American Government Bju Chapter 8

Front 1

Political Parties

Back 1

groups that are organized to gain power by winning elections

Front 2

Major Parties

Back 2

dominant political competitiors

Front 3

minor parties

Back 3

smaller parties that are usually organized around a particular issue

Front 4

third parties

Back 4

same as minor party

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nominate

Back 5

name candidates for political office

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partisanship

Back 6

a strong devotion to a political party

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two-party system

Back 7

two major parties with which most of the electorate identifies

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single-member district

Back 8

legislative districts from which only one representative is chosen

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plurality

Back 9

largest number of votes cast for the office

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bipartisan

Back 10

a spirit of two party cooperation

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party platform

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a formal statement of a party's position on current issues

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liberal

Back 12

one whose political view seeks to change the political, economic, and social status quo to encourage the development and well-being of the individual

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conservative

Back 13

one whose political view defends the status quo against major changes in the political, economic, and social institutions of society.

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multiparty system

Back 14

common among many European democracies, several parties compete for majority support.

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coalition

Back 15

a temporary alliance of several groups

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convention

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first used by the Anti-Mason party in 1831 and then by the democratic party in 1832 is an assembly of party representatives, or delegates, elected from each state to nominate candidates for President and Vice-President.

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delegates

Back 17

party representatives

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caucus

Back 18

a small meeting of a party's top leaders and legislators in Congress.

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patronage

Back 19

the practice of giving jobs to friends and supporters

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spoils system

Back 20

another name for patronage

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political campaign

Back 21

an organized effort by a political party or candidate to attract voter support in an election

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primary

Back 22

a state election in which voters select the candidates who will run on each party's ticket in the general election

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nominating primary

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a state-run election for the purpose of selecting the party nominee for most local, state, and national offices.

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presidential primary

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voters elect the state party's delegate that will go to their political party's national convention to select the party's candidate.

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one-party system

Back 25

only one political party is allowed

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Republican National Committee

Back 26

carries on the administration of the party during the interim between national conventions. includes several state party chairmen.

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Democratic National Committee

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carries on the administration of the party during the interim between national conventions. includes all state chairmen and vice-chairmen as well as a number of mayors, governors, and members of congress.

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wards

Back 28

large cities, districts are divided into ?

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precincts

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wards are further divided into __? Smallest unit of election districts and party administration.

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interest groups

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groups formed around a particular issue or agenda

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independent voters

Back 31

voters who have no party affiliation, in the past 40 years

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ticket splitting

Back 32

voting for candidates of both parties for different offices