Chapter Section 12.2 pg. 225 - 234 Flashcards
Define conscription
> conscription (draft) - a system whereby able-bodied men are required to join a particular branch of the nation’s armed forces for a certain period of time
List ways US citizens can influence our country
> contact elected and appointed officials (freedom to petition)
discuss and debate political issues (freedom of speech, press, and assembly)
vote (with franchise extended under the 15th, 19th, and 26th Amendments)
peacefully demonstrate (freedom of assembly)
Describe primary elections
> primary - party election
in primary, voter chooses from candidates representing his party
there are closed primaries, open primaries, blanket primaries, and runoff primaries
Describe a closed primary
> if state has a closed primary, voter must register to vote with party and may vote only for candidates in that party
Describe open primary
> if state has open primary, voter need not register with party, but he still must vote with only one party
Describe blanket primary
> some states have blanket primary (type of open primary), which allows voter to vote a split ticket (vote candidates in either party)
Describe runoff primary
> will be held between top two candidates after regular primary
Describe general elections
> In 1845, Congress determined that congressional elections are to be held on Tuesday following the first Monday of November in even-numbered years, and that presidential elections are to be held on same date every fourth year
each county or city is divided into precincts, and each precinct has polling place small enough to avoid long lines
ordinarily, county has official, often called registrar of voters or supervisor of elections, who holds the overall responsibility for conducting of elections and seeing that on election day each polling place is equipped with voting booths, ballots, and ballot box (or voting machine), and poll books listing qualified voters
Describe the Australian ballot system
> United States used Australian ballot system, or secret ballot system, since 1890s
now days, we use voting machines
Describe absentee ballot
> voter who knows he will be out of town on election day or is unable to vote on that day for some reason should apply to vote by absentee ballot
List and describe the two types of ballots used in general elections
> office-group ballot, on which names of candidates are grouped according to the office; voter must vote for each office and consider each candidate individually
party-group ballot, on which names are grouped according to party; designed to encourage person to vote for only one party by making it easier to do so
