Political Parties and Elections Vocab

Question 1

Voting by mail if you can’t go to your polling place on Election Day.

Answer 1

Absentee Voting

Question 2

Involving support or cooperation from both major political parties.

Answer 2

Bipartisan

Question 3

The role of political parties to ensure their candidates are qualified and act properly.

Answer 3

Bonding agent function

Question 4

A meeting of party members to select candidates or decide policy.

Answer 4

Caucus

Question 5

A primary election where only registered party members can vote for their party’s candidates.

Answer 5

closed primary

Question 6

When a strong candidate at the top of the ballot helps attract votes for other party members down the ballot.

Answer 6

coattail effect

Question 7

An election where party members vote to choose their party’s candidate for the general election.

Answer 7

direct primary

Question 8

Parties that emerge during bad economic times, focusing on economic issues and dissatisfaction.

Answer 8

economic protest parties

Question 9

The right to vote.

Answer 9

franchise

Question 10

A regular election where voters choose among candidates for public office.

Answer 10

general election

Question 11

Drawing voting district lines to favor one party over another.

Answer 11

Gerrymandering

Question 12

Parties based on a specific set of beliefs or ideology (e.g., socialism, libertarianism).

Answer 12

Ideological parties

Question 13

A person currently holding a political office.

Answer 13

Incumbent

Question 14

A test once used to keep people (especially African Americans) from voting by requiring reading skills.

Answer 14

Literacy Test

Question 15

The two main political parties in the U.S.: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

Answer 15

Major parties

Question 16

A smaller political party that is not one of the two major ones.

Answer 16

Minor party

Question 17

An election held in a year when there is no presidential election.

Answer 17

off-year election

Question 18

A primary election where any registered voter can vote, regardless of party.

Answer 18

open primary

Question 19

Strong support for one’s political party.

Answer 19

partisanship

Question 20

The political party that controls the executive branch (the presidency or governorship).

Answer 20

party in power

Question 21

The belief that your vote matters and that you can influence government.

Answer 21

political efficacy

Question 22

A group of people with similar ideas who work to get candidates elected and influence government.

Answer 22

political party

Question 23

A fee once required to vote, used to prevent poor people and minorities from voting.

Answer 23

poll tax

Question 24

The location where people go to vote.

Answer 24

polling place

Question 25

A local voting district within a larger area, like a city or county.

Answer 25

precinct

Question 26

A requirement (from the Voting Rights Act) that certain states had to get approval before changing voting laws.

Answer 26

preclearance

Question 27

Parties focused on one specific policy or concern (e.g., the environment).

Answer 27

single issue parties

Question 28

Parties that split off from a major party due to disagreements.

Answer 28

splinter parties

Question 29

Voting for candidates from different parties in the same election.

Answer 29

split-ticket voting

Question 30

Voting only for candidates from one party in an election.

Answer 30

straight-ticket voting

Question 31

The right to vote (also known as the franchise).

Answer 31

suffrage

Question 32

A local area used for elections within a city, often made up of several precincts.

Answer 32

ward

Question 33

The role of the party not in power to monitor and criticize the actions of the party in power.

Answer 33

watchdog function

Question 34

A primary where voters choose delegates who then choose the candidates at a convention.

Answer 34

indirect primary