Chapter 8 Political Parties APGoPo

New Deal Coalition

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

Political party

A group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy Sentence: An example of a political party is Republican.

national 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, ratify the party platform, elect officers, and adopt rules. Sentence: This is held every 4 years.

party eras

A time period characterized by national dominance by one political party. Sentence: There have been four major party eras in American history: the era of good feeling, the Republican era following the Civil War, the Democratic era following the election of Franklin Roosevelt, and the Republican era following the election of Richard Nixon.

party machines

A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements Sentence: Some party machines rely on patronage.

responsible party model

A view favored by some political scientists about how parties should work. Sentence: According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters, who can then use those choices as cues to their own preferences of candidates. Once in office, parties would carry out their campaign promises.

coalition

An alliance between two political parties with the aim of improving their chances of winning an election Sentence: Each party chooses their own coalition of interest.

critical election

An election when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty. Sentence: People change their vote and views.

proportional representation

An electoral system that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election. Sentence: It is used throughout most of Europe.

party identification

An informal and subjective affiliation with a political party that most people acquire in childhood. Sentence: Most people choose independent as their party identification.

third parties

Any party that is not a Dem or Repub. Focuses mainly on issues. Unlikely to win because the US is a two party designed system. Ex: Green Party, Libertarian, Business Conservative, etc.

closed primaries

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 loyalty Sentence: This is one of the three types of primaries.

open primaries

Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests. Sentence: This is one of the three types of primaries.

patronage

Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support Sentence: Most party machines use patronage to win votes.

national committee

National party organization that, with Congressional leaders and President, runs party affairs between national conventions, (DNC and RNC, each is headed by a chairperson). Sentence: They have many roles in the national convention.

national chairperson

Person responsible for the day-to-day activities of the party Sentence: They are usually hand-picked by the presidential nominee.

party neutrality

Term used to describe the fact that many Americans are indifferent toward to two major political parties. Sentence: Many people are independent.

Party Competition

The battle of the parties for control of public offices. Ups and downs of the two major parties are one of the most important elements in American politics. Sentence: In every election, there is party competition.

linkage institutions

The channels 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 Ex: media

Party dealignment

The gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties Sentence: It is seen in party by shrinking party identification.

party realignment

The majority party is displaced by the minority party, thus ushering in a new party era. Sentence: For example, in 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) led the New Deal coalition of blue-collar workers, racial minorities, Southerners, and farm laborers to a sweeping electoral victory.

party image

The voter's perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism Sentence: A party image of Democrats is pro-choice for abortion.

ticket splitting

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

coalition government

When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. Sentence: This form of government is quite common in the multiparty systems of Europe.

winner take all system

an electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies. Sentence: In US presidential elections, the system in which the winner of the popular vote in a state receives all the electoral votes of that state

blanket primaries

elections to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of candidates from all the parties. Voters can then select some Democrats and some Republicans if they like. Sentence: This is one of the three types of primaries.

rational- choice theory

popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. it Sentence: It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives