Chapter 7

Question 1

A private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns.

Answer 1

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Question 2

Organized groups that attempt to influence the government by electing their members to important government offices.

Answer 2

Political Parties

Question 3

A candidate running for reelection to a position that he or she already holds.

Answer 3

Incumbents

Question 4

The process by which political parties select their candidates for election to public office.

Answer 4

Nomination

Question 5

The party that holds the majority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate.

Answer 5

Majority Party

Question 6

The party that holds a minority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate.

Answer 6

Minority Party

Question 7

A political system in which only two parties have a realistic opportunity to compete effectively for control of the government.

Answer 7

Two-Party System

Question 8

The point in history when a new party supplants the ruling party, becoming in turn the dominant political force; in the US, this has tended to occur roughly every 30 years.

Answer 8

Electoral Realignments

Question 9

The condition in American government wherein the presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress.

Answer 9

Divided Government

Question 10

Parties that organize to compete against the two major American political parties.

Answer 10

Third Parties

Question 11

A multiple-member district system that allows each political party representation in proportion to its percentage of the total vote.

Answer 11

Proportional Representation

Question 12

The right to vote; also called franchise.

Answer 12

Suffrage

Question 13

The percentage of eligible individuals who actually vote.

Answer 13

Turnout

Question 14

Status in society based on level of education, income, and occupational prestige.

Answer 14

Socioeconomic Status

Question 15

The process by which large numbers of people are organized for a political activity.

Answer 15

Mobilization

Question 16

Elections to select a party’s candidate for the general election.

Answer 16

Primary Elections

Question 17

Under laws of most states, only registered members of a political party may vote in a primary election to select that party’s candidates.

Answer 17

Close Primary

Question 18

A primary election in which the voter can wait until the day of the primary to choose which party to enroll in to select candidates for the general election.

Answer 18

Open Primary

Question 19

A regularly scheduled election involving most districts in the nation or state, in which voters select officeholders; in the US, general elections for national office and most state and local offices are held on first Monday in November in even numbered years (every 4 years presidential elections)

Answer 19

General Election

Question 20

A proposed law or policy change that is placed on the ballot by citizens or interest groups for a popular vote closed primary; a primary election in which voters can participate in the nomination of candidates, but only of the party in which they are enrolled for a period of time prior to primary day.

Answer 20

Ballot Initiative

Question 21

A practice of referring a measure proposed or passed by a legislature to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection.

Answer 21

Referendum

Question 22

A procedure to allow voters to remove state officials from office before their terms expire by circulating petitions to call a vote.

Answer 22

Recall

Question 23

The electors from each state who meet after the party supplants the ruling party, becoming in turn the dominant political force; in the US, this has tended to occur roughly every 30 years.

Answer 23

Electoral College

Question 24

Non-profit independent groups that receive and disburse funds to influence the nomination, election, or defeat of candidates; named after Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which defines and provides tax-exempt status for nonprofit advocacy groups.

Answer 24

527s