Chapter 8

Question 1

A politician running for re-election to the office he or she currently holds. (page 283)

Answer 1

incumbent

Question 2

A primary election in which any registered voter can participate in the contest, regardless of party affiliation. (page 284)

Answer 2

open primary

Question 3

A primary election in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote. (page 284)

Answer 3

closed primary

Question 4

The election in which voters cast ballots for House members, senators, and (every four years) a president and vice president. (page 284)

Answer 4

general election

Question 5

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. (page 286)

Answer 5

plurality voting

Question 6

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. (page 286)

Answer 6

majority voting

Question 7

Under a majority voting system, a second election 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. (page 286)

Answer 7

runoff election

Question 8

A ballot vote in which citizens select a party’s nominee for the general election. (page 289)

Answer 8

primary

Question 9

A local meeting in which party members select a party’s nominee for the general election. (page 289)

Answer 9

caucus

Question 10

During the presidential primaries, the practice of determining the number of convention delegates allotted to each 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. (page 289)

Answer 10

proportional allocation

Question 11

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. (page 289)

Answer 11

winner-take-all

Question 12

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. (page 292)

Answer 12

electoral college

Question 13

The votes cast by citizens in an election. (page 294)

Answer 13

popular vote

Question 14

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 cast electoral votes for the candidate on behalf of that state. (page 295)

Answer 14

electoral vote

Question 15

The two-year period between general elections. (page 296)

Answer 15

election cycle

Question 16

An elected position for which there is no incumbent. (page 296)

Answer 16

open seat

Question 17

Attempts by elected officials to manipulate the economy before elections by increasing economic growth and reducing unemployment and inflation, with the goal of improving evaluations of their performance in office. (page 298)

Answer 17

political business cycle

Question 18

A campaign’s efforts to “get out the vote” or make sure their supporters vote on Election Day. (page 299)

Answer 18

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

Question 19

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. (page 307)

Answer 19

Federal Election Commission

Question 20

Donations that are used to help elect or defeat a specific candidate. (page 308)

Answer 20

hard money

Question 21

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. (page 308)

Answer 21

soft money

Question 22

The question of why citizens vote even though their individual votes stand little chance of changing the election outcome. (page 313)

Answer 22

paradox of voting

Question 23

People who are well informed about their own policy preferences and knowledgeable about the candidates, and who use all of this information when they decide how to vote. (page 315)

Answer 23

issue voters

Question 24

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. (page 315)

Answer 24

voting cues

Question 25

The idea that a popular president can generate additional support for candidates affiliated with his party. Coattails are weak or nonexistent in most American elections. (page 318)

Answer 25

coattails

Question 26

A ballot on which a voter selects candidates from more than one political party. (page 318)

Answer 26

split ticket

Question 27

A ballot on which a voter selects candidates from only one political party. (page 318)

Answer 27

straight ticket