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Chapter 9
Term | Definition |
---|---|
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 |
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 Committee | Representatives from the 50 state party organizations who run a political party |
Caucus | A meeting of political party members to conduct party business |
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 |
Direct Primary | An election in which voters choose candidates to represent 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 nominees |
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 a political office |
Majority | A number that is more than 50% of the total |
Petition | A process by which candidates who are not affiliated with one of the two major parties can get on the ballot for the general election in most states |