Gov Chapter 6 Political Parties Vocabulary

caucus

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform

party convention

A meeting of party delegates to vote on matters of policy and, in some cases, to select party candidates for public office

party identification

An affiliation with a political party that most people acquire in childhood. The best predictor of voting behavior in partisan candidate elections.

patronage

The dispersing of government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party

honeymoon

The period at the beginning of a new president's term during which the president enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress, usually lasting about six months

national party convention

A national meeting of delegates elected in primaries, caucuses, or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president, rectify the party platform, elect officers, and adopt rules

open primary

A primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote

closed primary

A primary election in which only persons registered in the party holding the primary may vote

minor party

A small political party that persists over time that is often composed of ideologies on the right or left, or centered on a charismatic candidate; also called a third party

realigning election

An election during periods of expanded suffrage and change in the economy and society that proves to be a turning point, redefining the agenda of politics and the alignment of voters within parties

nonpartisan election

An election in which candidates are not selected or endorsed by political parties, and party affiliation is not listed on ballots

direct primary

An election in which voters choose party nominees

proportional representation

An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote

winner-take-all system

An election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins

political party

An organization that seeks political power by electing people to office so that its positions and philosophy become public policy

platform

Every four years the political parties draft a document stating the policy positions of the party; it forms details general party-wide issue stances; process sometimes engenders disputes among fellow partisans but is rarely an election issue and often is written to avoid controversy

divided government

Governance divided between the parties, as when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress

soft money

Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state or local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.

hard money

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed. Raising such limited funds was harder than raising unlimited soft money, hence term.

party-independent expenditures

Spending by political party committees that is independent of the candidate. The spending occurs in relatively few competitive contests and is often substantial.

party registration

The act of declaring party affiliation; required by some states when one registers to vote

crossover voting

Voting by a member of one party for a candidate of another party

dealignment

Weakening of partisan preferences that point to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of Independents