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31 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Interest Group
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An organized group of individuals sharing common objectives who actively attempt to influence policymakers.
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Political Party
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A group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate the government, and determine public policy.
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Lobbyist
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An organization or individual that attempts to influence the passage, defeat, or content of legislation and the government's administrative decisions.
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Social Movement
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A movement that represent the demands of a large segment of the public for political, economic, or social change.
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Labor Movement
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Generally, the economic and political expression of working-class interests; politically, the organization of working class interests.
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Service Sector
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The sector of the economy that provides services--such as health care, banking, and education -- in contrast to the sector that produces goods.
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Public Interest
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The best interests of the overall community; the national good, rather than the narrow interests of a particular group.
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Direct Technique
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An interest group technique that uses direct interaction with government officials to further the groups goals.
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Indirect Technique
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An interest group technique that uses third parties to influence government officials.
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Independent
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A voter or candidate who does not identify with a political party.
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Faction
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A group or bloc in a legislature or political party acting in pursuit of some special interest or position.
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Two-Party System
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A political system in which only two parties have a reasonable chance of winning.
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Era of Good Feelings
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The years from 1817 to 1825, when James Monroe was president and there was, in effect, no political opposition.
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Democratic Party
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One of the two major American political parties evolcing out of the Republican Party of Thomas Jefferson.
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Whig Party
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A major party in the United States during the first half of the nineteenth century, formally established in 1836. The Whig Party was anti-Jackson and represented a variety of regional interests.
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Republican Party
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One of the two major American political parties. It emerged in the 1850s as an antislavery party and consisted of former northern Whigs and antislavery Democrats.
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Party Organization
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The formal structure and leadership of a political party, including election committees; local, state, and national executives; and paid professional staff.
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National Convention
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The meeting held every four years by each major party to select presidential and vice-presidential candidates, write a platform, choose a national committee, and conduct party business.
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Party Platform
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A document drawn up at each national convention, outlining the policies, positions, and principles of the party.
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National Committee
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A standing committee of a national political party established to direct and coordinate party activities between national party conventions.
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State Central Committee
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The principal organized structure of each political party within each state. This committee is responsible for carrying out policy decisions of the party's state convention.
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Patronage
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The practice of rewarding faithful party workers and followers with government employment and contracts.
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Divided Government
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A situation in which one major political party controls the presidency and the other controls Congress or in which one party controls a state governorship and the other controls the state legislature.
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Ticket Splitting
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Voting for candidates of two or more parties for different offices. For example, a voter splits her ticket if she votes for a Republican presidential candidate and for a Democratic congressional candidate.
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Plurality
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A number of votes cast for a candidate that is greater tan the number of votes for any other candidate but not necessarily a majority.
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Electoral College
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A group of persons, called electors, who are selected by the voters in each state. This group officially elects the president and the vice president of the United States.
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Unit Rule
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A rule by which all of a state's electoral votes are cast for the presidential candidate who receives a plurality of the votes in that state.
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Third Party
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A political party other than the two major political parties.
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Splinter Party
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A new party formed by a dissident faction within a major political party. Often, splinter parties have emerged when a particular personality was at odds with the major party.
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Party Identification
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Linking oneself to a particular political party.
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Straight-Ticket Voting
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Voting exclusively for the candidates of one party.
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