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chapter 9
key terms
Term | Definition |
---|---|
political party | an association of voters with broad common interest who want to influence or control decision making in government by electing the parties candidates to public office |
two-party system | a system of government in which two parties compete for power |
third party | a party that challenges the two major parties |
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 commitee | representatives from 50 state party organization who run a political party |
caucus | a meeting of political party members to conduct party buiness |
precinct | a geographic area that contains a specific number of voters |
ward | several adjoining precincts making up a lager election unit |
political machine | a strong party organization that can control political appointments and deliver votes |
direct primary | an election in which voters choose candidates to present each party in a general election |
closed primary | an election in which only the declared members of a party are allowed to vote for that party's nominess |
open primary | an election in which voters need not declare their party preference to vote for the party's nominees |
plurality | the most votes among all those running for political office |
majority | a number that is more than 50% of the total |
petition | a formal request for government action |