Elections and Voting (Definitions)

Question 1

Invisible Primary

Answer 1

Period between person announcing candidacy and the first contests of the primary season. Time to fund-raise and gain media interest

Question 2

Primary

Answer 2

State-based election (using a secret ballot) where the electorate votes for their preferred candidate of their affiliated party

Question 3

Caucus

Answer 3

Series of meetings in states where people publicly show their support for a candidate. Held in large states that are thinly populated.

Question 4

Delegates

Answer 4

People tasked with voting for a candidate at the Party’s National Convention, based on results in their state primary

Question 5

Front Loading

Answer 5

Where more states decide to hold contests close to the start of the primary season in order to increase the significance of their primary

Question 6

Closed primary

Answer 6

Only registered Democrats can vote in their party’s primary and only registered Republicans can vote in their party’s

Question 7

Open Primary

Answer 7

Any registered voter can vote in either party’s primary

Question 8

Winner-takes-all primary

Answer 8

The person with the plurality of votes wins all that state’s delegates (Republican only)

Question 9

Proportional Primary

Answer 9

Delegates are allocated proportionally to a candidate’s vote share (40% of vote = 40% of delegates)

Question 10

Strengths of primary process

Answer 10

Participation, more choice, reduces power of party bosses, demanding test for demanding job

Question 11

Weaknesses of primary process

Answer 11

Too long, apathy, unrepresentative, expensive, media-controlled, doesn’t test skills of governing

Question 12

Balanced Ticket

Answer 12

A tactic to increase voter appeal by selecting a VP Candidate with a different background or ideology

Question 13

National Party Conventions

Answer 13

Meeting where the party’s candidate for President is formally chosen

Question 14

Party Platform

Answer 14

Speech made by a party’s candidate at the end of the convention to set out their legislative agenda

Question 15

Super PACs

Answer 15

Fundraising committees which are permitted to receive unlimited contributions and make unlimited expenditures. Advertise in order to elect or defeat a certain candidate

Question 16

Gender Gap

Answer 16

Difference in the way men and women vote

Question 17

Factors affecting voting behaviour

Answer 17

Gender, race, religion, age, wealth, party affiliation, geography, population area, policies

Question 18

October Surprise

Answer 18

Unexpected late development in the campaign that gives opponent no time to respond

Question 19

The Electoral College

Answer 19

Institution established to elect the President and Vice-President. Delegates vote for the candidate who won the popular vote in their state

Question 20

Congressional elections

Answer 20

Held every 2 years (all of House, 1/3 of Senate). Mid-terms are held halfway through the President’s tenure

Question 21

Congressional District

Answer 21

Geographic sub-division of a state, where representatives have ‘their seat’

Question 22

Locality Rule

Answer 22

Representatives must be residents of the district they represent, not just the state

Question 23

Split-ticket voting

Answer 23

Choosing one party’s candidate for President and another party’s for Congress

Question 24

Proposition (or initiative)

Answer 24

Vote on an issue by citizens of a state that is proposed by the citizens of that state

Question 25

Recall election

Answer 25

Procedure by which an elected official can be removed from office before the end of their term