Exam Ii Vocab For Texas Politics

Front 1

Political socialization

Back 1

The process by which we learn information, values, attitudes, and habits of behavior about politics and government

Front 2

Ideology

Back 2

A system of beliefs and values about the nature of the good life and the good society, and the part to be played by government in achieveing them

Front 3

Temporary party organization

Back 3

The organization formed to mobolize the party's potential electorate and win an election

Front 4

Laissez-faire

Back 4

A French phrase loosely meaning "leave it alone." It refers to the philosophy that values free markets and opposes government regulation of the economy.

Front 5

One-party system

Back 5

A state that is dominated by a single political party, characterized by an absence of party competition, inadequate debate of public policy, low voter turnout, and usually conservative public policy

Front 6

Permanent party organization

Back 6

The small, fixed organization that handles the routine business of a political party

Front 7

Conservatism

Back 7

A political ideology that, in general, opposes government regualtion of economic life and supports government regulation of personal life

Front 8

Liberalism

Back 8

A political ideology that, in general, supports government regualtion of economic life and opposes government regualtion of personal life

Front 9

Coalitions

Back 9

A group of interests and individuals supporting a party or a candidate for office

Front 10

Interest

Back 10

Something of value or some personal characteristic that people share and that is affected by government activity; interests are important both because they form the basis of interest groups and because parties attempt to form many interests into an electoral coalition

Front 11

Realignment

Back 11

A change in standing decision to support one party or another by a significant proportion of the electorate, resulting in a change in which party has a "normal" majority on election day

Front 12

Third party

Back 12

A minor political party that fails to achieve permanence but frequently influences the major parties and, through them, public policy

Front 13

Populist

Back 13

Someone who believes in the rights, wisdom, and issues of the common people, and that those people should be protected from exploitation by corporations, rich people, and government

Front 14

Political party

Back 14

An organization devoted to winning public office in elections, and thus exercising control over public policy