Party Competition

The battle of the parties for control of puclic offices

Political Party

A team of men 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 goverment's policy agenda.

Rational-Choice Theory

A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicans.

Party Image

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

Party Identification

A citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or another.

Ticket-Splitting

Voting with one party for one office and with another party for a different office.

Party Machines

A type of polictical party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and govern.

Patronage

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

Closed Primaries

Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for the party's canidates.

Open Primaries

Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Republic or Democratic contests.

Blanket Primaries

Elections to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of canidates from all parties. Voters can then select some Democrats and some Republicans they like.

National Convention

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

National Commitee

One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions.

National Chairperson

The national chairperson is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the party and is usually handpicked by the presidential nominee.

Coalition

A group of individuals with a common 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 emmerge, new coalitions repace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority power.

Party Realignment

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

New Deal Coalition

A coalition by the Democrats, who dominated American politics from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Party Dealignment

The gradual disengagment of people and politicians 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 unusal, but they rarely win elections.