1. Civics and Economics Vocabulary
Chapter 9 - Section One
Political Party- an organization of individuals with broad, common interests who
organize to win elections, to operate the government, and to thereby influence
government policy
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: The main political parties are democrats and republicans.
Two Party System- having two major political parties
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: America runs on a two party system.
Third Party- smaller minor parties compete for power in the nationʼs two-party system
Similarity: Political party
Sentence: Third parties rarely make much of a dent compared to the two main parties.
Platform- a series of statements expressing the partyʼs principles, beliefs, and positions
on election issues
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: When running for election, candidates present their platform.
Plank- each individual part of the platform
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: The plank are the sections when a platform is broken down.
Chapter 9 - Section Two
National Committee- representatives from every state
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: The national committee is made up of people from every state.
Caucus-meetings of state and local party organizations
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: State and party organizations meet at a caucus.
Precinct- a geographic area that contains a specific number of voters
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: Each precinct has a specific number of voters.
Ward- several geographically connected precincts make up a larger election unit
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: A ward is made up of precincts.
Political Machine- a local party organization so powerful that, year after year, their
candidates sweep almost every election
Similarity/Difference: None
Tara Pawlyk Sunday, March 17, 2013 4:26:50 PM ET 04:0c:ce:d3:10:88

2. Sentence: Political machines hold a lot of power in elections.
Direct Primary- an election in which voters choose candidates to represent each party in
a general election
Difference: Closed primary
Sentence: Direct primaries are used to choose the candidates to represent the parties.
Closed Primary- only the declared members of a party are allowed to vote for that
partyʼs nominees
Difference: Open primary
Sentence: During a closed primary only voters in that party may vote.
Open Primary- voters do not need to declare their party preference in order to vote for
the partyʼs nominees
Difference: Closed primary
Sentence: In the open primary any registered voters can vote regardless of party.
Plurality- the largest number that wins the election
Similarity: Majority
Sentence: Plurality is what wins the election for a candidate.
Majority- more than 50 percent of the total votes
Difference: Minority
Sentence: In order to win the election a candidate must have the majority of the votes.
Petition- qualified voters sign papers declaring support for a candidate, he or she goes
on the ballot for the general election
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: When people want to see a specific candidate on the ballot they petition to
make it happen.
Tara Pawlyk Sunday, March 17, 2013 4:26:50 PM ET 04:0c:ce:d3:10:88