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CivicsChap.9Vocab.
Term | Definition |
---|---|
political party | an organization of individuals with broad, common interests, who organize to win elections, to operate the government and to thereby influence government policy |
two-party system | a system of government in which two parties compete for power |
third parties | smaller, minor parties |
platform | a series of statements expressing the party’s principles |
plank | individual parts of the 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 | a larger election unit made up of several geographically connected precincts |
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 |
plurality | the most votes among all those running for a political office |
majority | a number that is more than 50 percent of the total |
petition | a formal request for government action or, 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 |
grassroots movement | a political movement that begins with the people |