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24 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Platform
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a party document, written at a national convention, that contains party philosophy, principles, and positions on issues
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Divided government
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the condition in American government wherein the presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress
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Third parties
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parties that organize to compete against the two major American political parties
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Majority party
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the party that holds the majority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate
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Single-member district
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an electorate that is allowed to select only one representative from each district; the normal method of representation in the United States
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Gender gap
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a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between men and women
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Multiple0member district
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anelectorate that selects all candidates at large from the whole district; each voter is given the number of votes equivalent to the number of seats to be filled
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Machines
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strong party organizations in late-nineteenth-and-early-twentieth-century American cities. These machines were led by "bosses" who controlled party nominations and patronage
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Nomination
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the process through which political parties select their candidates for election to public office
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Minority party
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the party that holds a minority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate
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Plurality system
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a type of electoral system in which,to win a seat in the parliament or other representative body, a candidate need only receive the most votes in the election, not necessarily a majority of votes cast
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Proportional government
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a multiple-member district system that allows each political party representation in proportion to its percentage of the total vote
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Patronage
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the resources available to higher officials, usually opportunities to make partisan appointments to offices and to confer grants, licenses, or special favors to supporters
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Party organization
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the formal structure of a political party, including its leadership election committees, active members, and paid staff
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Soft money
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money contributed directly to political parties for voter registration and organization
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Party identification
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an individual voter's psychological ties to one party or another
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Political parties
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organized groups that attempt to influence the government by electing their members to important government offices
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Caucus (political)
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a normally closed meeting of a political or legislative group to select candidates, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters
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Two-party system
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a political system in which only two parties have a realistic opportunity to compete effectively for control
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National convention
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a national party political institution that serves to nominate the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates, establish party rules, and write and ratify the party's platform
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Electoral realignment
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the point in history when a new party supplants the ruling party, becoming in turn the dominant political force. In the United States, this has tended to occur roughly every thirty years
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Party activists
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partisans who contribute time, energy, and effort to support their party and its candidates
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Policy entrepreneur
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an individual who identifies a problem as a political issues and brings a policy proposal into the political agenda
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Responsible party government
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a set of principles that idealizes a strong role for parties in defining their stance on issues, mobilizing voters, and fulfilling their campaign promises once in office
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