Political Beliefs and Political Behaviors (Vocabulary)

Question 1

Suffrage

Answer 1

The right to vote.

Question 2

Direct Primary

Answer 2

Allows citizens to nominate candidates.

Question 3

Recall

Answer 3

An election in which voters can remove an incumbent from office prior to the next scheduled election.

Question 4

Referendum

Answer 4

An election whereby the state legislature submits proposed legislation or state constitutional amendments to the voters for approval.

Question 5

Electorate

Answer 5

The citizens eligible to vote.

Question 6

Initiative

Answer 6

An election that allows citizens to propose legislation or state constitutional amendments by submitting to the electorate for popular vote.

Question 7

Political Efficacy

Answer 7

Belief that one’s vote out of millions will not count.

Question 8

Motor Voter Law (National Voter Registration Act of 1995)

Answer 8

Designed to make voter registration easier by allowing people to register at divers’ license bureaus and some public offices.

Question 9

Primary Elections

Answer 9

Election in which voters decide which of the candidates within a party will represent the party in the general election.

Question 10

Closed Primary

Answer 10

A primary election in which only a party’s registered voters are eligible to cast a ballot.

Question 11

Open Primary

Answer 11

A primary election in which party members, independents, and sometimes members of the other party are allowed to participate.

Question 12

Blanket Primary

Answer 12

A primary election where voters may pick candidates without regarding party lines.

Question 13

Runoff Primary

Answer 13

A second primary election between the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes in the first primary.

Question 14

General Elections

Answer 14

Election in which voters decide which candidates will actually fill elective public office.

Question 15

Off-Year Elections

Answer 15

(mid-term elections) occur during the year when no presidential election is held.

Question 16

Coattail Effect

Answer 16

The tendency of a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election.

Question 17

Caucus

Answer 17

Is a meeting of supporters or members of specific political party or movement.

Question 18

Presidential Preference Primary

Answer 18

A direct primary for the selection of state delegates to a national party convention and the expression of preference for a U.S. presidential nominee.

Question 19

Electoral College

Answer 19

Representatives of each state who cast the final ballots that actually elect the president.

Question 20

Maintaining Elections

Answer 20

The traditional majority power maintains power based on the party loyalty of voters.

Question 21

Deviating Elections

Answer 21

The minority party is able to win with the support of majority-party members, independents, and new voters.

Question 22

Critical Elections

Answer 22

An election that signals a party realignment through voter polarization around new issues and personalities.

Question 23

Realigning Elections

Answer 23

The minority party wins by building a new coalition of voters that continues over successive elections.

Question 24

Dealigning Elections

Answer 24

When party loyalty becomes less important to voters, increased by independents and split-ticket voting.

Question 25

Split-Ticket Voting

Answer 25

When a person votes for candidates from two different political policies.

Question 26

Watergate

Answer 26

The result of the 1972 break-in at the Democratic National headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington D.C. and Nixon’s administration attempt to cover up its involvement.

Question 27

Soft Money

Answer 27

The cash contribution to a political party, with no limits attached to the amount that can be received.