Midterm 7 Flashcards
Residency requirement
The stipulation that citizens must live in a state for a determined period of time before a citizen can register to vote as a resident of that state.
Chronic minority
Voters who belong to political parties that tend not to be competitive in national elections because that are too small to become a majority or because of the electoral college system
Early voting
An accommodation that allows voting up to 2 weeks before Election Day
Voter fatigue
The results when voters grow tired of voting and stay home from the polls
Voting-age population
The number of citizens over 18
Voting-eligible population
The number of citizens eligible to vote
Caucus
A form of candidate nomination that occurs in a town hall style rather than a day-long election.
Closed primary
An election in which only voters registered with a party may vote for that parties candidate
Coat tail effect
The result when a popular presidential candidate helps candidate from his or her party win their own election
Delegates
Party members who are chosen to represent a particular candidates at the party’s state
District system
The means by which electoral votes are divided between candidates based on who wins districts and/or the state
Electoral college
The constitutionally created group chosen by the states with the responsibility of formally selection the next IS president
Incumbent
The current holder of a political office
Midterm elections
The congressional elections that occur in the even-numbered years between presidential election years
Open primary
An election in which any registered voter may vote in any party’s primary or caucus
Platform
The set of issues important to the political party and the party delegates
Political action committees (PACs)
Organizations created to raise money for political campaigns and spend money to influence policy and politics
Super PACs
Officially known as Independent Expenditure-Only Committees; Organizations that can fundraise and spend as they please to support or attack a candidate but not contribute directly to a candidate or strategize with a candidates campaign
Top-two primary
A primary election in which the two candidates with the most votes regardless of party, become the nominees for the general election
Winner-take-all system
All electoral votes for a state are given to the candidate who wins the most votes in that state
Ballot fatigue
The result when a voter stops voting for offices and initiatives at the bottom of a long ballot
Incumbency advantage
The advantage held by office holders that allows them to often win reelection
Shadow campaign
A campaign run by political action committees and other organizations with out the coordination of the candidate
Straight-ticket voting
The practice of voting only for candidates from the same party
