Political Parties and Politics

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.

Political Parties…

• Political parties try to persuade voters and candidates alike to the candidates of their party

• Anyone can join a political party

Two-Party System

• a system of government in which two parties compete for power

Third Party

• a party that challenges the two major parties– Sometimes called minor parties

• No third party candidate has ever won the presidency

Single-Issue Party

• a party that’s goal is not to win an election, but promote a social, economic or moral issue

• Example: Prohibitionist Party * goal was to make alcohol illegal

Ideological Party

• focus on changing society in major ways• Examples: Socialist Labor Party and the

Communist Party USA * goal is to have the government to control factories, transportation, resources such as farmland and other businesses

Independent Candidate

• a candidate who does not gain the support of one party, and who runs with only the support of their backers

• Example: Ross Perot

One Party System

• political party and the government are basically the same thing.

• Example: People’s Republic of China* Communist Party is the only party, and only Communist candidates can run for office

Theocracy

• a government controlled by religious leaders• Example: Iran

Democratic Party

• believe the federal government should be more directly involved in regulating the economy and providing housing, income education and jobs for the poor

Republican Party

• believe in less government regulation of the economy will promote growth and production and if the nations economy grows, poor people will then have a better chance of finding jobs on their own

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 Party Chairperson

• an individual elected by the national committee who manages the daily operations of the national party

Delegate

• representative sent to a meeting

Caucus

• a meeting of political party members to conduct party business, such as choose party delegates

Precinct

• a geographic area that contains a specific number of voters

Ward

• several adjoining precincts making up a larger election unit

Political Machine

• a strong party organization that can control political appointments and deliver votes

Nomination

• a process by which political parties select and offer candidates for public office

Direct Primaries

• An election in which voters choose candidates to represent each party in a general election

• All states use direct primaries to nominate candidates at all levels of government

Closed Primary

• an election in which only the declared members of a party are allowed to vote for that party’s nominees

• Florida is a closed primary state

Open Primary

• an election in which voters need not declare their party of preference

Runoff Primary

• a second primary election primary between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first primary election

Petition

• a process by which qualified voters sign papers declaring support for a candidate or issue