| A | B |
|---|
| political party | group that wants to control government through elections |
| political spectrum | Range of politcal views |
| partisanship | support for the party |
| single-member districts | only one candidate elected |
| plurality | getting the most votes |
| bipartisanship | two parties find common ground |
| consensus | general agreement |
| coalition | a temporary alliance of groups |
| incumbent | current office holder |
| factions | competing groups |
| spoils system | awarding public office to supporters |
| electorate | people eligible to vote |
| sectionalism | devotion to a region |
| ideological parties | sharing a comprehensive set of beliefs about government |
| single-issues party | focused on a single public question |
| economic protest parties | rooted in periods of economic discontent |
| splinter parties | broken off from a major party |
| ward | dividing cities for electing council members |
| precinct | smallest unit of election administration and voting place |
