Politcal Parties

Question 1

Political Party

Answer 1

An organization that seeks political power by electing people to office so that its positions and philosophy become public policy

Question 2

Nonpartisan Election

Answer 2

A local or judicial election in which candidates are not selected to endorsed by political parties and party affiliation is not listed on ballots

Question 3

Patronage

Answer 3

The dispensing of government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party

Question 4

Soft Money

Answer 4

Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state or local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts

Question 5

Hard Money

Answer 5

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amounts and fully disclosed. Raising such limited funds is harder than raising unlimited funds, hence the term, “hard money”

Question 6

Honeymoon

Answer 6

Period at the beginning of the new president’s term during which the president enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress, usually lasting about 6 months

Question 7

Caucus

Answer 7

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide te platform

Question 8

Party Convention

Answer 8

A meeting of party delegates to vote on matters of policy and in some cases to select party candidates for public office

Question 9

Direct Primary

Answer 9

Election in which voters choose party nominees

Question 10

Open Primary

Answer 10

Primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote

Question 11

Crossover Voting

Answer 11

Voting by member of one party for a candidate of another party

Question 12

Closed Primary

Answer 12

Primary election in which only persons registered in the party holding the primary may vote

Question 13

Proportional Representation

Answer 13

An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote

Question 14

Winner-take-all System

Answer 14

Election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins

Question 15

Minor Party

Answer 15

A small political party that rises and falls with a charismatic candidate or, if composed of ideologies on the right or left, usually persists over time; also called a third party

Question 16

Libertarian Party

Answer 16

A minor party that believes in extremely limited government. Libertarians call for a free market system, expanded individual liberties such as drug legalization, and a foreign policy of nonintervention, free trade, and open immigration

Question 17

Green Party

Answer 17

A minor party dedicated to the environment, social justice, nonviolence, and the foreign policy of nonintervention.

Question 18

Reform Party

Answer 18

A minor party founded by Ross Perot in 1995. It focuses on national government reform, fiscal responsibility, and political accountability. It has recently struggled with internal strife and criticism that it lacks an identity

Question 19

Realigning Election

Answer 19

An election during periods of expanded suffrage and change in the economy and society that proves to be a turning point, redefining the agenda of politics and the alignment of voters within parties

Question 20

Laissez-faire Economics

Answer 20

Theory that opposes governmental interferences in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property

Question 21

Keynesian Economics

Answer 21

Theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes, stating that government spending should increase during business slumps and the curve during booms

Question 22

National Party Convention

Answer 22

A national meeting of delegates elected in primaries, caucuses, or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president, ratify the party platform, elect officers, and adopt rules

Question 23

Party Registration

Answer 23

The act of declaring party affiliation; required by some states when one registers to vote

Question 24

Party Identification

Answer 24

An infromal and subjective affiliation with a political party that most people acquire in childhood

Question 25

Dealignment

Answer 25

Weakening of partisan preferences that points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of independents