| A | B |
| Political Party | Organized to win elections |
| two-party system | USA has this political system |
| Democrats | Liberal ideology |
| Republicans | Conservative ideology |
| platform | party's principles |
| plank | individual part of the principles |
| political machine | strong party organization |
| closed primaries | members of a party are allowed to vote |
| open primary | voters vote for whoever they wish |
| referendum | approve or reject a state/local law |
| initiative | citizens propose a new law |
| propaganda | promote a particular person or idea |
| "just plain folks" | propaganda technique |
| political action committee | support a favored candidate |
| public opinion | ideas/attitudes people hold about person/issue |
| libel | harm someone's reputation |
| primary elections | narrow the field of candidates |
| general elections | voters choose candidates for various offices |