Chapter 7: Voting and Elections Flashcards
The results when a voter stops voting for offices and initiatives at the bottom of a long ballot
Ballot fatigue
A form of candidate nomination that occurs in an own-hall style format rather than a day-long election; usually reserved for presidential elections
Caucus
Voters who belong to political parties that tend not to be competitive in national elections because they are too small to become a majority or because of the Electoral College system distribution in their state
Chronic minority
An election in which only voters registered with a party may vote for that party’s candidates
Closed primary
The results when a popular presidential candidate helps candidates from his or her party win their own elections
Coattail effect
Party members who are chosen to represent a particular candidate at the party’s state or national level nominating convention
Delegates
The means by which electoral votes are divided between candidates based on who wins districts and/or the state
District system
An accommodation that allows voting up to two weeks before Election Day
Early voting
The constitutionally created group of individuals, chosen by the states, with the responsibility of formally selecting the next U.S. president
Electoral College
The advantage held by officeholders that allows them to often win reelection
Incumbency advantage
The current holder of a political office
Incumbent
Law or constitutional amendment proposed and passed by the voters and subject to review by the state courts; also called a proposition
Initiative
The congressional elections that occur in the even-numbered years between presidential election years, in the middle of the president’s term
Midterm elections
An election in which any registered voter may vote in any party’s primary or caucus
Open primary
The set of issues important to the political party and the party delegates
Platform
Organizations created to raise money for political campaigns and spend money to influence policy and politics
Political Action Committees (PACs)
The removal of a politician or government official by the voters
Recall
A yes or no vote by citizens on a law or candidate proposed by the state government
Referendum
The stipulation that citizen must live in a state for a determined period of a time before a citizen can register to vote as a resident of that state
Residency requirement
A campaign run by political action committees and other organizations without the coordination of the candidate
Show campaign
The practice of voting only for candidates from the same party
Straight-ticket voting
Officially known as Independent Expenditure-Only Committees; organizations that can fundraise and spend as they please to support or attack a candidate but not contribute directly to a candidate or strategize with a candidate’s campaign
Super PACs
A primary election in which the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of a party, become the nominees for the general election
Top-two primary
The result when voters grow tired of voting and stay home from the polls
Voter fatigue
The number of citizens over eighteen
Voting-age population
The number of citizens eligible to vote
Voting-eligible population
All electoral votes for a state are given to the candidate who wins the most votes in that state
Winner-take-all system
CC
Which of the following are some of the main factors that influence how a person will vote?
Party loyalty
The issues involved
Characteristics of the candidates
CC
________ is the single largest predictor of how an American will vote.
Party loyalty
CC
__________ is voting based on a candidate’s past performance, __________ is voting based on the imagined future performance of a candidate.
Retrospective, prospective
CC
Most of the people currently in office are similar to the majority of Americans in terms of wealth and level of education.
False
CC
Most election guidelines are set at the ____ level.
State
CC
Which of the following statements best describes the plurality rule?
Candidates with the most votes win, even if they do not have a majority of all votes.
CC
The plurality rules helps to
Reinforce the 2 party system.
CC
Runoff elections are used by every state to ensure a majority outcome.
False
CC
Districts help to shape the outcome of elections
True
CC
How often is the census taken?
Every 10 years
CC
Which of the following are true about districts?
They must be contiguous
They must all contain approximately the same number of people
CC
A __________ district is one where the majority of members in that district are minorities.
Majority-minority
CC
What is the term used to describe the idea that a person’s vote should count no matter where they live?
One person, one vote
CC
_______ and ________ are two characteristics of American campaigns that are somewhat unique.
Length, expense
CC
What do the party national committees do?
Coordinate all national-level campaigns for that party
CC
The Citizens United case determined that
Political spending is equivalent to political speech, and is therefore protected
CC
The State of the Union address…
Can be used by the current president to clarify their position on important issues
T
When and where do the Electoral College Electors vote?
In the state capitol, in December
T
In which type of election are you most likely to see coattail effects
Presidential
T
Why do Belgium and Australia have higher voter turnouts than the US?
Compulsory voting laws
