Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

American government > chapter 7-10 > Flashcards

chapter 7-10 Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
U.S. Government Basics flashcards AP® U.S. Government flashcards American Government 101 flashcards
1
Q

Party organization

A

the structure of national, state, and local parties, including party leaders and workers.

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

party in government

A

is made up of the politicians who are elected as candidates of the party

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

Party in the electorate

A

includes all the citizens who identify with the party

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

party system

A

this term is used to describe periods when the major parties names, their groups of supporters, and the issues dividing them have all been constant

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

party principle

A

the idea that a party is not just a group of elected officials but an organization that exists apart from its candidates

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

spoils system

A

the practice of rewarding supporters with benefits like federal government positions

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

realignment

A

a change in one or more of the factors that define a party system

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

national committee

A

consists of reps from state party organizations usually one man and one woman per state

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

political action committees (PACs)

A

an interest group or a division of an interest group that can raise money to contribute to campaigns or to spend on ads in support of candidates. the amount a PAC can receive from each of its donors and the amount it can spend on federal electioneering are strictly limited

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

caucus

A

the organizations of Democrats within the house and senate that meets to discuss and debate the party’s positions on various issues in order to reach a consensus and assign leadership roles

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

conference

A

the organization of Republicans within the house and senate that meets to discuss and debate the party’s positions on various issues in order to reach a consensus and assign leadership roles

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

party identification

A

a citizens loyalty to a specific political party

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

party coalitions

A

the groups that identify with a political party usually described in demographic terms such as African American Democrats or evangelical republicans

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

issue ownership

A

the theory that voters associate certain issues or issue positions with certain parties (like Democrats and support for government-provided health insurance)

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

primary election

A

A ballot vote in which citizens select a party’s nominee for the general election.

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

caucus (electoral)

A

A local meeting in which party members select a party’s nominee for the general election. (page 217)

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

nominating convention

A

A meeting held by each party every four years at which states’ delegates select the party’s presidential and vice-presidential nominees and approve the party platform.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

party platform

A

A set of objectives outlining the party’s issue positions and priorities. Candidates are not required to support their party’s platform

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

unified government

A

A situation in which one party holds a majority of seats in the House and Senate and the president is a member of that same party

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

divided government

A

A situation in which the House, Senate, and presidency are not controlled by the same party—for example, when Democrats hold the majority of House and Senate seats and the president is a Republican

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

incumbent

A

A politician running for reelection to the office he or she currently holds.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

primary

A

A ballot vote in which citizens select a party’s nominee for the general election.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

open primary

A

A primary election in which any registered voter can participate in the contest, regardless of party affiliation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

closed primary

A

A primary election in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

general election

A

The election in which voters cast ballots for House members, senators, and (every four years) a president and vice president

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

plurality voting

A

A voting system in which the candidate who receives the most votes within a geographic area wins the election, regardless of whether that candidate wins a majority (more than half) of the votes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

majority voting

A

A voting system in which a candidate must win more than 50 percent of votes to win the election. If no candidate wins enough votes to take office, a runoff election is held between the top two vote-getters.

28
Q

runoff election

A

Under a majority voting system, a second election is held only if no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the first general election. Only the top two vote-getters in the first election compete in the runoff

29
Q

proportional allocation

A

candidate based on the percentage of the popular vote cast for each candidate. All Democratic primaries and caucuses use this system, as do some states’ Republican primaries and caucuses

30
Q

winner-take-all

A

During the presidential primaries, the practice of assigning all of a given state’s delegates to the candidate who receives the most popular votes. Some states’ Republican primaries and caucuses use this system

31
Q

popular vote

A

The votes cast by citizens in an election

32
Q

electoral college

A

The body that votes to select America’s president and vice president based on the popular vote in each state. Each candidate nominates a slate of electors who are selected to attend the meeting of the college if their candidate wins the most votes in a state or district.

33
Q

electoral votes

A

Votes cast by members of the electoral college; after a presidential candidate wins the popular vote in a given state, that candidate’s slate of electors casts electoral votes for the candidate on behalf of that state

34
Q

election cycle

A

The two-year period between general elections

35
Q

open seat

A

An elected position for which there is no incumbent

36
Q

GOTV (“get out the vote”) or the ground game

A

A campaign’s efforts to “get out the vote” or make sure its supporters vote on Election Day.

