Chapter 9 Key Terms: Political Parties

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An organized group of people with similar political aims and opinions, that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to public office.

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Political Party

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Republican Party faction of the 1890s to the 1910s, comprising reformers who opposed patronage.

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Mugwumps or Progressives

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Times in political history when a significant shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties, often leading to a new political power structure.

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Critical or Realignment Periods

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Elections held to select a party's candidate for the general election.

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Primary Elections

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A type of primary election in which only registered party members can vote to select their party's candidate.

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Closed Primary

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A primary election in which voters are not required to declare party affiliation and can choose to vote in any party's primary.

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Open Primary

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Party leaders and elected officials who become delegates to the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses.

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Super-Delegates

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The period before the primaries begin when candidates attempt to gain support from party leaders, donors, and the media.

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Invisible Primary

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A gathering of party delegates every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president and to ratify the party platform.

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National Convention

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

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National Committee