Econ chapter 22

Alex Newell3/22/10

Political parties in our democracy

• The role of political parties• Informing citizens• Our two party system• Choosing candidates

Political party

• An organization of citizens who wish to influence and control government by getting their members elected to office

Selecting candidates

• Political parties nominate, or name, candidates to run for public office

Canvass

• Go door to door handing out information and asking people which candidates they support

Democrats and republicans

• Our current two party system emerged in 1854

Patronage

• The system in which party leaders perform favors for loyal supporters of the party

Straight ticket

• A ballot cast for all the candidates of one party

Split ticket

• The practice of voting for candidates of more than one party on the same ballot

Independent voters

• People who don’t support a particular political party

Self nomination

• Declaring that you are running for office

Caucus

• A meeting of party leaders to discuss issues or to choose candidates