Political Parties

1. An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come first in their constituencies
3. One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. The national committee is composed of representatives from the states and territories
8. 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 party loyalty
10. The person responsible for running the ongoing activities of the national party organization
11. Theory in political science that assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives
14. The growing gap between the stands of the parties on policy issues
15. A group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends
17. Voting for all Democrats or all Republicans
18. Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices
19. The gradual disengagement of people from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification

2. The meeting of a party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform
4. The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform
5. 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
6. Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests.
7. A view about how parties should work-parties should offer clear choices to the voters and, once in office, should carry out their campaign promises
9. Electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections
12. A team of people seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election
13. One of the key inducements used by party machines. A patronage job, promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone
16. The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period.