cast for the presidential candidate receiving a plurality of the popular vote in that state.

Question 20

PATRONAGE

Answer 20

Rewarding faithful party workers and followers with government employment and contracts.

Question 21

TICKET SPLITTING

Answer 21

Voting for candidates of two or more parties for different offices. For example, a voter splits her ticket if she votes for a Republican presidential candidate and for a Democratic congressional candidate.

Question 22

TWO-PARTY SYSTEM

Answer 22

A political system in which only two parties have a reasonable chance of winning.

Question 23

SECTIONAL POLITICS

Answer 23

The pursuit of interests that are of special concern to a region or section of the country.

Question 24

NATIONAL POLITICS

Answer 24

The pursuit in interests that are of concern to the nation as a whole.

Question 25

CLASS POLITICS

Answer 25

Political preferences based on income level, social status, or both.

Question 26

PLURALITY

Answer 26

The total votes cast for a candidate who receives more votes than any other candidate but not necessarily a majority. Most national, state, and local electoral laws provide for winning elections by a plurality vote.

Question 27

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

Answer 27

A group of persons called electors who are selected by the voters in each state. This group officially elects the president and the Vice President of the United States. The number of electors in each state is equal to the number of each state’s representatives in both chambers of congress.

Question 28

THIRD PARTY

Answer 28

A political party other than the two major political parties (Republican and Democratic). Usually, third parties are composed of dissatisfied groups that have split from the major parties. They act as indicators of political trends and as safety valves for dissidents groups.

Question 29

SPLINTER PARTY

Answer 29

A new party formed by a dissident faction within a major political party. Usually, splinter parties have emerged when a particular personality was at odds with the major party.

Question 30

PARTY IDENTIFICATION

Answer 30

Linking oneself to a particular political party.