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chapter 9
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| POLITICAL PARTY | An organization of individuals with broad, common interests who organize to win elections, to operate the government, and thereby influence government policy. |
| TWO-PARTY SYSTEM | A system of government in which two parties compete for power. |
| THIRD PARTY | Smalles minor parties. |
| PLATFORM | A series of statements expressing the party's principles, beliefs, and positions on elections issues. |
| PLANK | Each individual part of the platform |
| NATIONAL COMMITTEE | This committee helps raise funds for presidential elections and organizes the party's national convention. |
| CAUCUS | Meetings |
| PRECINCT | A geographic area that contains consist of an entire small town or, neighboring, neighborhoods. |
| WARD | Several geographically connected precints make up a larger election unit. |
| POLITICAL MACHINE | A strong party organization that can control political oppaintments 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 | Voters do not need to declare their party preference in order 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 percent of the total votes. |
| 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. |