37
Q

federal election commision

A

The government agency that enforces and regulates election laws; made up of six presidential appointees, of whom no more than three can be members of the same party.

38
Q

hard money

A

Donations that are used to help elect or defeat a specific candidate.

39
Q

soft money

A

Contributions that can be used for voter mobilization or to promote a policy proposal or point of view as long as these efforts are not tied to supporting or opposing a particular candidate

40
Q

paradox of voting

A

The question of why citizens vote even though their individual votes stand little chance of changing the election outcome.

41
Q

voting cues

A

Pieces of information about a candidate that are readily available, easy to interpret, and lead a citizen to decide to vote for a particular candidate.

42
Q

coattails

A

The ability of a popular president to generate additional support for candidates affiliated with his or her party. Coattails are weak or nonexistent in most American elections.

43
Q

split ticket

A

A ballot on which a voter selects candidates from more than one political party.

44
Q

straight ticket

A

A ballot on which a voter selects candidates from only one political party.

45
Q

interest group

A

An organization of people who share common political interests and aim to influence public policy by electioneering and lobbying

46
Q

lobbying

A

Efforts to influence public policy through contact with public officials on behalf of an interest group

47
Q

centralized groups

A

Interest groups that have a headquarters, usually in Washington, D.C., as well as members and field offices throughout the country. In general, these groups’ lobbying decisions are made at headquarters by the group leaders

48
Q

confederations

A

Interest groups made up of several independent, local organizations that provide much of their funding and hold most of the power.

49
Q

mass associations

A

Interest groups that have a large number of dues-paying individuals as members.

50
Q

peak associations

A

Interest groups whose members are businesses or other organizations rather than individuals.

51
Q

free riding

A

Relying on others to contribute to a collective effort while failing to participate on one’s own behalf, yet still benefiting from the group’s successes

52
Q

selective incentives

A

Benefits that can motivate participation in a group effort because they are available only to those who participate, such as member services offered by interest groups

53
Q

solidary benefits

A

Satisfaction derived from the experience of working with like-minded people, even if the group’s efforts do not achieve the desired impact

54
Q

purposive benefits

A

Satisfaction derived from the experience of working toward a desired policy goal, even if the goal is not achieved

55
Q

coercion

A

A method of eliminating nonparticipation or free riding by potential group members by requiring participation, as in many labor unions.

56
Q

material benefits

A

Benefits that are provided to individuals for joining a group, such as a coffee mug or a t-shirt, that are distinct from the collective benefits provided by the group.

57
Q

material benefits

A

Benefits that are provided to individuals for joining a group, such as a coffee mug or a t-shirt, that are distinct from the collective benefits provided by the group.

58
Q

revolving door

A

The movement of individuals from government positions to jobs with interest groups or lobbying firms, and vice versa.

59
Q

inside strategies

A

The tactics employed within Washington, D.C., by interest groups seeking to achieve their policy goals.

60
Q

outside strategies

A

The tactics employed outside Washington, D.C., by interest groups seeking to achieve their policy goals

61
Q

direct lobbying

A

Attempts by interest group staff to influence policy by speaking with elected officials or bureaucrats.

62
Q

grassroots lobbying

A

A lobbying strategy that relies on participation by group members, such as a protest or a letter-writing campaign

63
Q

Astroturf lobbying

A

Any lobbying method initiated by an interest group that is designed to look like the spontaneous, independent participation of many individuals.

64
Q

political action committee (PAC)

A

An interest group or a division of an interest group that can raise money to contribute to campaigns or to spend on ads in support of candidates. The amount a PAC can receive from each of its donors and the amount it can spend on federal campaigning are strictly limited.

65
Q

527 organization

A

A tax-exempt group formed primarily to influence elections through voter mobilization efforts and issue ads that do not directly endorse or oppose a candidate. Unlike PACs, 527s are not subject to contribution limits and spending caps

American government (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions