Governance Chapter 12

An organized effort by office holders, candidates, activists, and voters to pursue their common interests by gaining and exercising power through the electoral process.

A party organization that recruits voter loyalty with tangible incentives and is characterized by a high degree of control over member activity.

Politics that focuses on the candidates, their particular issues, and character rather than party affiliation.

Dramatic shifts in partisan preferences that drastically alter the political landscape.

An election that signals a party realignment through voter polarization around new issues and personalities.

The gradual rearrangement of party coalitions, based more on demographic shifts than on shocks to the political system.

A party meeting held in the presidential election year for the purposes of nominating a presidential and vice presidential ticket and adopting a platform.

Delegate to the Democratic Party's national convention that is reserved for a party official and whose vote at the convention is unpledged to a candidate.

Institutional collection of policy-oriented researchers and academics who are sources of policy ideas.

A statement of the general and specific philosophy and policy goals of a political party, usually promulgated at the national convention.

A citizen's personal affinity for a political party, usually expressed by a tendency to vote for the candidates of that party.

A voting system that apportions legislative seats according to the percentage of the vote won by a particular political party.

An electoral system in which the party that receives at least one more vote than any other party wins the election.

A general decline in party identification and loyalty in the electorate.