All About Elections Vocabulary

Question 0

Representative democracy

Answer 0

A type of democracy in which the citizens delegates authority to elected representatives

Question 1

Democracy

Answer 1

A government by the people through free and frequent elections

Question 2

Politics

Answer 2

The process by which groups make decisions- the art and science of government

Question 3

Absentee voting

Answer 3

A way for people to vote when they can’t physically get to their polling place - has a special form

Question 4

Early voting

Answer 4

The process in which voters can cast their vote prior to an election. I can take place by mail, person with designated early voting polling stations

Question 5

Poll

Answer 5

The place where people go to vote or a sampling of opinions on a subject

Question 6

Ballot

Answer 6

A recorded vote cast for a candidate or issue

Question 7

Exit poll

Answer 7

A poll taken of a small percentage of voters as they leave the poll used to forecast the outcome of an election or determined the reasons for voting decision

Question 8

Straight ticket voting

Answer 8

Voting for candidates from only one political party

Question 9

Split ticket voting

Answer 9

Voting for candidates from two or more political parties

Question 10

Precinct

Answer 10

A fixed number of districts each containing a polling place into which a city town or state is divided for voting purposes

Question 11

congressional District

Answer 11

An area represented by a US representative contains about 570000 people

Question 12

Constituency

Answer 12

All the voters in a particular district

Question 13

Primary

Answer 13

A meeting of the voters of a political party in an election district for nominating candidates for office in choosing delegates for a convention

Question 14

Caucus

Answer 14

A meeting of party members to select leaders, candidates, and determine strategy

Question 15

Electoral college

Answer 15

The method used to elect the president

Question 16

Gubernatorial election

Answer 16

The election of the governor by the states voters

Question 17

Campaign

Answer 17

Competition by rival political candidates in organizations for public office

Question 18

Whistle stop

Answer 18

Campaigning for political office by traveling around the country, originally by train, stopping at small communities to address the voters

Question 19

Media

Answer 19

Means of communication that candidates used to influence voters (radio, television, newspapers, etc.…)

Question 20

Mudslinging

Answer 20

Negative, often personal, frequently inaccurate, or exaggerated attacks of the opposition

Question 21

Political party

Answer 21

A group of persons with common political opinions and purposes, organize for gaining political influence and government control, and for directing government policy

Question 22

GOP

Answer 22

The Republican Party which was formerly known as the grand old party

Question 23

Independent

Answer 23

A voter or candidate who does not belong to a political party

Question 24

Political action committee

Answer 24

An organization of people including businesses, labor unions, and special interest bodies that raise money for favored candidates and can donate up to $5000 per candidate for election

Question 25

Candidate

Answer 25

A person running for office in an election

Question 26

Incumbent

Answer 26

Person currently in office

Question 27

Partisan

Answer 27

Idea or person that shows bias or favors a particular party

Question 28

Nonpartisan

Answer 28

An idea or person that doesn’t support a specific party