Post on 22-Feb-2016
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Political Parties and Politics
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.
Political Parties…
• Political parties try to persuade voters and candidates alike to the candidates of their party
• Anyone can join a political party
Two-Party System
• a system of government in which two parties compete for power
Third Party
• a party that challenges the two major parties– Sometimes called minor parties
• No third party candidate has ever won the presidency
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
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
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
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
Theocracy
• a government controlled by religious leaders• Example: Iran
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
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
Platform
• a series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues
Plank
• Each individual part of a political party’s platform
National Party Chairperson
• an individual elected by the national committee who manages the daily operations of the national party
Delegate
• representative sent to a meeting
Caucus
• a meeting of political party members to conduct party business, such as choose party delegates
Precinct
• a geographic area that contains a specific number of voters
Ward
• several adjoining precincts making up a larger election unit
Political Machine
• a strong party organization that can control political appointments and deliver votes
Nomination
• a process by which political parties select and offer candidates for public office
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
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
Open Primary
• an election in which voters need not declare their party of preference
Runoff Primary
• a second primary election primary between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first primary election
Petition
• a process by which qualified voters sign papers declaring support for a candidate or issue