The American Party System Unit 4

Appointment

A designation to serve, based upon ability and other qualifications

Caucus

A gathering of party leaders to talk over possible candidates

Whig Party

A party formed mainly to fight the Democratic party and Andrew Jackson.

Adopt

Accepted and agreed upon

Controversial

An issue that may not be agreed upon by many different sides, and causes many debates.

Plank

An issue upon which the campaign may build, such as civil rights, taxes, energy, or education.

Patronage

Appointing individuals to political offices

Provision

Arrangement or groundwork laid to establish a program.

Secret Ballot

Ballot that is kept private and is distributed only at the polling places by the election officials.

Specific Leaders

Chairman of the national committee and the presidential candidate

Poll Watcher

Citizen who is paid by the parties to keep a watchful eye on the voters and the officials

Ballot Box

Container into which votes are put.

Mass Meeting

Convention that mobilizes the agenda and announces candidates for the national election

Dictatorship

Country with a one-party leader who is complete control

County Convention

Delegates nominate county officers, elect a chairman, and chose delegates to the state convention.

Representative Democracies

Democracy where the people elect representatives to act as their agents in enforcing laws

Polling Official

Designated authorities who see to the fairness of the election at each voting precinct

Voting Booth

Device used in elections; it's privacy curtain or shield ensures the citizen of secrecy while voting

Campaign Manager

Director of a political agenda whose goal is to place a chosen candidate in office.

Primary

Early election in which delegates select and nominate candidates for office.

Precinct

Election region or section of a community

Administration

Executive branch of the American government; particularly used in relation to the officer-holder.

General Election

Follows the primary election; voters determine which of the nominated candidates.

Loose Construction

Free interpretation of Constitution, allowing federal government powers not specifically denied it.

Constitutional Convention

Gathering to creating a constitution which would lay down the laws for running

Committee

Group of leaders who make the major decisions in the political party's election strategy.

Political Parties

Group of people organized with a governmental agenda in mind

Faction

Group that may not be in agreement with the general direction of the larger population.

Majority

Having the larger number in a house of Congress, assuring strong voting power

Contested Election

If losing candidate feels that fraud has occurred he may call for a recount of the votes.

Carried

In a national election, a candidate won the vote in a particular state.

Announcement

Individual fills out documentation and pays a filing glee to state that he seeks a political office.

Strict Construction

Interpretation of the Constitution that limits the Federal government to powers delegated to it

Landslide Defeat

Losing by a large margin in an election

Absentee Voting

Made for those who cannot be present at their polling place because of health or obligation.

Voting Machine

Mechanism used in elections with a system of buttons and levers.

Party-Raiding

Members of one party move into the primary of the other party to choose candidates.

Direct Primary

Members vote to choose the candidate who is to represent their party in the general election.

War Chest

Money designated for the purpose of conducting a winning campaign

The Democrat Digest

Monthly digest of information for Democrats

The Republican

Monthly digest of information for Republicans

Party Column Method

Names of parties appear at tops of columns; titles of the various offices are shown at the sides.

Oral Voting

Older, less private form of voting where the voters would call out the name of the candidate

National Level

On a country-wide scale

Local Level

On a smaller, non-widespread scale

Federalist Party

One of the first two American political parties; It wanted a strong central.

Anti-Federalist Party

One of the first two American political parties; it wanted a weak central government.

Appointee

One who in nominated or designed to position

Inspectors

One who is responsible for the proper conduct of the lection

Alien and Sedition Acts

Passed by the Federalist which gave the President power to deport aliens he deemed dangerous.

Constituency

People of a certain region who elected a representative, who then is answerable to these people.

Era of Good Feelings

Period from 1816-1824 where there was only one political party : the Democrat-Republic

Incumbent

Person who currently holds an office

Candidate

Person who desires a position in a political office.

Challenger

Person who does not hold an office but who is trying to unseat an incumbent.

Provincial

Pertaining to Canada; regional or territorial.

Strategy

Plan of action

Program

Political plan of action

Scandal

Public shame or disgrace brought about by illegal or unethical actions

Stock Market Crash of 1929

Saw the market lose so much power that many people lost their fortunes in the in the matter of days

Australian Ballot

Secret ballot, originated in Australia

Election Board

Selected by the district election board, a group that sees to the fairness and efficiency of an election.

Polling Place

Specific voting area; each voter is assigned a particular place within the district where he lives

State Convention

State Delegates nominate candidates for offices and nominate delegates to the national convention

Referendum

Submitting of a proposed public measure for voting by the general public

Platform

The declared policy of a political group

Public Relations

The effort to establish a favorable impression with the populace.

Central Government

The federal power of the country.

Plurality

The most votes cast, but not necessarily a majority

Electoral Votes

The vote each state is given to cast for a national candidate for president of the United States.

Short Ballot

Ticket for voting that shows only the names of the candidates for the highest offices

Office-bloc Arrangement

Titles of office appear across ballot, candidates of both parties for office are placed below the titles

Nominate

To formally suggest and recommend a candidate for election

Concede

To yield or surrender, to admit or acknowledge

Partisan

Type of person who will staunchly campaign or vote for only one political party

Open Primary

Type of primary where all qualified voters may vote for the candidates of the party they desire

Economic Unrest

Uneasiness due to the lack of stability in the financial market.

Closed Primary

Voter declares his party allegiance and votes for the ballot of his own party.

Independents

Voter with no party affiliation

Straight Ticket

Voting by market an "X" at the top of the ballot beside the name of the party of his choice

Split Ticket

Voting for the best candidates for each office regardless of party

Declaration of Candidacy

When a person wishes to be a candidate for the party, he or she will make an announcement of intention.

Campaign

unified and organized effort with a goal in mind