Ap Government: Chapter 7 - Political Parties

Front 1

Caucus

Back 1

An alternative to a state primary in which party followers meet, often for many hours, to select party candidates

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Congressional Campaign Committees

Back 2

Separate committees in Congress for each political party to help members who are running for reelection or would-be members running for an open seat or challenging a candidate from the opposition party

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Direct Primary

Back 3

A proposal originated by progressive reformers to open up political parties to their membership. It permits a vote of party members to select the party's nominee in the general election.

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Economic-protest Parties

Back 4

Parties, usually based in a particular region, especially involving farmers, that protest against depressed economic conditions. These tend to disappear as conditions improve. An example would be the Greenback party.

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Factional Parties

Back 5

Parties that are created by a split in a major party, usually over the identity and philosophy of the major party's presidential candidate. An example would be the "Bull Moose" Progressive party

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First Party System

Back 6

The original party structure in which political parties were loose caucuses of political notables in various locations. It was replaced around 1824.

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Ideological Party

Back 7

A political party organization that values principle above all else and spurns money incentives for members to participate.

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Initiative

Back 8

A proposal favored by progressive reformers to curtail corruption. It allows a law to be enacted directly by vote of the people without approval of a legislative body.

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Mugwumps (progressives)

Back 9

One of two major factions largely within the Republican party who opposed the heavy emphasis on patronage and disliked the party machinery because it only permitted bland candidates to rise to the top, was fearful of immigrants, and wanted to see the party take unpopular stances on certain issues. They challenged the Old Guard from 1896 to the 1930's.

Front 10

National Chairman

Back 10

The person responsible for managing the day-to-day work of a national political party. The person is given a full-time, paid position and is elected by the national committee.

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National Committee

Back 11

Delegates from each state and territory who manage party affairs between national conventions. These exist at the national level for both major political parties.

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National Party Convention

Back 12

The ultimate authority in both major political parties in the United States. The conventions are held every four years to nominate each party's candidate for the presidency.

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Old Guard

Back 13

One of two major factions largely within the Republican party, composed of the party regulars and professional politicians. They were preoccupied with building up the party machinery, developing party loyalty, and acquiring and dispensing patronage. They were chlalenged by progressives from around 1896 to the 1930's.

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One-issue Parties

Back 14

Parties seeking a single policy, usually revealed by their names, and avoiding other issues. An example would be the Free Soil Party.

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Personal Following

Back 15

A type of local party organization in which a candidate gets people to work for him or her for a campagn and then the organization disbands until the next election. To run this type of campaign, a candidate needs an appealing personality, a lot of friends, or a large bank account.

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Plurality System

Back 16

An electoral system in which the winner is that person who gets the most votes, even if they do not constitute a majority of votes.

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Political Machine

Back 17

A political party organization that recruits its members by the use of tangible incentives and is characterized by a high degree of leadership over members' activities.

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Political Party

Back 18

A group that seeks to elect candidates to public office by supplying them with a label by which they are known to the electorate.

Front 19

Second Party System

Back 19

The second party structure in the nation's history that emerged when Andrew Jackson first ran for the presidency in 1824. The system was built from the bottom up as political participation become a mass phenomenon

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Solidary Group

Back 20

A political party organization based on gregarious or game-loving instincts. IIt survies on the basis of a friendship network.

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Solidary Incentive

Back 21

An inducement that attracts people out of gregarious or game-loving instincts. It is one reason why people become involved in a state or local party organization.

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Special-interest Caucus

Back 22

A group within a political party united by a concern over a specific cause. The Democratic party has attempted to assure many special-interest groups representation at it s nation convention, although lately the party has moved away from this commitment.

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Sponsored Party

Back 23

A political party organization created or sponsored by another organization. This form of local party organization is rare in the United States.

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Superdelegates

Back 24

Elected officials and party leaders represented at the national convention of the Democratic part. Such representation was provided for by a recent party reform to ensure that an electable presidential candidate is selected.

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Unit Rule

Back 25

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

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Winner-take-all System

Back 26

An element of the electoral system used in theUnited States which requires that only one member of the House of Representatives can be elected from ecah congressional district.

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Two Party System

Back 27

An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in state or national elections. Third parties have little chance of winning.