Electoral Process and Direct Democracy Flashcards
What is the Electoral College?
A body of people representing the different US states; they formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president. Each state has a different number of electoral college votes dependent on their size/population. California = 55 and Washington DC = 3
What are Primaries?
Elections in which voters choose the candidates from each party who will run in the general election.
What are Caucuses?
A closed meeting of a political or legislative group to choose candidates for office or to decide issues of policy.
What are National Nominating Conventions?
Events that are held in the summer of presidential election years where party delegates, selected through primaries and caucuses, pick their party’s presidential nominee.
What is the definition of Direct Democracy?
A form of democracy in which the people vote firsthand.
What is the definition of Voter Behaviour?
An analysis of why people vote the way they do, often times broken down by key groups, including: Gender, age, race/ethnicity, etc)
What is the definition of Popular Vote?
The votes cast by individual voters in a presidential election, as opposed to the electoral college vote. It happens that the Popular Vote and the Electoral College Vote don’t always align, such as with Clinton v Trump in 2016.
What is the definition of Split Ticket Voting?
Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election. For example, voting for Biden in 2020 election but voting for a Republican in the House/Senate. May be linked to being a swing vote?
What is the definition of Abstention?
Where there are low turnouts in elections that happened in the US, despite plenty of opportunities to vote. Is this due to voter fatigue/apathy, the frequency and intensity of US election or other factors?
What is the definition of Incumbency?
Holding the political office for which one is running. By holding office, these candidates have a greater chance of winning. For example, Joe Manchin in West Virginia, 2016 - Democrat winning in a Republican area.
