Chapter 5 Political Parties

Coalition

a group united for a greater cause, A set of individuals or groups supporting the party

Realignment

a party realignment can be triggered by a critical election, where the majority party is displaced by the minority party, thus ushering a new party era. It can have a lasting impact on public policy, popular support for the parties, and the composition of the party coalitions.

Two-party system

a system in which two political parties have a real chance of acquiring control of the government. Two major political parties compete for control of public offices.

Party chairperson

the chief strategist and spokesperson. It tends to be the public face of the party and run the party machinery. It is formally elected by members of the national committee: in practice chosen or retained by party's presidential nominee at end of national convention: the main job, in theory, is to manage presidential campaign

Dealignment

the process of disengagement of people from political parties is called party dealignment. Means that people are gradually moving away from both political parties

National Party Structure

the republican and democratic committee comprises a hierarchy of hundreds of employees and complex networks dedicated to furthering party goals, each includes public leaders and other elite activists. It helps sharpen policy initiative and to increase their influence.

Superdelegates

high ranking delegates not beholden to any state primary vote, it was created to give more independence to the party's elite. party leaders and elected officials who become delegates to the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses not required to pledge themselves in advance to a presidential candidate

State and local parties

every state has a statewide party organization, headquartered in the state's capital city and carrying out many of the same activities as the national party, they help keep the parties running between elections.

Critical elections

happens when a national crisis forces voters to confront divisive issues that fracture party coalitions. Significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty.

Minor parties

A small political party that rises and falls with a charismatic candidate or, if composed of ideologies on the right or left, usually persists over time; also called a third party.

Single-member districts

An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official. based on the principle of having only one member selected from each electoral district

Splinter parties/bolter parties

Parties that are created by the split in a major political party, usually over the philosophy of the major party's presidential candidate. Often broke off from a larger existing party due to an ideology differing from that of party leaders.

Economic protest parties

Parties usually based in a specific region. Especially farmers that protest depressed economic conditions. Usually, disappear when conditions get better. Those with strong concerns about economic conditions.

Single-issue parties

Party that focuses on one issue. Usually, can be identified by their name. Created to advance a particular policy or to solve one political concern:

National conventions

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

Divided government

When the executive and legislative branches are controlled by different parties, this is a process of disengagement of people from political parties and a result of split tickets where the voters support candidates of different parties on the same ballot.

Platform

list of principles and plans each party hopes to enact, it is somewhat a contract between the members and its elected officials. A political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years. The platform is drafted prior to the party convention by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate's strength. It is the best formal statement of a party's beliefs.

Spoiler

the minor candidate causing a spoiler effect which is described as the effect a minor party candidate with little chance of winning has in a close election, when that candidate's presence in the election draws votes from a major candidate similar to him/her, thereby causing the opposing candidate to win.

Hill Committees

the non-lawmaking committees in each party house of Congress, which are organized to win seats in the House and Senate.