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Question 2

party competition

Answer 2

The battle of the parties for control of public offices. Causes ups and downs for each party.

Question 3

political party

Answer 3

According to Anthony Downs “a team of men and women seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.

Question 4

linkage institutions

Answer 4

The channels or access points through which issues and people’s policy preferences get on the government’s policy agenda.

Question 5

party image

Answer 5

The voter’s perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism.

Question 6

rational-choice theory

Answer 6

A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.

Question 7

party identification

Answer 7

A citizen’s self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other.

Question 8

ticket-splitting

Answer 8

Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices.

Question 9

party machines

Answer 9

A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern.

Question 10

patronage

Answer 10

One of the key inducements used by party machines. Money or other gifts/services.

Question 11

closed primaries

Answer 11

Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party’s candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty.

Question 12

open primaries

Answer 12

Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests.

Question 13

blanket primaries

Answer 13

Elections to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of candidates from all the parties. Voters can then select some Democrats and some Republicans if they like.

Question 14

national convention

Answer 14

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party’s platform.

Question 15

national committee

Answer 15

One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. The national committee is composed of representatives from the states and territories.

Question 16

national chairperson

Answer 16

The national chairperson is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the party and is usually hand-picked by the presidential nominee.

Question 17

coalition

Answer 17

A group of individuals with a common interest upon which every political party depends.

Question 18

party eras

Answer 18

Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections.

Question 19

critical election

Answer 19

An electoral “earthquake” where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party.

Question 20

party realignment

Answer 20

The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period.

Question 21

New Deal coalition

Answer 21

A coalition forged by the Democrats, who dominated American politics from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Question 22

party dealignment

Answer 22

The gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification.

Question 23

party neutrality

Answer 23

A term used to describes the fact that many Americans are indifferent toward to two major political parties.

Question 24

third parties

Answer 24

Electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections.

Question 25

winner-take-all system

Answer 25

An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies.

Question 26

proportional representation

Answer 26

An electoral system used throughout most of Europe that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election.

Question 27

coalition government

Answer 27

When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. This form of government is quite common in the multiparty systems of Europe.

Question 28

responsible party model

Answer 28

A view favored by some political scientists about how parties should work. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters, who can then use those choices as clues to their own preference of candidates. Once in office, parties would carry out their campaign promises.