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 Party Chairperson an individual elected by the national committee who manages the daily operations of the national party

23. Delegate representative sent to a meeting

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

26. Precinct a geographic area that contains a specific number of voters

27. Ward several adjoining precincts making up a larger election unit

28. Political Machine a strong party organization that can control political appointments and deliver votes

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

31. 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

33. 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

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

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

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