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American Government > Test > Flashcards

Test Flashcards

1
Q

Precinct

A

a geographic area that contains a specific number of voters

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2
Q

Plank

A

each individual part of a political party’s platform

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3
Q

National Committee

A

representatives from the 50 state party organizations who run a political party

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4
Q

Direct Primary

A

an election in which voters choose candidates to represent each party in a general election

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5
Q

Grassroots

A

these are depended on to build the party at a neighborhood level

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6
Q

Third Party

A

a party that challenges the two major parties

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7
Q

Political Party

A

an association of voters with broad common interest who want to influence or control decision making in government by electing the party’s candidates to public office

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8
Q

Watchdog

A

someone that watches over something for mistakes

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9
Q

Petition

A

a process by which candidates who are not affiliated with one of the two major parties can get on the ballot for the general election in most states

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10
Q

Candidate

A

is a person running for something

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11
Q

Political machine

A

a strong party organization that can control political appointments and deliver votes

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12
Q

Open Primary

A

an election in which voters need not declare their party preference

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13
Q

Closed Primary

A

only the declared members of a party are allowed to vote for that party’s nominees.

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14
Q

Ward

A

several adjoining precincts making up a larger election unit

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15
Q

Two-Party system

A

a system of government in which two parties compete for power

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16
Q

Platform

A

a series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues

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17
Q

Caucus

A

a meeting of political party members to conduct party business

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18
Q

Electoral College

A

a group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

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19
Q

Primary Election

A

nomination of candidates

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20
Q

Private funding

A

is more like a gift or donation

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21
Q

Straight- ticket voting

A

voting for all the candidates in one political party

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22
Q

split ticket voting

A

choose some candidates from one party and some from another

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23
Q

Canvassing

A

when candidates or campaign workers travel through neighborhoods asking for votes or taking public opinion polls

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24
Q

referendum

A

a way for citizens to vote on state or local laws

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25
Q

Endorsement

A

when a famous and popular person supports or campaigns for a candidate

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26
Q

Political action committee (PAC)

A

political organization established by a corporation, labor union, or other special- interest group designed to support candidates by contributing money

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27
Q

Winner take all

A

a system in which the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state usually receives all of the states electoral votes

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28
Q

Polling Place

A

the location where voting is carried out

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29
Q

Absentee ballot

A

one that allows a person to vote without going to the polls on Election day

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30
Q

Electorate

A

all the people who are eligible to vote

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31
Q

General Election

A

the voters choose candidates for various offices

32
Q

Electors

A

person appointed to vote in presidential elections for the major candidates

33
Q

Public Opinion

A

the ideas and attitudes that most people hold about elected officials, candidates, government, and political issues

34
Q

Interest Group

A

a group of people who share a point of view about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs

35
Q

Public opinion poll

A

a survey in which individuals are asked to answer questions about a particular issue or person

36
Q

Pollster

A

a specialist whose job is to conduct polls

37
Q

Print media

A

newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and books

38
Q

Electronic media

A

radio, television, and the Internet

39
Q

public agenda

A

issues considered most significant by government officials

40
Q

nonpartisan

A

free from party ties or bias

41
Q

lobbyist

A

representative of an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making

42
Q

mass media

A

a mechanism of mass communication, including television, radio, newspapers, magazines, recordings, movies, the Internet, and books

43
Q

leak

A

the release of secret government information by anonymous government officials to the media

44
Q

libel

A

written untruths that are harmful to someone’s reputation

45
Q

malice

A

evil intent

46
Q

prior restraint

A

government censorship of material before it is published

47
Q

Prohibitionist party

A

single issue party, banning alcohol

48
Q

Democratic party

A

political party tending to favor more government

49
Q

Republican Party

A

political party tending to favor less government

50
Q

Presidential election campaign fund

A

designate $3 from your taxes

51
Q

The voters information bulletin

A

useful information about politics

52
Q

McCain- Feingold Act

A

prohibits the amount of soft money donations

53
Q

National Voter Registration Act

A

register to vote when you renew your drivers license

54
Q

McConnell v. federal election commission

A

supreme court case, apeled constitutionality of the McCain- Feingold Act

55
Q

Buckley v. valeo

A

supreme court case, government could limit campaign contributions

56
Q

Which leader warned americans that political parties may have harmful effects?

A

George Washington

57
Q

Federalists believed that the best way to protect individual rights was to have a strong

A

National government

58
Q

What kind of political party system do most democracies have?

A

Multi party system

59
Q

Who writes a party’s platform at its national convention?

A

Delegates

60
Q

What is the main event at a national convention?

A

Nominating the candidate for president

61
Q

What is the role of a party committee at the county level?

A

Support local, federal, and state officials

62
Q

How does a candidate who is not a Democrat or a Republican get their name on the ballot for a general election?

A

submit a petition

63
Q

Thomas Jefferson believed that strong state governments would protect individual rights better than a strong national government because state are

A

closer to the citizens

64
Q

A breakaway group of Democrats and Whigs formed the Republican Party in 1854 because they tended to oppose

A

slavery

65
Q

The purpose of congressional campaign committees is to

A

help elect their party members

66
Q

To win a primary election in most states, a candidate must receive a

A

plurality of the votes

67
Q

What are the requirements for voting in the U.S.?

A

18, registered to vote, and a citizen

68
Q

What are the characteristics of voters in the U.S.?

A

usually educated, middle aged, positive attitudes towards government

69
Q

What is the purpose of a runoff election?

A

No one has received the majority and the top two continue

70
Q

What has been the main function of political parties’ national conventions in recent years?

A

To kick off the campaign

71
Q

Who do PACs give most of their money to?

A

incumbents

72
Q

What is the difference between soft money and hard money?

A

Soft money more unlimited because it goes the party, hard money limited and is going directly to a specific person

73
Q

What is the purpose of recent campaign reform legislation?

A

Putting limitations and focus on many small donations

74
Q

What component of public opinion can be expressed as positive or negative?

A

Direction

75
Q

What is random sampling?

A

Attempts to contribute to accuracy

76
Q

What are media shield laws?

A

Protects them so the do not have to reveal their sources

77
Q

Why would politicians leak information?

A

Test reactions

American Government (1 decks)

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