| A | B |
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| coalition | An alliance of individuals or groups with a variety of interests and opinions who join together to support all or part of a political party's platform. |
| dealignment | Among voters, a growing detachment from both major political parties. |
| electorate | All of the citizens eligible to vote in a given election |
| majority party | The political party that has more members in the legislature than the opposing party |
| minority party | The political party that has fewer members in the legislature than the opposing party |
| national convention | The political party leaders who direct party business during the four years between the national party conventions, organize the next national convention, and plan how to obtain a party victory in the next presidential election. |
| party activist | A party member who helps to organize and oversee party functions and planning during and between campaigns, and may even become a candidate for office. |
| party platform | The document drawn up by each party at its national convention that outlines the policies and positions of the party. |
| party ticket | A list of a political party's candidates for various offices. In national elections, the party ticket consists of the presidential and presidential and vice-presidential candidates. |
| political party | A group of individuals who organize to win elections, operate the government, and determine policy. |
| precinct | A political district within a city, such as a block or a neighborhood, or a rural portion of a county; the smallest voting district at the local level. |
| realignment | A process in which the popular support for and relative strength of the parties shift and the parties are reestablished with different coalitions of supporters. |
| third party | In the United States, any party other than one of the two major parties (Republican and Democratic). |
| two-party system | A political system in which two strong and established parties compete for political offices. |
