Political Parties Flashcards
Plurality system
Candidate with the most votes gets elected
Single member districts
Electoral district that returns one office holder to a body with multiple member suck as a legislator
Gridlock
Situation of difficulty passing laws or congress in controlled y two parties that can’t agree
Soft money
Money that is distributed from the national political organization
Two party system
May be several political parties but only two major political parties compete for power and dominate elections
National chairperson
Responsible for directions the work of the national committee from their national headquarters in Washington DC
National convention
Party delegates meet in the summer of every fourth year to select the party’s confidantes for president and Vice President, they are also responsible for writing and adopting the party’s platform
Realignment
Dominant party loses power and a new dominant party takes its place
Political parties
Voluntary associations of people who seek to control the government through common principles based upon peaceful and legal actions, such as the winning elections
Divided government
One political party controls the presidency and the opposing party one or both houses of congress
Dealignment
When significant numbers of voters no longer support a particular political party
Caucus
Closed political meeting
Straight ticket
Voting for all members in the same party
Split ticket
Not choosing to vote for members all in the same party
Super delegates
Unelected delegate who can choose any candidate for the presidential nomination at the party’s national convention
