Political Parties Stuff

Question 1

caucus

Answer 1

An alternative to a state primary in which party followers meet to select party candidates.

Question 2

congressional campaign committee

Answer 2

Separate committees in Congress for each political party to help members or would-be members running for election.

Question 3

direct primary

Answer 3

A proposal originated by progressive reformers that permits a vote of party members to select the party’s nominee in the general election.

Question 4

economic-protest parties

Answer 4

Parties that protest against depressed economic conditions.

Question 5

factional parties

Answer 5

Parties that are created by a split in a major party.

Question 6

first party system

Answer 6

The original party structure in which political parties were loose caucuses of political notables in various locations.

Question 7

ideological party

Answer 7

A political party organization that values principle above all else. Spurns money incentives.

Question 8

initiative

Answer 8

Allows a law to be enacted directly by vote of the people without approval of a legislative body.

Question 9

mugwumps (or progressives)

Answer 9

One of two major factions, largely within the Republican Party: opposed the heavy emphasis on patronage and disliked the party machinery.

Question 10

national chair

Answer 10

The person responsible for managing the day-to-day work of a national political party.

Question 11

national committee

Answer 11

Delegates from each state and territory who manage party affairs between national conventions.

Question 12

national party convention

Answer 12

The ultimate authority in both major political parties in the United States.

Question 13

Old Guard

Answer 13

One of two major factions, largely within the Republican party, preoccupied with building up the party machinery, developing party loyalty, and acquiring and dispensing patronage.

Question 14

one-issue parties

Answer 14

Parties seeking a single policy.

Question 15

personal following

Answer 15

A type of local party organization in which a candidate gets people to work for them for a campaign, then the organization disbands until the next election.

Question 16

plurality system

Answer 16

An electoral system in which the winner is that person who gets the most votes, even without a majority of the votes.

Question 17

political machine

Answer 17

A political party organization that recruits its members with tangible incentives, and displays a high degree of leadership over members’ activities.

Question 18

political party

Answer 18

A group that seeks to elect candidates to public office.

Question 19

second party system

Answer 19

The second party structure, built from the ground-up for political participation.

Question 20

solidary group

Answer 20

A political party organization based on gregarious or game-loving instincts.

Question 21

solidary incentive

Answer 21

An inducement that attracts people out of gregarious or game-loving instincts.

Question 22

special interest caucus

Answer 22

A group within a political party united by a concern over a specific cause.

Question 23

sponsored party

Answer 23

A political party organization created or sponsored by another organization.

Question 24

superdelegates

Answer 24

Elected officials and party leaders present at the national convention of the Democratic party.

Question 25

two-party system

Answer 25

An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in state or national elections.

Question 26

unit rule

Answer 26

A requirement that all delegates representing a state at a national party convention vote with the majority of their state delegation.

Question 27

winner-take-all system

Answer 27

An element of the electoral system used in the United States which precludes proportional representation.