AP GOV ch. 8

Party Organization

Both parties have independent organizational units at the national, state, & local levels. Their main purpose is to contest districts.

Nomination

Designate a particular individual to run as a political party's candidate in the general election.

Candidate-centered politics

Election campaigns & other political processes in which candidates, not the political parties, have most of the influence.

Party-centered politics

Election campaigns & other political processes where political parties, not the individual candidates, hold most of the initiative and influence.

Issue Advocacy Parties

Formed to promote a stance on a particular issue. Many are short lived. Once the issue is dealt with or fades from popular concern, the mobilizing force behind the party disintegrates.

Grassroots

Organized at the level of the voters and depends on their support for its strength. They have ideas which eventually become absorbed by the mainstream parties, but they have a drastic effect on campaigns.

Splinter Parties

Party that breaks off from one of the 2 dominate parties. (ex: Tea Party)

Hired Guns

Professional consultants who run campaigns for high office. They package the candidate, include strategy, help organize game plan, fund raising specialists, polling experts, focus groups, media consultants.

Ideoloically Oriented Parties

Typically broader than that of an issue-oriented party. Ideologically oriented parties are structured around ideology - highly organized & coherent framework concerning nature & role of government in society.

Money Chase

US campaigns are very expensive & candidates must spend a great amount of time raising funds in order to compete successfully.

Primary Election (direct primary)

When voters choose a party's nominee for public office - in most primaries eligibility to vote is limited to voters who are registered members of the party.