| A | B |
|---|
| candidate | a person seeking an elected government office |
| plurality | the largest number of votes or seats in a legislature |
| majority | more than half |
| coalition | property used with another party or parties |
| third party | a minor political party that challenges the two major parties |
| nominate | to choose a candidate to run for political office |
| campaign | an organized effort to gather support for a candidate |
| patronage | giving jobs or special favors to loyal party members |
| precinct | geographic area that contains a specific number of voters |
| political machine | a strong party organization that can control political appointments and deliver votes |
| platform | a political party's statement of its goals and positions on public issues |
| plank | an item of a political party's platform |
| grassroots | beginning with the people |
| accountable | having to explain one's actions to the voters |
| nonpartisan | not involving political parties |
| convention | held once every four years, where party members nominate their candidates for President and Vice President of the US |
