IHCC_American Political Parties Today

An American political party's principal organization, comprising party representatives from each state.

• political action committee (PAC)

• national committee

• spoils system

• party principle

An interest group or a division of an interest group that can raise money to contribute to campaigns or to spend on ads in support of candidates. The amount a PAC can receive from each of its donors and the amount it can spend on federal electioneering are strictly limited.

• national committee

• political action committee (PAC)

• 527 Organization

• caucus(congressional)

A tax-exempt group formed primarily to influence elections through voter mobilization efforts and issue ads that do not directly endorse or oppose a candidate. Unlike political action committees, they are not subject to contribution limits and spending caps.

• 527 organization

• PAC

• national committee

• conference

The organization of Democrats within the House and Senate that meets to discuss and debate the party's positions on various issues in order to reach a consensus and to assign leadership positions.

• 527 organization

• political system

• caucus(congressional)

• confrence

The organization of Republicans within the House and Senate that meets to discuss and debate the party's positions on various issues in order to reach a consensus and to assign leadership positions.

• conference

• caucus(congressional)

• caucus(electoral)

• nominating convention

a citizen's loyalty to a specific political party

• caucus

• spoils system

• party system

• party ID

The groups that identify with a political party, usually described in demographic terms such as African American Democrats or evangelical Republicans.

• party ID

• party coalitions

• issue ownership

• party system

The theory that voters associate certain issues or issue positions with certain parties (like Democrats and support for government-provided health insurance).

• party system

• issue ownership

• party principle

• spoils system