linkage institutions
The channels or access points through which issues and people's policy preferences get on the government's policy agenda. In the US, elections, political parties, interest groups, and the mass media are the three main linkage institutions.
rational-choice theory
A popilar theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives
ticket splitting
Voting with one party of one office and with another party for other offices. It has become the norm of American voting behavior.
party machine
A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern
closed primary
Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party's candidates, thus encouraging greater part
open primary
Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests.
blanket primary
Elections to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of candidates from all the parties. Voters can then select some Democrats and some Republicans if they like.
national convention
The meeting of party delegates every 4 years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform
national committee
One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. The national committee is composed of representatives from the states and territories.
coalition
A group of individuals with a common interest upon which every political party depends.
critical election
An electoral "earthquake" whereby new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. Critical election periods are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more than one electi
party realignment
The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period.
New Deal Coalition
A coalition forged by the Democrats, who dominated American politics from the 1930s to the 1960s. Its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals.
party dealignment
The gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification.
winnner-take-all system
An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies. In American presidential elections, the system in which the winner of the popular vote in a state receives all the electoral votes
proportional representation
An electoral system used throughout most of Europe that awards legislative seats to apolitical parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election
coalition government
When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. This form of government is quite common in the multiparty systems of Europe.
responsible party model
A view favored by some political scientist about how parties should work. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters, who can then use those choices as cues to their own preferences of candidates. Once in office, parties woul
nomination
The official endorsement of a candidate for the office by a political party. Generally, success in the nomination game requires momentum, money, and media attention.
caucus
A meeting of all state party leaders for selecting delegates to the national party convention. Caucuses are usually organized as a pyramid.
presidential primary
Elections in which voters in a state vote for a candidate. Most delegates to the national party conventions are chosen this way.
McGovern-Fraser Commission
A commission formed at the 1968 Democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups and others who sought better representation.
superdelegate
National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the Democratic national party convention.
frontloading
The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention. At one time, it was considered advantageous for a state to choose its delegates last in the primary season so that it could play a decisive ro
national primary
A proposal by critics of the caucuses and presidential primaries systems who would replace these electoral methods with a nationwide primary held early in the election year.
regional primary
A proposal by critics of the caucuses and presidential primaries to replace these electoral methods with a series of primaries held in each geographical primary.
party platform
A political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years. The platform is drafted prior to the party convention by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate's strength. It is the best formal statemen
Federal Election Campaign Act
A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The act created by the Federal Election Commission, provided public financing for presidential primaries and general elections, limited presidential campaign spending, required disclosure, and attempte
Federal Election Commission
A six member bipartisan agency created by the Federal Election Campaign aCt of 1974. The FEC administers the campaign finance laws and enforces compliance with their requirements.
matching funds
Contributions of up to $250 are matched from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund to candidates for the presidential nomination who qualify an d agree to meet various conditions, such as limiting their overall spending.
soft money
Political contributions earmarked for arty-building expenses at the grass-roots level. Unlike money that goes to the campaign of a particular candidate, such party donations are not subject to contribution limits.
political action committees
Funding vehicles created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms. A corporation, union, or some other interests group can create a PAC and register it with the FEC, which will monitor the PAC's expenditures.
selective perception
The phenomenon that people often pay the most attention to things they already agree with and interpret according to their own predispositions.
legitimacy
A characterization of elections by political scientists meaning that they are almost universally accepted as a fair and free method of selecting political leaders. When legitimacy is high, as in the US, even the losers accept the results peacefully.
referendum
A state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove legislation or a constitutional amendment proposed by the state legislature.
initiative petition
A process permitted in some states whereby voters may put proposed changes in the state constitution to a vote if sufficient signatures are obtained on petitions calling for such a referendum.
political efficacy
The belief that one's political participation really matters-that one's vote can actually make a difference.
civic duty
The belief that in order to support democratic government, a citizen should always vote.
Motor Voter Act
Passed in 1993, this Act went into effect for the 1996 election. It requires states to permit people to register to vote at the same time they apply for driver's licenses.
mandate theory of elections
The idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his or her platforms and politics. Politicians like the theory better than political scientist do.
retrospective voting
A theory of voting in which voters essentially ask this simple question: "What have you done for me lately?
pluralist theory
A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.
elite theory
A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization.
hyperpluralist theory
A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened. Hyperpluralism is an extreme, exaggerated from of pluralism.
subgovernment
A network of groups within the American political system which exercise a great deal of control over specific policy areas. Also known as iron triangles, sub governments are composed of interest group leaders interested in a particular policy, the governm
collective good
Something of value that cannot be withheld from a group member.
free-rider problem
The problem faced by unions and other groups when people don't join because they can benefit from the group's activities without officially joining. The bigger the group, the more serious the free-rider program.
Olson's law of large groups
Advanced by Mancur Olson, a principle stating that "the larger group, the further it will fall short of providing an optimal amount of a collective good
lobbying
According to Lester Milbrath, a "communication, by someone other than a citizen acting on his own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his decision
electioneering
Direct group involvement in the electoral process. Groups can help fund campaigns, provide testimony, and get members to work for candidates, and some form PAC's.
amicus curiae briefs
Legal briefs submitted by a "friend of the court" for the purpose of raising additional points of view and presenting information not contained in the briefs of the formal parties. These briefs attempt to influence a court's decisions.
class action lawsuits
Lawsuits permitting a small number of people to sue on behalf of all other people similarly situated.
union shop
A provision found in some collective bargaining agreements requiring all employees of a business to join the union within a short period, usually 30 days, and to remain members as a condition of employment.
right to work laws
A state law forbidding requirements that workers must join a union to hold their jobs.
public interest lobbies
According to Jeffrey Berry, organizations that seek "a collective good, the achievement of which will not selectively and materially benefit the membership or activities of the organization