 As with the preceding Second Party System era, the Third was characterized by intense voter interest, routinely high voter turnout, unflinching party loyalty, dependence on nominating conventions, hierarchical party organizations, and the systematic use of government jobs as patronage for party workers, known as the spoils system.Cities of 50,000 or more developed ward and citywide "bosses" who could depend on the votes of clients, especially recent immigrants.Newspapers continued to be the primary communication system, with the great majority closely linked to one party or the other.