Chapter 8 Ap Gov

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independent

Back 1

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

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political party

Back 2

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

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faction

Back 3

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

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two party system

Back 4

a political system in which only 2 parties have a reasonable chance of winning

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Era of Good Feelings

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the years 1817-1825, when James Monroe was president and there was, in effect, no political opposition

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democratic party

Back 6

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

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Whig Party

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a major party in the United States during the first half of the 19th century, formally stablished in 1836. anti-Jackson

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Republican party

Back 8

one of the two major political parties. emerged in the 1850s as an antislavery party and consisted of former Northern Whigs and antislavery Democrats

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Reverse-Income effect

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a tendency for wealthier states to favor the democrats and for less wealthy states to favor the Republicans. the effect appears paradoxical because it reverses traditional patterns of support

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party in the electorate

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those members of the general public who identify with a political party or who express a preference for one party over another

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party organization

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

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party in the government

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all of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a political party

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national convention

Back 13

the meeting held every 4 years by each major party to select presidential and vice presidential candidates, to write a national committee, and to conduct party business

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party platfrom

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

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national committee

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

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state central committee

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a 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

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unit rule

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

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patronage

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rewarding faithful party workers and followers with government employment and contracts

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divided government

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a situation in which one major political party controls the presidency and the other controls the camber of congress, or in which one party controls a state governorship and the other controls in the state legislature

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ticket splitting

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voting for candidates of two or more parties for different offices

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safe seat

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a district that returns the legislator with 55% of the vote or more

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plurality

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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

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electoral college

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a group or persons called electors, selected by the voters in each state. this group officially elects the president and vice president of the united states

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third party

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a political party other than the two major political parties

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splinter party

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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

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realignment

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

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dealignment

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a decline in party loyalties that reduces long term party commitment

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party identification

Back 28

linking oneself to a particular political party

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straight-ticket voting

Back 29

voting exclusively for the candidates of one party

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swing voters

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voters who frequently swing their support from one party to another

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tipping

Back 31

a phenomenon that occurs when a group that is becoming more numerous over time grows large enough to change the political balance in a district, state, or country