Chapter 9: Vocab

Question 0

TWO-PARTY SYSTEM

Answer 0

a system of government in which two parties compete for power

Question 1

POLITICAL PARTY

Answer 1

an association of voters with broad common interests who want to influence or control decision making in government by electing the party’s candidates to public office

Question 2

THIRD PARTY

Answer 2

a party that challenges the two major parties

Question 3

PLATFORM

Answer 3

a series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues

Question 4

PLANK

Answer 4

each individual part of a political party’s platform

Question 5

NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Answer 5

representatives from the 50 state party organization who run a political party

Question 6

CAUCUS

Answer 6

a meeting of political party members to conduct party business

Question 7

PRECINCT

Answer 7

a geographic area that contains a specific number of voters

Question 8

WARD

Answer 8

several adjoining precincts making up a larger election unit

Question 9

POLITICAL MACHINE

Answer 9

a strong party organization that can control political appointments and deliver votes

Question 10

DIRECT PRIMARY

Answer 10

an election in which voters choose candidates to represent each party in a general election

Question 11

CLOSED PRIMARY

Answer 11

an election in which only the declared members of a party are allowed to vote for that party’s nominees

Question 12

OPEN PRIMARY

Answer 12

an election in which voters need not declare their party preference to vote for the party’s nominees

Question 13

PLURALITY

Answer 13

the most votes among all those running for a political office

Question 14

MAJORITY

Answer 14

a number that is more than 50 percent of the total

Question 15

PETITION

Answer 15

a process by which candidates who are not affiliated with one of the two major parties can get on the ballot for the general election in most states