Question 1

Political Party

Accepted Answer

According to Anthony Downs, a
“team of men [and women] seeking
to control the governing apparatus by
gaining office in a duly constituted
election.”

Question 2

Linkage Institutions

Accepted Answer

The channels through which people’s
concerns become political issues on
the government’s policy agenda. In
the United States, linkage institutions
include elections, political parties,
interest groups, and the media.

Question 3

Rational-choice theory

Accepted Answer

A popular theory in political science
to explain the actions of voters as well
as politicians. It assumes that indi-
viduals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and ben-
efits of possible alternatives.

Question 4

Party image

Accepted Answer

The voter’s perception of what the
Republicans or Democrats stand for,
such as conservatism or liberalism.

Question 5

Party Identification

Accepted Answer

A citizen’s self-proclaimed preference
for one party or the other.

Question 6

Ticket splitting

Accepted Answer

Voting with one party for one office
and with another party for other
offices. It has become the norm in
American voting behavior.

Question 7

Party machines

Accepted Answer

A type of political party organization
that relies heavily on material induce-
ments, such as patronage, to win votes
and to govern.

Question 8

patronage

Accepted Answer

One of the key inducements used by
party machines. A patronage job, pro-
motion, or contract is one that is given
for political reasons rather than for
merit or competence alone.

Question 9

Closed Primaries

Accepted Answer

Elections to select party nominees in
which only people who have regis-
tered in advance with the party can
vote for that party’s candidates, thus
encouraging greater party loyalty.

Question 10

Open Primaries

Accepted Answer

Elections to select party nominees in
which voters can decide on Election
Day whether they want to partici-
pate in the Democratic or Republican
contests.

Question 11

National convention

Accepted Answer

The meeting of party delegates every
four years to choose a presidential
ticket and write the party’s platform.

Question 12

National committee

Accepted Answer

One of the institutions that keeps the
party operating between conventions.
The national committee is composed
of representatives from the states and
territories.

Question 13

Coalition

Accepted Answer

A group of individuals with a com-
mon interest on which every political
party depends.

Question 14

Party eras

Accepted Answer

Historical periods in which a majority
of voters cling to the party in power,
which tends to win a majority of the
elections.

Question 15

Critical election

Accepted Answer

An electoral “earthquake” where new
issues emerge, new coalitions replace
old ones, and the majority party is
often displaced by the minority party.
Critical election periods are some-
times marked by a national crisis and

Question 16

Party realignment

Accepted Answer

The displacement of the majority
party by the minority party, usually
during a critical election period.

Question 17

New deal Coalition

Accepted Answer

A coalition forged by the Democrats,
who dominated American politics
from the 1930s to the 1960s. Its basic
elements were the urban working
class, ethnic groups, Catholics and
Jews, the poor, Southerners, African
Americans, and intellectuals.

Question 18

Party dealignment

Accepted Answer

The gradual disengagement of people
from the parties, as seen in part by
shrinking party identification.

Question 19

Third parties

Accepted Answer

Electoral contenders other than the
two major parties. American third
parties are not unusual, but they rarely
win elections.

Question 20

Winner take all system

Accepted Answer

An electoral system in which legis-
lative seats are awarded only to the
candidates who come in first in their
constituencies.

Question 21

proportional representation

Accepted Answer

An electoral system used throughout
most of Europe that awards legisla-
tive seats to political parties in propor-
tion to the number of votes won in an
election.

Question 22

Coalition government

Accepted Answer

When two or more parties join
together to form a majority in a
national legislature. This form of gov-
ernment is quite common in the mul-
tiparty systems of Europe.

Question 23

Responsible party model

Accepted Answer

A view about how parties should
work, held by some political scien-
tists. According to the model, parties
should offer clear choices to the vot-
ers and once in office, should carry out
their campaign promises.

Question 24

Blue dog democrats

Accepted Answer

Fiscally conservative Democrats who
are mostly from the South and/or
rural parts of the United States.

chapter 8 vocab

AP Gov

Question	Answer
Political Party	According to Anthony Downs, a “team of men [and women] seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.”
Linkage Institutions	The channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.
Rational-choice theory	A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. It assumes that indi- viduals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and ben- efits of possible alternatives.
Party image	The voter’s perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism.
Party Identification	A citizen’s self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other.
Ticket splitting	Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. It has become the norm in American voting behavior.
Party machines	A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material induce- ments, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern.
patronage	One of the key inducements used by party machines. A patronage job, pro- motion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.
Closed Primaries	Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have regis- tered in advance with the party can vote for that party’s candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty.
Open Primaries	Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to partici- pate in the Democratic or Republican contests.
National convention	The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party’s platform.
National committee	One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. The national committee is composed of representatives from the states and territories.
Coalition	A group of individuals with a com- mon interest on which every political party depends.
Party eras	Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections.
Critical election	An electoral “earthquake” where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. Critical election periods are some- times marked by a national crisis and
Party realignment	The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period.
New deal Coalition	A coalition forged by the Democrats, who dominated American politics from the 1930s to the 1960s. Its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals.
Party dealignment	The gradual disengagement of people from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification.
Third parties	Electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections.
Winner take all system	An electoral system in which legis- lative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies.
proportional representation	An electoral system used throughout most of Europe that awards legisla- tive seats to political parties in propor- tion to the number of votes won in an election.
Coalition government	When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. This form of gov- ernment is quite common in the mul- tiparty systems of Europe.
Responsible party model	A view about how parties should work, held by some political scien- tists. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the vot- ers and once in office, should carry out their campaign promises.
Blue dog democrats	Fiscally conservative Democrats who are mostly from the South and/or rural parts of the United States.

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