Chapter 9-10 Vocab

Question 1

political party

Answer 1

an association of voters with broad common interests who want to influence or control decision making in government by electing the party’s candidates to public office

Question 2

two party system

Answer 2

a system of government in which two parties compete for power

Question 3

third party

Answer 3

a party that challenges the two major parties

Question 4

platform

Answer 4

a series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues

Question 5

plank

Answer 5

each individual part of a political party’s platform

Question 6

stress

Answer 6

to place special importance or emphasis on something

Question 7

promote

Answer 7

to encourage the acceptance or recognition of

Question 8

national committee

Answer 8

representatives from the 50 state party organizations who run a political party

Question 9

caucus

Answer 9

a meeting of political party members to conduct party business

Question 10

precinct

Answer 10

a geographic area that contains a specific number of voters

Question 11

ward

Answer 11

several adjoining precincts making up a larger election unit

Question 12

political machine

Answer 12

a strong party organization that can control political appointments and deliver votes

Question 13

direct primary

Answer 13

an election in which voters choose candidates to represent each party in a general election

Question 14

closed primary

Answer 14

an election in which only the declared members of a party are allowed to vote for that party’s nominees

Question 15

open primary

Answer 15

an election in which voters need not declare their party preference

Question 16

plurality

Answer 16

the most votes among all those running for political office

Question 17

majority

Answer 17

a number that is more than 50 percent of the total

Question 18

petition

Answer 18

a formal request for government action or, a process by which candidates who are not affiliated with one of the two major parties can get on the ballot for the general election in most states

Question 19

range

Answer 19

a variation between limits

Question 20

adjacent

Answer 20

neighboring or near

Question 21

polling place

Answer 21

the location where voting is carried out

Question 22

ballot

Answer 22

the list of candidates on which you cast your vote

Question 23

absentee ballot

Answer 23

one that allows a person to vote without going to the polls on Election Day

Question 24

returns

Answer 24

profit earned through investing

Question 25

exit poll

Answer 25

a survey taken at polling places of how people voted

Question 26

electorate

Answer 26

all the people who are eligible to vote

Question 26

ultimate

Answer 26

the most basic or final

Question 26

devote

Answer 26

to dedicate oneself to

Question 27

apathy

Answer 27

a lack of interest

Question 28

Electoral College

Answer 28

a group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

Question 28

proposition

Answer 28

a petition asking for a new law

Question 28

initiative

Answer 28

a procedure by which citizens can propose new laws or state constitutional amendments

Question 29

referendum

Answer 29

a way for citizens to vote on state or local laws

Question 30

recall

Answer 30

a special election in which citizens can vote to remove a public official from office; situation in which a company pulls a product off the market or agrees to change it to make it safe

Question 31

elector

Answer 31

person appointed to vote in presidential elections for the major candidates

Question 32

winner-take-all system

Answer 32

a system in which the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state usually receives all of the state’s electoral votes

Question 33

issue

Answer 33

a matter of debate or dispute; to distribute or send out

Question 34

odd

Answer 34

additional to what is usual