Chapter 13 Study Guide

Question 1

Closed Primary

Answer 1

Election in which only party members are allowed to vote

Question 2

Caucus

Answer 2

Voters gather to listen to delegates summarize each candidates’ political platforms before voting

Question 3

Front Loading

Answer 3

States choose an earlier date on the primary calendar

Question 4

Referendum

Answer 4

State legislature proposes a written bill for reform

Question 5

Voter Turnout

Answer 5

Proportion of voting age public that votes

Question 6

Motor Voter Act 1993

Answer 6

Requires state to allow people to register to vote at the DMV

Question 7

Political Efficacy

Answer 7

Belief that one’s political participation really matters and that their vote will actually make a difference

Question 8

Electoral College

Answer 8

Process in which we elect our President

Question 9

Retrospective Voting

Answer 9

Looking at past issues when considering a vote

Question 10

Initiative

Answer 10

Citizen written bill sent to the state for reform; petition

Question 11

Party Realignments

Answer 11

Certain demographics changing political sides

Question 12

Secular Realignment

Answer 12

People moving away from the party system and choosing to “decline to state” rather than affiliate with one of the two major parties

Question 13

Delegates

Answer 13

Someone who represents a candidate and promotes their election at caucuses, etc.

Question 14

Midterm Election

Answer 14

Elections in the middle of the President’s term

Question 15

Direct Elections

Answer 15

Election of an official directly by the people, rather than by an intermediary group

Question 16

Plurality

Answer 16

Number of votes for the candidate receiving the greatest number

Question 17

Solid South

Answer 17

The Democratic voting record of the south before 1950

Question 18

Single Member District System

Answer 18

An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official

Question 19

Multiple Member District System

Answer 19

An electoral district with more than one representative or official

Question 20

General Election

Answer 20

Election between all parties to see who will take office

Question 21

Baker vs. Carr (1962)

Answer 21

Ordered state districts to be as near equal as possible in population; “one man, one vote”

Question 22

National Convention

Answer 22

Televised event in which delegates rally and lots of speeches are given

Question 23

Open Primary

Answer 23

Election in which the voter gets to choose which ballot to vote for; you could be an independent or party member

Question 24

Blanket Primary

Answer 24

All parties are present on one ballot so you don’t have to verbally affiliate yourself

Question 25

Primaries

Answer 25

Election in which voters choose who within a party will represent the party in the general election

Question 26

Super delegates

Answer 26

Delegates who can vote for any candidate at the National Convention

Question 27

Suffrage

Answer 27

The right to vote

Question 28

Voter Registration

Answer 28

System designed to reduce voter fraud by requiring voters to register well in advance of Election Day

Question 29

Civic Duty

Answer 29

Belief that it is every citizen’s responsibility to vote

Question 30

Winner Take All

Answer 30

Republican method of voting in that if one candidate wins the popular vote for a state, they win all of the delegates and electoral votes of that state as well

Question 31

Prospective Voting

Answer 31

Choosing a candidate based on their methods of taking action on future events and issues that arise

Question 32

Faithless Elector

Answer 32

Members of the electoral college who don’t vote for who they are pledged to vote for

Question 33

Critical Elections

Answer 33

A party era ends and new one begins

Question 34

Gerrymandering

Answer 34

Drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party or group

Question 35

National Primary

Answer 35

Propose we have a nationwide primary held early in election year

Question 36

Coattail Effect

Answer 36

Candidate brings another successful candidate with them into office to support their ideas and share similar views towards issues

Question 37

Incumbent

Answer 37

Someone who is already in office and is running for another term

Question 38

Super Tuesday

Answer 38

A Tuesday early in March in which many presidential primaries are held

Question 39

Safe Seat

Answer 39

A position that is predictably won by one party so the success of the party’s candidate is almost taken for granted because it is so secure

Question 40

Gender Gap

Answer 40

Voting and political difference between men and women

Question 41

Wesberry vs. Sanders (1963)

Answer 41

Emphasizing that states must redraw their district lines it be as near equal as possible in population

Question 42

Running Mate

Answer 42

Person who runs with someone in an election but is given the less important position

Question 43

Balanced Ticket

Answer 43

Occurs when a presidential nominee chooses a vice presidential running mate who has different qualities in order to attract more votes

Question 44

Mandate

Answer 44

A command for the elected officials to carry out their platforms once a candidate receives over 50% of the popular vote