Chapter 12 Terms

Question 1

Electorate

Answer 1

The citizens eligible to vote.

Question 2

Mandate

Answer 2

A command, indicated by an electorates votes, for the elected officials to carry out a party platform or policy agenda.

Question 3

Primary election

Answer 3

Election in which voters decide which of the candidates within a party will represent the party in the general election.

Question 4

Closed primary

Answer 4

A primary election in which only a party’s registered voters are eligible to cast a ballot.

Question 5

Open primary

Answer 5

A primary election in which party members, independents, and sometimes members of the other party are allowed to participate.

Question 6

Crossover voting

Answer 6

Participation in the primary election with which the voter is not affiliated with.

Question 7

Runoff primary

Answer 7

A second primary election between the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes in the first primary.

Question 8

General election

Answer 8

Election in which voters decide which candidates will actually fill elective public officers.

Question 9

Initiative

Answer 9

An election that allows citizens to propose legislation or state constitutional amendments by submitting them to the electorate for popular vote.

Question 10

Referendum

Answer 10

An election whereby the state legislature submits proposed legislation or state constitutional amendments to the voters for approval.

Question 11

Recall

Answer 11

An election in which voters can remove an incumbent from office prior to the next scheduled election.

Question 12

Front-loading

Answer 12

The tendency of states to choose an early date on the nomination calendar.

Question 13

Electoral College

Answer 13

Representatives of each state who cast the final ballots that actually elect a president.

Question 14

Elector

Answer 14

Member of the Electoral College

Question 15

Reapportionment

Answer 15

The reallocation of the number of seats in the House of Representatives after each decennial census.

Question 16

Incumbency

Answer 16

Already holding an office

Question 17

Mid-term election

Answer 17

An election that takes place in the middle of a presidential term.

Question 18

Conventional political participation

Answer 18

Activism that attempts to influence the political process through commonly accepted forms of persuasion such as voting or letter writing.

Question 19

Unconventional political participation

Answer 19

Activism that attempts to influence the political process through unusual or extreme measures, such as protests, boycotts, and picketing.

Question 20

Ticket splitting

Answer 20

Voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election.

Question 21

Retrospective judgement

Answer 21

A voters evaluation of a candidate based on past performance o a particular issue.

Question 22

Prospective judgement

Answer 22

A voters evaluation of a candidate based in what he or she pledges to do about an issue if elected

Question 23

Turnout

Answer 23

The proportion of the voting age public that casts a ballot.