Ch. 12

Front 1

Political Gridlock

Back 1

the stalemate that occurs when political rivals, especially parties, refuse to budge from their positions to achieve a compromise in the public interest.

Front 2

Political Party

Back 2

a group of citizens united by ideology and seeking control of government in order to promote their ideas and policies.

Front 3

Partisanship

Back 3

loyalty to a political cause or party

Front 4

Party Organization

Back 4

the official structure that conducts the political business of parties.

Front 5

Party-in-government

Back 5

members of the party who have been elected to serve in government

Front 6

Party-in-the-electorate

Back 6

ordinary citizens who identify with the party

Front 7

Party identification

Back 7

voter affiliation with a political party

Front 8

Party base

Back 8

members of a political party who consistently vote for the party's candidates

Front 9

Responsible party model

Back 9

party government when four conditions are met: clear choice of ideologies, candidates pledged to implement ideas, party held accountable by voters, and party control over members

Front 10

Party Platform

Back 10

list of policy positions a party endorses and pledges its elected officials to enact

Front 11

Party activists

Back 11

the "party faithful"; the rank-and-file members who actually carry out the party's electioneering efforts

Front 12

Party Machines

Back 12

mass-based party systems in which parties provided services and resources to voters in exchange for votes

Front 13

Party bosses

Back 13

party leaders, usually in an urban district, who exercised tight control over electioneering and patronage

Front 14

Patronage

Back 14

system in which successful party candidates reward supporters with jobs of favors

Front 15

Party primary

Back 15

nomination of party candidates by registered party members rather than party bosses

Front 16

Party eras

Back 16

extended periods of relative political stability in which one party tends to control both the presidency and Congress

Front 17

Critical election

Back 17

an election signaling a significant change in popular allegiance from one party to another

Front 18

Realignment

Back 18

substantial and long-term shift in party allegiance by individuals and groups, usually resulting in a change in policy direction.

Front 19

Dealignment

Back 19

a trend among voters to identify themselves as independents rather than as members of a major party

Front 20

Electioneering

Back 20

the process of getting a person elected to public office

Front 21

Closed primaries

Back 21

primary elections in which only registered party members may vote

Front 22

Open primaries

Back 22

primary election in which eligible voters do not need to be registered party members

Front 23

Soft money

Back 23

unregulated campaign contributions by individuals, groups, or parties that promote general election activities but do not directly support individual candidates

Front 24

Governing

Back 24

activities directed toward controlling the distribution of political resources by providing executive and legislative leadership, enacting agendas, mobilizing support, and building coalitions

Front 25

Party discipline

Back 25

ability of party leaders to bring party members in the legislature into line with the party program

Front 26

Nominating convention

Back 26

formal party gathering to choose candidates