Chapter 13 Vocab

Question 1

Closed Primary

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Conventional Political Participation

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Crossover Voting

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Elector

Answer 4

Members of the electoral college.

Question 5

Electoral College

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Electorate

Answer 6

The citizens eligible to vote.

Question 7

Front-Loading

Answer 7

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

Question 8

General Election

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Incumbency

Answer 9

Already holding an office.

Question 10

Initiative

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Mandate

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Midterm Election

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Open Primary

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Primary Election

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Prospective Judgement

Answer 15

A voter’s evaluation of a candidate based on what he or she pledges to do about an issue if elected.

Question 16

Reapportionment

Answer 16

The relocation of the number of seats in the House of Representatives after each decennial sensus.

Question 17

Recall

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Referendum

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Retrospective Judgement

Answer 19

A voter’s evaluation of a candidate based on past performance on a particular issue.

Question 20

Runoff Primary

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Ticket-Splitting

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Turnout

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Unconventional Political Participation

Answer 23

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