Chapter 7 – Interest Groups

Front 1

Democratic Party

Back 1

One of the two major American political parties evolving out of the Republican Party of Thomas Jefferson.

Front 2

Direct technique

Back 2

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

Front 3

Divided government

Back 3

A situation in which one major political party controls the presidency and the other controls Congress or in which one party controls a state governorship and the other controls the state legislature.

Front 4

Electoral college

Back 4

A group of persons, called electors, that officially elects the president and the vice president of the United States. The electors are selected by the voters in each state and the District of Columbia.

Front 5

Era of Good Feelings

Back 5

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

Front 6

Faction

Back 6

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

Front 7

Independent

Back 7

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

Front 8

Indirect technique

Back 8

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

Front 9

Interest group

Back 9

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

Front 10

Labor movement

Back 10

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

Front 11

Lobbyist

Back 11

An organization or individual who attempts to influence legislation and the administrative decisions of government.

Front 12

National committee

Back 12

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

Front 13

National convention

Back 13

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

Front 14

Party identification

Back 14

Linking oneself to a particular political party.

Front 15

Party organization

Back 15

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

Front 16

Party platform

Back 16

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

Front 17

Patronage

Back 17

Rewarding faithful party members and followers with governmental employment and contracts.

Front 18

Plurality

Back 18

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.

Front 19

Political party

Back 19

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

Front 20

Public interest

Back 20

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

Front 21

Realignment

Back 21

A process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiances, producing a long term change in the political landscape.

Front 22

Republican party

Back 22

One of the two major American political parties. It emerged in the 1850’s as an anti-slavery party and consisted of former northern Whigs and antislavery Democrats.

Front 23

Service sector

Back 23

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

Front 24

Social movement

Back 24

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

Front 25

Splinter party

Back 25

A new party formed by a dissident faction within a major political party. Often, splinter parties have emerged when a particular personality was at odds with the major party.

Front 26

State-central committee

Back 26

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.

Front 27

Straight-ticket voting

Back 27

Voting exclusively for the candidates of one political party.

Front 28

Third party

Back 28

A political party other than the two major political parties (Democrat and Republican).

Front 29

Split-Ticket voting

Back 29

Voting for candidates of two or more parties for different offices, such as voting for a Republican presidential candidate and a Democratic congressional candidate.

Front 30

Two-party system

Back 30

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

Front 31

Unit rule

Back 31

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.

Front 32

Whig party

Back 32

A major party in the United States during the first half of the 19th Century, formally established in 1836. The Whig party was anti-Jackson and represented a variety of interests.