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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 organization 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 | |
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 | A 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 political office. |
majority | A number that is more than 50 percent of the total. |
petition | A formal request for government action; A process by which candidates who are not affiliated with one of the two major parties can get on the ballot for the government election in most states. |