Ap Government Chapter 8 Vocabulary

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Blue Dog Democrats

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Fiscally conservative Democrats who are mostly form the South and/or rural parts of the US.

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Caucus (Nominating)

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

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Closed Primaries

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Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party's candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyality.

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Coalition

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A group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends.

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Critical Elections

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An election where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and majority party is often replaced by the minority party. Critical election periods are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election to bring about a new party era.

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Direct Primary (Primary)

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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.

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Divided Government

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When one party controls the White House and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress.

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Gridlock

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The inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government.

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Initiative

Back 9

A proposal favored by progessive reformers to curtail corruption. It allows a law to be enacted directly by vote of the people without approval of a legislative body.

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Linkage Institutions

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The channel through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

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National Chairman

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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 the national committee.

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National Committee

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Delegates from each state and territory who manage party affairs between national conventions. These exist at the national level for both major political parties.

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National Convention

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The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.

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New Deal Coalition

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A coalition forged by the Democrats, who dominated American politics from the 1930s to the 1960s. Its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals.

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Open Primary

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Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests.

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Party Realignment

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Displacement of the majority party by the minority party.

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Patronage

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One of the key inducements used by party machines. A patronage job, promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.

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Plurality System

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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.

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Political Machines (Party Machine)

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

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Political Party

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A group seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.

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Single Member Districts

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An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official. Biggest obstacle to third party success.

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Superdelegates

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Party leaders and elected officials who become delegates to the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses.

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Third Parties

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Electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections.

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Split Ticketing Voting

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Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. It has become the norm in American voting behavior.

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Two - Party System

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

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Winner - Take - All System

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An element of the electoral system used in the United States which requires that one member of the House of Representatives can be elected from wach congressional district.

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Frontloading

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Choosing an early date to hold the primary election.

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Referendum

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A state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove legislation or a constitutional amendment proposed by the state legislature.