Instructions for Vocabulary Book 1- Fold a sheet of notebook paper in half like a HOT DOG 2- On one side, cut ever third line. MAKE SURE YOU USE A COLLEGE RULED PIECE OF NOTEBOOK PAPER! 3- Label tabs with the words found on the next slide

Vocabulary Words for Unit 5: Political Parties Primary Election General Election Midterm Election Gubernatorial Election Patronage Platform Caucus National Committee Nominating Convention Precinct Ideologies Third Party

Intro to Political Parties A political party is a group of people with broad common interests who organize to win elections and to control and influence governments and their policies.

Intro to Political Parties Political parties began in the early stages of American politics, but even then they were not always popular—especially with their own members. Thomas Jefferson expressed this attitude when he said, “If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go at all.”

Intro to Political Parties – Question of the Day……. Could Americans participate effectively in government without political parties?

Intro to Political Parties What role do the Republican and Democratic Parties play in the day-to-day operations and processes of the government?

I.Membership and Organization A.Both Republicans and Democrats are organized into 50 state parties and thousands of local parties, as well as a national party. B.Voters may become members of a party when they register to vote, usually joining the party whose ideas and candidates, in general, they support. C.Party membership involves no duties or obligations beyond voting; however, some members contribute money or do volunteer work.

I.Membership and Organization What are some reasons for becoming an active member of a political party? To promote issues you support, to associate with active people, to promote the future direction of the party.

Primary Election Primary Election Nominating selection in which the field of candidates for a political party is narrowed down and one is chosen to represent party in general election Primary election season for President begins in February and ends in June. Party members choose the candidate they prefer from their state in each state primary (convention and caucus).

General Election General Election A official selection by voting held to make a final choice among the primary nominated candidates, individuals running as independents and in some cases write-in candidates for federal, state and/or local office

Midterm Election Midterm Election Elections in which Americans vote for their congressional representatives but not for their president.

Midterm Election Midterm Election Elections in which Americans vote for their congressional representatives but not for their president.

Gubernatorial Election Gubernatorial Election Election for a state’s Governor Latin for gubernator meaning govern or steersman

Patronage Patronage Favors given to reward party loyalty

Platform Platform A statement of a party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on vital issues

Caucus Caucus A meeting at the local level in which registered members of a political party in a city, town or county gather to express support for a candidate

National Committee National Committee A large group composed mainly of representatives from the 50 state party organizations

Nominating Convention Nominating Convention An official public meeting of a party to choose candidates for office

Precinct Precinct The basic local unit of a political party

Ideologies Ideologies Basic beliefs about government

Third Party Third Party Any party other than one of the two major parties

Third Party Third Party What are some obstacles facing third parties? -Difficulty in getting on the ballot in all 50 states -Single member districts -Difficulty raising sufficient finances

A.A political party is a group of people with broad common interests who organize to win elections and to control and influence governments and their policies. - In a one-party system, the party, in effect, is the government; such one-party systems are usually found in authoritarian governments. -In nations with a multiparty system, several political parties compete to control the government and must often form coalitions to do so. - In the dozen nations with a two-party system, two major parties dominate the government.