Unit 3 Buzzwords Flashcards
political ideology
coherent and consistent set of beliefs about who should rule, what policies they should pursue and the rules by which leaders govern
political socialization
process by which people get their sense of political identity, beliefs, and values (family, school, media, religion, national events-all help to socialize)
party realignment
dramatic shifts in partisan preferences that drastically alter the political landscape
critical election
sharp changes in the existing patterns of party loyalty due to changing social and economic conditions
Third Parties
electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections.
libertarians
believes in limited government interference in personal and economic liberties
Green Party
minor party dedicated to the environment, social justice, nonviolence, and the foreign policy of nonintervention
Reform Party
minor party founded by Ross Perot in 1995. It focuses on national government reform, fiscal responsibility, and political accountability
Bull Moose Party
nickname for the new Progressive Party, which was formed to support Roosevelt in the election of 1912
Party machine
party who builds loyalty and devotion by passing out perks and privileges. These party machines and their respective boss were often charged with corruption and have subsequently fallen in disrepute
coalition
individuals or groups which cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause.
party platform
political party’s statement of its goals and policies for the next four years
party identification
sense of affiliation that a person has with a particular political party.
ticket-splitting
voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election
special interest group
an organization of people with some common interest who try to influence public policy
economic interest group
a group with the primary purpose of promoting the financial interests of its members
527s
political organizations formed primarily to influence elections and therefore exempt from most federal taxes
PAC
political action committee , set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations
Super-PAC
formed by interest groups and can raise/spend unlimited funds if no direct coordination with candidates
bundlers
people who collect legal campaign donations from individuals and then deliver the bundled donations to a specific candidate
lobbyist
a person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches.
exit polls
polls conducted as voters leave selected polling places on Election Day to determine who they voted for
random sampling
method of poll selection that gives each person in a group the same chance of being selected
Super Tuesday
a dozen or so southern states when they holding their presidential primaries in early March. These states hope to promote a regional advantage
frontloading
tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention
winner-take-all system
electoral system in which the party that receives at least one more vote than any other party wins the election
Electoral College
representatives of each sate who cast the final ballots that actually elect a president
open and closed primaries
open: party members, independents, and members of other party can participate
closed: only party’s registered voters can participate
Moto-voto bill
required registration for voting to be available when applying for a drivers license or receiving other help
Tea Party
national social movement, primarily attracting fiscal and social conservatives, that seeks to limit government spending and cut taxes
linkage institution
channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.
recall
election in which voters can remove an incumbent from office prior to the next scheduled election
initiative
procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.
hard money
donations made to political candidates, party committees, or groups which, by law, are limited and must be declared.
soft money
campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.
dark money
groups that make donations who report their funding.
