Unit 2 Vocab Flashcards

(40 cards)

1
Q

attentive public

A

those who follow politics and public affairs carefully.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Australian ballot

A

secret ballot printed at the expense of the state.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Balancing the ticket

A

occurs when a presidential nominee chooses a vice presidential running mate who has different qualities in order to attract more votes for the ticket.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Blanket primary

A

election to choose candidates that is open to independents, and that allows voters to choose candidates from all the parties.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Caucus

A

local party meeting

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Closed primary

A

party election to choose candidates that is closed to independents. Voters may not cross party lines.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Coattail effect

A

the influence of a popular presidential candidate on the election of congressional candidates of the same party

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Demographics

A

characteristics of populations, e.g., race, sex, income.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Direct election

A

election of an official directly by the people rather than by an intermediary group such as the Electoral College.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Direct primary

A

election in which the people choose candidates for office.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Fixed terms

A

terms of office that have a definite length of time, e.g., two years for a member of the House.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Front loading

A

scheduling presidential primary elections early (e.g., February or March) in an election year.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Gender Gap

A

difference in voting patterns for men and women, particularly in the greater tendency of the latter to vote for Democratic presidential candidates.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

general election

A

election in which the officeholders are chosen. Contrast with a primary election, in which only the candidates are chosen.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

hard money

A

campaign contributions donated directly to candidates.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

ideology

A

set of beliefs about political values and the role of government.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

incumbent

A

an officeholder who is seeking reelection.

18
Q

independent

A

one is not registered with a political party.

19
Q

independent leaners

A

tend to vote for candidates of one particular party

20
Q

pure independents

A

have no consistent pattern of party voting

21
Q

issue advocacy ads

A

ads that focus on issues and do not explicitly encourage citizens to vote for a certain candidate.

22
Q

open primary

A

election to choose candidates that is open to independents, and in which voters may choose candidates from any one party.

23
Q

party identification

A

a sense of affiliation that a person has with a particular political party.

24
Q

party platform

A

a list of positions and programs that the party adopts at the national convention. Each position is called a plank

25
political culture
the widely shared beliefs, values, and norms that citizens share about their government.
26
plurality
more votes than anyone else, but less than half, e.g., Clinton won a plurality (43%) of popular votes in 1992, but not a majority.`
27
plurality elections
such as those for Congress are won by the person with the most votes, regardless if he/she has a majority
28
political efficacy
capacity to understand and influence political events
29
political socialization
process in which one acquires his/her political beliefs.
30
realigning (critical) election
an election in which there is a long term | change in party alignment, e.g., 1932.
31
safe seat
an office that is extremely likely to be won by a particular candidate or political party
32
single member district system
system in which the people elect one representative per district. With a winner-take-all rule, this system strengthens the two major parties and weakens minor parties.
33
soft money
campaign contributions that are not donated directly to candidates, but are instead donated to parties
34
Solid South
historically, the South voted solidly Democratic. However, the South is now strongly Republican: Bush carried every Southern state in 2000.
35
split ticket voting
casting votes for candidates of one’s own party and for candidates of opposing parties, e.g., voting for a Republican presidential candidate and a Democratic congressional candidate
36
straight ticket voting
casting votes only for candidates of one’s party.
37
suffrage
right to vote
38
superdelegate
a delegate to the Democratic national convention who is there by virtue of holding an office.
39
Super Tuesday
a Tuesday in early March in which many presidential primaries, particularly in the South, are held.
40
Swing state
a state that does not consistently vote either Democratic or Republican in presidential elections.