Political Participation Vocab

Question 1

15th Amendment

Answer 1

This provision stated that the right of citizens to vote may not be denied on account of race or color.

Question 2

17th Amendment

Answer 2

This provision changed the method of election for U.S. senators from state legislators to a popular vote.

Question 3

19th Amendment

Answer 3

This provision granted women’s suffrage.

Question 4

24th Amendment

Answer 4

This provision eliminated the poll tax.

Question 5

26th Amendment

Answer 5

This provision lowered the voting age to 18.

Question 6

Prospective Voting

Answer 6

Voting for a candidate based on campaign promises and a belief that he or she will bring about positive change.

Question 7

Retrospective Voting

Answer 7

Voting for a candidate based on the approval of his or her
past actions in office.

Question 8

Rational Choice Voting

Answer 8

Voting for a candidate based on an individual’s best interests, weighing the pros and cons of alternative options.

Question 9

Party-Line Voting

Answer 9

Voting for a candidate based on party loyalty.

Question 10

Voter Turnout

Answer 10

The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election.

Question 11

Compulsory Voting

Answer 11

Requirement that all eligible citizens vote in elections.

Question 12

Linkage Institutions

Answer 12

The means through which people’s concerns and interests become political issues on the government’s policy agenda. For example: political parties, interest groups, media, and elections.

Question 13

Political Party

Answer 13

A group of like-minded citizens who organize to win elections, hold office, and determine public policy.

Question 14

Party Platform

Answer 14

A political party’s statement of its beliefs, goals, and policy aims for the next four years.

Question 15

Party Convention

Answer 15

A meeting of party delegates every four years, where a party’s candidate is officially nominated and the platform is adopted.

Question 16

Critical Election

Answer 16

An election in which new issues emerge and voters shift party loyalty.

Question 17

Direct Primary

Answer 17

Elections that take place from January to June of an election year for the purpose of selecting each party’s candidate for the general election.

Question 18

Open Primary

Answer 18

Elections in which registered party members and non-members can vote to select a presidential candidate.

Question 19

Closed Primary

Answer 19

Elections in which only registered party members can vote.

Question 20

Caucus

Answer 20

A meeting of party members to select delegates that will back a particular primary candidate.

Question 21

General Election

Answer 21

Elections held to determine which candidate will hold public office.

Question 22

Mid-term Election

Answer 22

Elections that take place every other year during which there is no presidential contest.

Question 23

Incumbency Advantage

Answer 23

The benefit a current office holder has going into an
election, due to factors such as name recognition and campaign finance.

Question 24

Electorate

Answer 24

The people who are entitled to vote in an election.

Question 25

Electoral College

Answer 25

The group of 538 individuals who ultimately elect the President of the United States every four years.

Question 26

Winner-Take-All System

Answer 26

An electoral system in which all votes are given to the candidate who comes in first in their constituency.

Question 27

Proportional System

Answer 27

An electoral system that awards votes to a candidate as a percentage of the number of votes won in an election.

Question 28

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Answer 28

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money.

Question 29

Super PACs

Answer 29

Citizens United v. FEC paved the way for these organizations, which are allowed to raise an unlimited amount of funds as long as they do not coordinate directly with candidates.

Question 30

Hard Money

Answer 30

Funding given directly to a candidate.

Question 31

Soft Money

Answer 31

Funding given to political parties for party activities, as opposed to funding directed towards a specific candidate.

Question 32

Interest Group

Answer 32

An organization of people sharing a common concern or goal that seeks to influence public policy.

Question 33

Ideological Interest Group

Answer 33

Political organizations that appeal to members based on a coherent set of political convictions or interests.

Question 34

Free Rider

Answer 34

An individual who does not join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group’s influence.

Question 35

Lobbyist

Answer 35

Individuals who provide information and pressure legislators to pass laws that align with a particular agenda.

Question 36

Grassroots support

Answer 36

A tactic of influencing government officials that involves utilizing large groups of members or the public to make phone calls, send letters, sign petitions, etc.

Question 37

Mass Media

Answer 37

Popular means of communication to reach a wide audience, such as television, radio, and the Internet.

Question 38

Sound Bite

Answer 38

A short radio or video clip lasting approximately 8-10 seconds.

Question 39

Horse-race Journalism

Answer 39

News coverage that focuses on who is ahead in the polls rather than the issues.

Question 40

Gatekeeper

Answer 40

The role of the media that can influence what subjects become national political issues and for how long.