Political Party |
a group that seeks to elect candidates to public office. |
One-Party System |
a type of party system government in which a single political party forms the government and no other parties are permitted to run candidates for election. |
Two-Party System |
is a system where two major political parties dominate voting in nearly all elections at every level of government. |
Multi-Party System |
is a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition. The effective number of parties in a multi-party system is normally larger than two but lower than ten. |
Coalition |
An alliance, especially a temporary one, of people, factions, parties, or nations. |
Independents |
people who are often Independent Affiliated with or loyal to no one political party or organization |
Grassroots |
of or involving the common people as constituting a fundamental political and economic group; "a grassroots movement for nuclear disarmament |
Mugwumps or Progressives |
a faction composed of reformers who opposed patronage. (republican party faction of the 1890's to the 1910's) |
Critical or Realignment Period |
periods when a majore, lasting shift occurs in the popular coalition (change in issues and change of voters in parties)supporting one or both parties. |
Split Ticket Voting |
voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election. |
Straight Ticket |
voting for candidates who are all of the same party |
Office-bloc Ballot |
a ballot listing all candidates of a given office under the name of that office; also called a "Massachusetts ballot." (candidates are listed aphabetically) |
Party-Column Ballot |
a ballot listing all candidates of a given party together under the name of that party; also called an "Indiana" ballot. |
National Committee |
delegates who run party affairs between nat. conventions. |
Ideological Party |
a party that values principles stands on issues above all else. (groups of people that hold the same ideas and beliefs about how things are or how they ought to be) |
Plurality System |
an electoral system in which the winner is the person who gets the most votes, even if he or she does not receive a majority; used in almost all American elections. |
Patronage |
the control of or power to make appointments to government jobs or the power to grant other political favors. |
Consensus |
general or widespread agreement |
Majority Party |
- the largest party or group that votes together in a legislative or deliberative assembly |
Single Member District |
an electoral district electing only one representative to office |
Lobbying |
to influence the thinking of legislators or other public officials for or against a specific cause. |
Splinter Party |
A group, such as a religious sect or political faction, that has broken away from a parent group.(A political party formed by members of an existing one whose views or policies differ from those of the majority.) |
Economic Protest Party |
a party who is completely focused on the environment and doesn't think about anything else. (one who express economic disconsent) |
Ward |
A minor or incompetent person placed under the care or protection of a guardian or court. |
Precinct |
one of several districts into which a city or town is divided for voting; each contains a separate polling place. |
Electorate |
a body of people entitled to vote |
Incumbent |
currently holding a specified office |
Faction |
a party or group (as within a government) that is often contentious or self-seeking |
Third Party |
A political party organized as opposition to the existing parties in a two-party system. |
Proportional Representation |
Representation of all parties in a legislature in proportion to their popular vote. |