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CNC1 ch 11 key terms
Political Parties
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Political Party | a group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office |
| Party platform | A political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years. The platform is drafted prior to the party convention by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate's strength. It is the best formal statemen |
| Party Activists | partisans who contribute time, energy, and effort to support their party and its candidates |
| Independents | people who have no party affiliation |
| Two-Party System | Several political parties exist, but only two major political parties compete for power and dominate elections |
| Third Parties | electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections. |
| Critical election | Sharp changes in the existing patterns of party loyalty due to changing social and economic conditions |
| Progressive Era | time at the turn of the 20th century in which groups sought to reform America economically, socially, and politically |
| Political machines | would take advantage of the voting power of these immigrant populations by offering services such as jobs, food, and housing in exchange for votes. |
| Political Party Identification | citizens who feel an attachment to a political party, the voters who support the party |
| Party Image | The voter's perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism. |