American Government And Politics Chapter 7 Vocabulary

Front 1

Interest Group

Back 1

An organized group of individuals sharing common objectives who actively attempt to influence policymakers.

Front 2

Political Party

Back 2

A group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate the government, and determine public policy.

Front 3

Lobbyist

Back 3

An organization or individual that attempts to influence the passage, defeat, or content of legislation and the government's administrative decisions.

Front 4

Social Movement

Back 4

A movement that represent the demands of a large segment of the public for political, economic, or social change.

Front 5

Labor Movement

Back 5

Generally, the economic and political expression of working-class interests; politically, the organization of working class interests.

Front 6

Service Sector

Back 6

The sector of the economy that provides services--such as health care, banking, and education -- in contrast to the sector that produces goods.

Front 7

Public Interest

Back 7

The best interests of the overall community; the national good, rather than the narrow interests of a particular group.

Front 8

Direct Technique

Back 8

An interest group technique that uses direct interaction with government officials to further the groups goals.

Front 9

Indirect Technique

Back 9

An interest group technique that uses third parties to influence government officials.

Front 10

Independent

Back 10

A voter or candidate who does not identify with a political party.

Front 11

Faction

Back 11

A group or bloc in a legislature or political party acting in pursuit of some special interest or position.

Front 12

Two-Party System

Back 12

A political system in which only two parties have a reasonable chance of winning.

Front 13

Era of Good Feelings

Back 13

The years from 1817 to 1825, when James Monroe was president and there was, in effect, no political opposition.

Front 14

Democratic Party

Back 14

One of the two major American political parties evolcing out of the Republican Party of Thomas Jefferson.

Front 15

Whig Party

Back 15

A major party in the United States during the first half of the nineteenth century, formally established in 1836. The Whig Party was anti-Jackson and represented a variety of regional interests.

Front 16

Republican Party

Back 16

One of the two major American political parties. It emerged in the 1850s as an antislavery party and consisted of former northern Whigs and antislavery Democrats.

Front 17

Party Organization

Back 17

The formal structure and leadership of a political party, including election committees; local, state, and national executives; and paid professional staff.

Front 18

National Convention

Back 18

The meeting held every four years by each major party to select presidential and vice-presidential candidates, write a platform, choose a national committee, and conduct party business.

Front 19

Party Platform

Back 19

A document drawn up at each national convention, outlining the policies, positions, and principles of the party.

Front 20

National Committee

Back 20

A standing committee of a national political party established to direct and coordinate party activities between national party conventions.

Front 21

State Central Committee

Back 21

The principal organized structure of each political party within each state. This committee is responsible for carrying out policy decisions of the party's state convention.

Front 22

Patronage

Back 22

The practice of rewarding faithful party workers and followers with government employment and contracts.

Front 23

Divided Government

Back 23

A situation in which one major political party controls the presidency and the other controls Congress or in which one party controls a state governorship and the other controls the state legislature.

Front 24

Ticket Splitting

Back 24

Voting for candidates of two or more parties for different offices. For example, a voter splits her ticket if she votes for a Republican presidential candidate and for a Democratic congressional candidate.

Front 25

Plurality

Back 25

A number of votes cast for a candidate that is greater tan the number of votes for any other candidate but not necessarily a majority.

Front 26

Electoral College

Back 26

A group of persons, called electors, who are selected by the voters in each state. This group officially elects the president and the vice president of the United States.

Front 27

Unit Rule

Back 27

A rule by which all of a state's electoral votes are cast for the presidential candidate who receives a plurality of the votes in that state.

Front 28

Third Party

Back 28

A political party other than the two major political parties.

Front 29

Splinter Party

Back 29

A new party formed by a dissident faction within a major political party. Often, splinter parties have emerged when a particular personality was at odds with the major party.

Front 30

Party Identification

Back 30

Linking oneself to a particular political party.

Front 31

Straight-Ticket Voting

Back 31

Voting exclusively for the candidates of one party.