Government Unit 3 Chapter 7

Front 1

caucus (nominating)

Back 1

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

Front 2

congressional campaign committees

Back 2

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

Front 3

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.

Front 4

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.

Front 5

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.

Front 6

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.

Front 7

ideological party

Back 7

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

Front 8

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.

Front 9

mugwumps (or 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 around 1896 to the 1930s.

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 national committee.

Front 11

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.

Front 12

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.

Front 13

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 challenged by progressives from around 1896 to the 1930s.

Front 14

one-issue parties

Back 14

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

Front 15

personal following

Back 15

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

Front 16

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 the votes.

Front 17

political machine

Back 17

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

Front 18

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 became a mass phenomenon.

Front 20

solidary group

Back 20

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

Front 21

special-interest caucus

Back 21

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 its national convenvention, although lately the party has moved away from this commitment.

Front 22

sponsored party

Back 22

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

Front 23

superdelegates

Back 23

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

Front 24

two-party system

Back 24

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

Front 25

unit rule

Back 25

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

Front 26

winner-take-all system

Back 26

An element of the electoral system used in the United states which requires that only one member of thehouse of Representatives can be elected from each congressional district.