Component 1: Voting Behaviour and the Media

Question 1

Manifesto

Answer 1

the document in which a
political party details what
actions and programmes
it intends to introduce if
it is successful in the next
election – a set of promises
for future action.

Question 2

Mandate

Answer 2

the authority to govern,
which a government
derives from an election
victory. This means that it
has the right to introduce
its policies as stated in its
manifesto. It also allows
it to take decisions on
other issues as they arise
during its term of office,
which could not have
been foreseen when the
manifesto was produced.

Question 3

Class dealignment

Answer 3

the process where
individuals no longer
identify themselves as
belonging to a certain class
and do not vote for the
party they may be expected
to, given their background.

Question 4

Partisan dealignment

Answer 4

the process where
individuals no longer
identify themselves on a
long-term basis as being
associated with a certain
political party.

Question 5

Disillusion

Answer 5

disappointment from
discovering something is
not as good as one believed
it to be; for example, having
no confidence in politics
and politicians as being
able to solve issues and
make a difference.

Question 6

Apathy

Answer 6

ack of interest, enthusiasm,
or concern; for example,
not caring about political
activity, which manifests
itself in low turnout
at elections and poor
awareness of contemporary
events.

Question 7

Governing competency

Answer 7

the perceived ability of the
governing party in office to
manage the affairs of state
effectively. It also applies to
the way that voters regard
the potential competency
of an opposition party, if it
were to win office.