POLS 3030 Ch. 4-7 Key Terms

Question 1

Actions through which ordinary members of a political system attempt to influence decisions.

Answer 1

Participation

Question 2

Using social media, especially twitter to raise public awareness of an issue.

Answer 2

Hashtag Activism

Question 3

A person who enjoys the benefit of a public good without bearing the cost.

Answer 3

Free Rider

Question 4

A dense network of reciprocal social relations that promotes greater civic engagement.

Answer 4

Social Capital

Question 5

The law that effectively enfranchised by giving the national government the power to decide whether individuals are qualified to vote and to intercede in state and local electoral operations when necessary.

Answer 5

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Question 6

Adults eighteen years of age and older.

Answer 6

Voting-age Population

Question 7

The voting-age population excluding those who are non-citizens, and depending on a state’s law, convicted felons or mentally incompetent.

Answer 7

Voting-eligible Population

Question 8

The number of uncounted, unmarked, or spoiled ballots in an election.

Answer 8

Residual Votes

Question 9

The electoral mechanism for selecting party nominees to compete in the general election.

Answer 9

Primary System

Question 10

A primary in which only voters registered in the party are allowed to participate.

Answer 10

Closed Primary

Question 11

Voters decide which party’s primary they will participate in.

Answer 11

Open Primary

Question 12

A second election pitting the top two vote-getters from a first election in which no candidate received a majority of the votes cast.

Answer 12

Runoff Election

Question 13

Voters use preference rankings to select candidates at a single election.

Answer 13

Instant Runoff

Question 14

The number if votes (though necessarily a majority) cast for the winning candidate in an election with more than two candidates.

Answer 14

Plurality

Question 15

A state election provision that allows candidates to run on more than one party ticket.

Answer 15

Fusion

Question 16

The tendency of a winning (or losing) presidential candidate to carry state candidates of the same party into (or out of) office.

Answer 16

Coattail Effect

Question 17

An election without party labels.

Answer 17

Nonpartisan Election

Question 18

Nonpartisan political organizations that endorse and promote a state of candidates.

Answer 18

Slating Groups

Question 19

A special type of referendum whereby citizens can petition to vote on actions taken by legislative bodies.

Answer 19

Popular Referendum

Question 20

A procedure whereby a governing body submits proposed laws, constitutional amendments, or bond issues to the voters for ratification.

Answer 20

Referendum

Question 21

A procedure that allows citizens to vote elected officials out of office before their terms have expired.

Answer 21

Recall

Question 22

Statutes that open the meetings of government bodies to the public.

Answer 22

Open Meeting Laws

Question 23

Acts that standardize administrative agency operations as a means of safeguarding clients and the general public.

Answer 23

Administrative Procedure Laws

Question 24

An organization created by government to involve members of the public in studying and recommending solutions to public problems.

Answer 24

Advisory Committee

Question 25

A small group of individuals assembled to provide opinion and feedback about specific issues in government. Participants are often paid for their time.

Answer 25

Focus Group

Question 26

A form of participation in which individuals or groups donate time or money to a public purpose.

Answer 26

Volunteerism

Question 27

Organizations that nominate candidates to compete in elections, and promote policy ideas.

Answer 27

Political Parties

Question 28

Core beliefs about the nature and role of the political system.

Answer 28

Ideology

Question 29

Voting for candidates of different political parties in a general election.

Answer 29

Ticket Splitting

Question 30

A conservative/libertarian grassroots political movement whose supporters favor smaller government.

Answer 30

Tea Party

Question 31

Both houses of the legislature and the governor's office are controlled by the same party.

Answer 31

Unified Government

Question 32

One party controls the governor's office and the other party controls the legislature or each party controls one legislative chamber.

Answer 32

Divided Government

Question 33

The weakening of an individuals attachment to political parties.

Answer 33

Dealignment

Question 34

Organizations of like-minded individuals who desire to influence government.

Answer 34

Interest Groups

Question 35

The process by which groups and individuals attempt to influence policy makers.

Answer 35

Lobbying

Question 36

Group mobilization of citizens to contact public officials on behalf of shared public policy views.

Answer 36

Grassroots Lobbying

Question 37

Organizations that raise and distribute campaign funds to candidates for elective office.

Answer 37

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Question 38

Nonprofit, tax-exempt political organization set up to accept contributions and make expenditures in campaigns, although not explicitly connected to candidates.

Answer 38

527 Groups

Question 39

A form of participation designed to draw attention to a cause.

Answer 39

Direct Action

Question 40

Unregulated funds contributed to national political parties and nonparty political groups.

Answer 40

Soft Money

Question 41

Legislative assistance on behalf of constituents who have a problem or grievance with a state agency.

Answer 41

Casework

Question 42

Legislative districts containing more than one seat.

Answer 42

Multimember Districts (MMDs)

Question 43

Skewed legislative districts that violate the "one person, one vote" ideal.

Answer 43

Malapportionment

Question 44

The reallocation of seats in a legislative assembly.

Answer 44

Reapportionment

Question 45

The redrawing of legislative district lines to conform as closely as possible to the "one person, one vote" ideal.

Answer 45

Redistrict

Question 46

The process of creatively designing a legislative district, usually to enhance the electoral fortunes of the party in power.

Answer 46

Gerrymander

Question 47

An elected official who cannot serve beyond the current term of office.

Answer 47

Lame Duck

Question 48

A stash of funds accumulated in advance of a campaign.

Answer 48

War Chest

Question 49

A legislator who functions as a conduit for constituency opinion.

Answer 49

Delegate

Question 50

A legislator who votes according to his or her conscience and best judgement.

Answer 50

Trustee

Question 51

A legislator who functions as either a delegate or a trustee, as circumstances dictate.

Answer 51

Politico

Question 52

People who bring new ideas to a policy-making body.

Answer 52

Policy Entrepreneurs

Question 53

An action whereby the legislature overturns a state agency's rules or regulations.

Answer 53

Legislative Veto

Question 54

Statutes that set automatic expiration dates for specified agencies and other organizations.

Answer 54

Sunset Laws

Question 55

Favoritism by a governor or other elected official in distributing government monies or other resources to a particular program, jurisdiction, or individual.

Answer 55

Pork Barrel

Question 56

Powers of the governor derived from the state constitution or statute.

Answer 56

Formal Powers

Question 57

Powers of the governor not derived from constitutional or statutory law.

Answer 57

Informal Powers

Question 58

A system in which more than one member of the executive branch is popularly elected on a statewide ballot.

Answer 58

Plural Executive

Question 59

The informal power of a governor (or other officeholder) to make appointments on the basis of party membership and to dispense contracts or other favors to political supporters.

Answer 59

Patronage

Question 60

The governor's formal power to veto a bill in its entirety.

Answer 60

Package Veto

Question 61

The governor's formal power to veto separate items in a bill instead of the entire piece of proposed legislation.

Answer 61

Line Item Veto

Question 62

The governor's power to withhold approval or disapproval of a bill after the legislature has adjourned for the session, in effect vetoing the measure.

Answer 62

Pocket Veto

Question 63

A type of veto used by the governor to reject a bill and also to recommend changes that would cause the governor to consider the bill's approval.

Answer 63

Executive Amendment

Question 64

A rule, regulation, or policy issued unilaterally by the governor to change executive branch operations or activities.

Answer 64

Executive Order