Ch. 9 Key Terms

Front 1

political parties

Back 1

like interest groups, are organizations that seek influence over government. Ordinarily, they can be distinguished from interest groups on the basis of their orientation. A party seek to control the government by electing its members to office

Front 2

two-party system

Back 2

emerged early in the history of the new republic. Beginning with the Federalists and the Jeffersonian Republicans.

Front 3

electoral realignments

Back 3

The points of transition between party systems in American history are sometimes called these. During these periods, the coalitions that support the parties and the balance of power between the parties are redefined. In historical terms, realignments occur when new issues, comined with economic or political crises, mobilize new voters and persuade large numbers of them to reexamine their traditional partisan loyalties and blah blah blah

Front 4

divided government

Back 4

wherein the presidency is controlled by one party while the other party controls one or both houses of Congress.

Front 5

party polarization

Back 5

A distinguishing feature of the contemporary party system.

Front 6

third parties

Back 6

although the United States has a two-party dominant system, the country has always had more than two parties. these parties bring up extra issues for the winners to think about and sometimes split the vote.

Front 7

party organization

Back 7

exist at virtually every level of government. these organizations are usually committees made up of a number of active party members.

Front 8

caucuses

Back 8

Usually committee members are elected at local party meetings, called caucuses, or as part of a regular primary election.

Front 9

national convention

Back 9

At the national level, the party's most important institution. The convention, held every four years, is attended by delegates from each of the states.

Front 10

platform

Back 10

the list of things a politician supposedly stands for that nobody reads.

Front 11

527 committees

Back 11

groups organized to promote and publicize political issues.

Front 12

soft money

Back 12

money raised by the DNC and RNC.

Front 13

machines.

Back 13

state and local party organizations

Front 14

patronage

Back 14

political machines ability to control government jobs.

Front 15

party identification

Back 15

choosing weather to wear blue or red.

Front 16

party activists.

Back 16

vote and contribute their time and effort to party affairs.

Front 17

gender gap

Back 17

the difference between female and male voting preferences. females lean democratic, males lean more republican relatively.

Front 18

nomination

Back 18

the process by which a candidate selects a single candidate to run for each elective office.

Front 19

policy entrepraneurs

Back 19

looking for new ways to get votes and undermine the opposing politicians

Front 20

majority party

Back 20

party that holds the majority of seats in the house.

Front 21

minority party

Back 21

the other party.