Political Parties and Politics

1. Political Parties and Politics

4. Political Party • an association of voters with broad, common interests who want to influence or control decision making in government by electing the party’s candidates to public office.

5. Political Parties • Political parties try to persuade voters and candidates alike to the candidates of their party • Anyone can join a political party

6. Two-Party System • a system of government in which two parties compete for power

7. Third Party • a party that challenges the two major parties • Sometimes called minor parties • No third party candidate has ever won the presidency

8. Single-Issue Party • a party that’s goal is not to win an election, but promote a social, economic or moral issue • Example: Prohibitionist Party * goal was to make alcohol illegal

9. Ideological Party • focus on changing society in major ways • Examples: Socialist Labor Party and the Communist Party USA * goal is to have the government to control factories, transportation, resources such as farmland and other businesses

12. Independent Candidate • a candidate who does not gain the support of one party, and who runs with only the support of their backers • Example: Ross Perot

13. One Party System • political party and the government are basically the same thing. • Example: People’s Republic of China * Communist Party is the only party, and only Communist candidates can run for office

14. Theocracy • a government controlled by religious leaders • Example: Iran

16. Democratic Party • believe the federal government should be more directly involved in regulating the economy and providing housing, income education and jobs for the poor

18. Republican Party • believe in less government regulation of the economy will promote growth and production and if the nations economy grows, poor people will then have a better chance of finding jobs on their own

20. Platform • a series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues

21. Plank • Each individual part of a political party’s platform

22. National Committee • representatives from the 50 state party organizations who run a political party

23. National Party Chairperson • an individual elected by the national committee who manages the daily operations of the national party

24. Delegate • representative sent to a meeting • Party delegates first job is to write the party platform

26. Caucus • a meeting of political party members to conduct party business, such as choose party delegates

27. Precinct • a geographic area that contains a specific number of voters

28. Ward • several adjoining precincts making up a larger election unit • Are the largest political units in a state

29. Political Machine • a strong party organization that can control political appointments and deliver votes • Originally helped needy citizens

31. Role of Political Parties • select candidates for office • keep people informed of important issues • See that elected party members do a good job • Keep an eye on the opposition party • Are a link between branches of government

32. Nomination • a process by which political parties select and offer candidates for public office

33. Direct Primaries • An election in which voters choose candidates to represent each party in a general election • All states use direct primaries to nominate candidates at all levels of government

35. Closed Primary • an election in which only the declared members of a party are allowed to vote for that party’s nominees • Florida is a closed primary state

36. Open Primary • an election in which voters need not declare their party of preference

37. Runoff Primary • a second primary election primary between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first primary election

38. Petition • a process by which qualified voters sign papers declaring support for a candidate or issue