Intro To Am. Politics- Ch. 7

Front 1

An organized group of individuals sharing common objectives who actively attempt to influence policymakers.

Back 1

Interest Groups

Front 2

An organization or individual that attempts to influence the passage, defeat, or contents of legislation and the administrative decisions of government.

Back 2

Lobbyist

Front 3

A group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate the government, and determine public policy.

Back 3

Political Party

Front 4

What are the two distinct differences between interest groups and political parties?

Back 4

1. Interest groups do not want to operate the government , and they do not put forth a political candidates-though they support candidates who will promote their interests if elected or reelected.
2. Interest groups tend to bring issues into focus, whereas Am. political parties tend to blur their issue positions to attract voters.

Front 5

A movement that represents the demands of a large segment of the public for political, economic, or social change.

Back 5

Social Movement

Front 6

Generally, the economic and political expression of working-class interests; politically, the organization of working-class interests.

Back 6

Labor Movement

Front 7

The sector of the economy that provides services-such as health care, banking, and education-in contrast to the sector that produces goods.

Back 7

Service Sector

Front 8

The best interests of the overall community; the national good, rather than the narrow interests of a particular group.

Back 8

Public Interest

Front 9

An interest group activity that involves interaction with government officials to further the group's goals.

Back 9

Direct Technique

Front 10

A strategy employed by interest groups that uses third parties to influence government officials.

Back 10

Indirect Technique

Front 11

A committee set up by and representing a corporation, labor union, or special interest group.

Back 11

Political Action Committee (PAC)
-PAC's raise and give campaign donations.

Front 12

Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.

Back 12

Soft Money

Front 13

Advertising paid for by interest groups that support or oppose a candidate or a candidate's position on an issue without mentioning voting or elections.

Back 13

Issue Adovocacy Advertising

Front 14

A voter or candidate who does not identify with a political party.

Back 14

Independent

Front 15

A group or block in a legislature or political party acting in pursuit of some special interest or position.

Back 15

Faction

Front 16

A political system in which only two parties have a reasonable chance of winning.

Back 16

Two-Party System

Front 17

The years from 1817 to 1825, when James Monroe was president and there was, in effect, no political opposition.

Back 17

Era of Good Feelings

Front 18

One of the 2 major Am. political parties evolving out of the Republican Party of Thomas Jefferson.

Back 18

Democratic Party

Front 19

A major party in the U.S. during the first half of the nineteenth century, formally established in 1836.

Back 19

Whig Party
The Whig Party was anti-Jackson and represented a variety of regional interests.

Front 20

One of the 2 major Am. political parties. It emerged in the 1850s as an antislavery party.

Back 20

Republican Party
-It consisted of former northern Whigs and antislavery Democrats.

Front 21

The formal structure and leadership of a political party, including election committees; local, state, and national executives; and paid professional staff.

Back 21

Party Organization

Front 22

The meeting held every four years by each major party to select presidential and vice-presidential candidates, to write a platform, to choose a national committee, and to conduct party business.

Back 22

National Convention

Front 23

A document drawn up at each national convention, outlining the policies, positions, and principles of the party.

Back 23

Party Platform

Front 24

A standing committee of a national political party established to direct and coordinate party activities between national party conventions.

Back 24

National Committee

Front 25

The principal organized structure of each political party within each state. This committee is responsible for carrying out policy decisions of the party's state convention.

Back 25

State Central Committee

Front 26

A rule by which all of a state's electoral votes are cast for the presidential candidate receiving a plurality of the popular vote in that state.

Back 26

Unit Rule

Front 27

Rewarding faithful party workers and followers with government employment and contracts.

Back 27

Patronage

Front 28

A situation in which one major political party controls the presidency and the other contols the chamber of congress or in which one party controls a state governorship and the other controls the state legislature.

Back 28

Divided Government

Front 29

Voting for candidates of two or more parties for different offices.

Back 29

Ticket Splitting

-For example, a voter splits her ticket if she votes for a Republican pres. and for a Democratic congressional candidate.

Front 30

A number of votes cast for a candidate that is greater than the number of votes for any other candidate but not necessarily a majority.

Back 30

Plurality

Front 31

A group of persons, called electors, who are selected by the voters in each state. This group officially elects the president and the vice president of the U.S.

Back 31

Electoral College

Front 32

A political party other than the two major political parties.

Back 32

Third Party

Front 33

A new party formed by a dissident faction within a major political party.

Back 33

Splinter Party

-Often, splinter parties have emerged when a particular personality was at odds with the major party.