Jasmine Elizalde-Chapter 11 vocab Flashcards
political party
an organized group that may include office holders, candidates, activists, and voters who pursue their common interests by gaining and exercising power through the electoral process.
Thomas Jefferson
principle drafter of the declaration of independence; second vice president of the United States; third president of the US from 1801-1809. Co-founder of the democratic-republican party.
political machine
a party organization that recruits voter loyalty with tangible incentives and is characterized by a high degree of control over member activity.
candidate-centered politics
politics that focus on the candidates, their particular issues, and character rather than party affiliation.
party realignment
dramatic shifts in partisan preferences that drastically alter the political landscape.
critical election
an election that signals a party realignment through voter polarization around new issues and personalities.
secular realignment
the gradual rearrangement of party coalitions, based more on demographic shifts than on shocks to the political system.
national convention
a party meeting held in the presidential election year for the purposes of nominating a presidential and vice presidential ticket and adopting a platform.
delegate
role played by representative who votes the way his or her constituents would want, regardless of personal opinions; may refer to an elected representative to congress or a representative to the party convention.
superdelegate
delegate to the democratic party’s national convention that is reserved for a party official and whose vote at the convention is unpledged to a candidate.
Donald J. Trump
the 45 president, republican, elected in 2016; first president elected without prior political or military experience; an experienced businessman.
national party platform
a statement of the general and specific philosophy and policy goals of a political party, usually promulgated at the national convention.
Barack Obama
the first african american president of the US, democrat, who served as 44 president from 2009-2017, senator from Illinois from 2005-2008; member of the Illinois Senate from 1997-2004.
party identification
a citizen’s attachment to a political party based on issues, ideology, past experience, or upbringing, which tends to be a reliable indicator of likely voting choices.
Hillary Clinton
first female major party candidate for president of the US, democrat, who ran against President Donald J. Trump in 2016. secretary of state from 2009-2013; new york senator from 2001-2009; former first lady.
