responsible party model

A view favored by some political scientists about how parties should work. According to the modeal, parties should offer clear choices to the voters, who can then use those choices as cues to their own preferences of candidates.

closed primaries

Only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote in its primary, thus encouraging greater party loyalty.

ticket- splitting

Voting with one party for one office and the other for other offices- has reached record proportions.

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.

party neutrality

A term used to describe the fact that many Americans are indifferent toward to two major political parties.

political party

A "team of men [and women] seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election."

New Deal coalition

A coalition forged by the Democrats, who dominated American politicsfrom the 1930s to the 1960s.

national chairperson

Day-to-day activities of the national party are the responsibility of this person.