Government and Economics - Unit 3: The American Party System
poll watcher
A citizen who is paid by the parties to keep a watchful eye on the voters and the officials.
dictatorship
A country with a one-party leader who is in complete control; usually one who is unfair.
appointment
A designation to serve based upon ability and other qualifications.
voting booth
A device used in elections; its privacy curtain or shield ensures the citizen of secrecy while voting.
caucus
A gathering of party leaders to talk over possible candidates.
political parties
A group of people organized with a governmental agenda in mind.
faction
A group that may not be in agreement with the general direction of the larger population.
voting machine
A mechanism used in elections; with a systems of buttons and levers, the voter has no need of writing utensils.
The Democrat Digest
A monthly digest of information for Democrats.
The Republican
A monthly digest of information for Republicans.
Whig party
A party formed mainly to fight the Democratic party and Andrew Jackson; formed in the 1830s.
Era of Good Feelings
A period from 1816 - 1824 where there was only one political party: the Democrat-Republicans.
straight ticket
A person votes for all candidates of that party for all offices.
incumbent
A person who currently holds an office.
candidate
A person who desires a position in a political office.
challenger
A person who does not hold an office but who is trying to unseat an incumbent.
strategy
A plan of action.
program
A political plan of action.
scandal
A public shame or disgrace brought about by illegal or unethical actions.
Australian ballot
A secret ballot, originated in Australia.
short ballot
A ticket for voting that shows only the names of the candidates for the highest offices.
partisan
A type of person who will staunchly campaign or vote for only one political party.
campaign
A unified and organized effort with a goal in mind.
adopt
Accept and agree upon.
primary
An early election in which delegates select and nominate candidates for office.
precinct
An election region or section of a community.
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.
economic unrest
An uneasiness due to the lack of stability in the financial market.
patronage
Appointing individuals to political offices.
provision
Arrangement or groundwork laid to establish a program.
secret ballot
Ballot that is kept private and distributed only at the polling places and only by the election officials.
specific leaders
Chairman of the national committee and presidential candidate.
state convention
Delegates nominate candidates for offices and Congress, and delegates to the national convention.
county convention
Delegates nominate most county officers and chose delegates to the state convention.
representative democracies
Democracy where the people elect representatives to act as their agents in making laws.
polling official
Designated authorities who see to the fairness of the election at each voting precinct.
administration
Executive branch of the American government; as in "the Clinton administration."
stock market crash of 1929
Financial panic where the market lost so much power that many people lost their fortunes in days.
Constitutional Convention
Gathering for the purpose of creating a Constitution which would frame the laws for running the U.S.
majority
Having the larger number in a house of Congress, assuring strong voting power.
contested election
If a losing candidate feels that fraud has occurred he may call the commission to recount the votes.
carried
In a national election, a candidate won the vote in a particular state.
loose construction
Interpretation of the Constitution allowing the federal government powers not specifically denied it.
strict construction
Interpretation of the Constitution limiting the Federal government to the powers in the document.
Alien and Sedition Acts
Legislation which gave the President power to deport any alien he deemed dangerous.
landslide defeat
Losing by a large margin in an election.
party-raiding
Members of one party move into the primary of the other party to choose candidates.
party column method
Names of the parties appear at tops of the columns; titles of various offices are shown at sides.
oral voting
Older form of voting where 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 government.
Anti-Federalist Party
One of the first two American political parties; it wanted a weak central government.
appointee
One who is nominated or designated to a position.
inspector
One who is responsible for the proper conduct of the election.
constituency
People of a region who elected a representative; the representative is answerable to these people. Also, the region itself.
declaration of candidacy
Person wishes to be a candidate for the party, so he makes an announcement of intention.
provincial
Pertaining to Canada; regional or territorial.
absentee voting
Process for those who cannot be present at their polling place because of health or obligation.
open primary
Qualified voters vote for the candidates without revealing their party membership.
election board
Selected by 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.
ballot box
The container into which votes are put.
mass meeting
The convention that mobilizes the national agenda and announces the candidates for the national election.
platform
The declared policy of a political group.
campaign manager
The director of a political agenda whose goal is to place a chosen candidate in office.
public relations
The effort to establish a favorable impression with the populace.
central government
The federal power of the country.
committee
The group of leaders who make the major decisions in the political party's election strategy.
announcement
The individual fills out documentation and pays a filing fee to announce that he seeks a political office.
direct primary
The members vote, by secret ballot, to choose their candidate for the general election.
plurality
The most votes cast, but not necessarily a majority.
referendum
The submitting of a proposed public measure for voting by the general public.
electoral votes
The vote each state is given to cast for a national candidate for President of the United States.
closed primary
The voter declares his party allegiance and votes for the ballot of his own party.
general election
This follows the primary election; voters determine which of the nominated candidates shall hold office.
office-bloc arrangement
Titles of offices appear across the ballot; the candidates of parties for each office are below the titles.
nominate
To formally suggest and recommend a candidate for election.
concede
To yield or surrender, to admit or acknowledge.
independents
Voters with no party affiliation.
split ticket
Voting for the best candidates for each office regardless of party.
