Unit 4 Vocab

Question 1

Political Party

Answer 1

An organized group trying to achieve a common interest by gaining and using power through the electoral process

Question 2

Delegate

Answer 2

A representative that votes the way their constituents want, regardless of personal opinion

Question 3

Superdelegate

Answer 3

Platform leaders that can be from any party but do not represent a state. (Vote is unpledged)

Question 4

Party Identification

Answer 4

Citizen’s attachment to a political party based on issues, ideology, or upbringing, which can be a reliable indicator of likely voting choices

Question 5

Proportional System

Answer 5

An election system where each running party gets a proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its porportion of the vote

Question 6

Winner-Take-All System

Answer 6

Electoral system where the party with the most votes wins the election

Question 7

General Election

Answer 7

Election where voters decide which candidate will actually be a part of public offices.

Question 8

Primary Election (Primaries)

Answer 8

Elections that political parties use to decide what candidate will represent them in the general election

(State voters go to a poll to express their preference for a party’s nominee for president)

Question 9

Closed Primary

Answer 9

A primary election where only the party’s registered voters can cast a ballot

Question 10

Open Primary

Answer 10

A primary election where anyone can vote. (Party members, independents, sometimes members of other party)

Question 11

Electorate

Answer 11

The citizens that are eligible to vote

Question 12

Mandate

Answer 12

An authoritative command for elected officials to carry out a party platform

Question 13

Electoral College

Answer 13

Consists of representatives of each state who cast the final ballots that actually elect a president.

Question 14

Presidential Coattails

Answer 14

When successful presidential candidates carry into office congressional candidates of the same party in the year of their election

Question 15

Mid-term Election

Answer 15

An election that takes place in the middle of a presidential term.

Question 16

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

Answer 16

Independent federal agency that regulates the campaign finance legislation in the United States

Question 17

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

Answer 17

United States federal law that regulates campaign ads and funding

Question 18

Citizens United v. FEC

Answer 18

First Amendment prohibits limits on corporate funding of independent broadcasts in candidate elections

Question 19

Super PAC (Political Action Committee)

Answer 19

Political action committees established to make independent expenditures

Question 20

Independent Expenditures (NOT VOCAB)

Answer 20

(Spending for campaign activity that is not coordinated with a candidates campaign)

Question 21

Candidate-Centered Politics

Answer 21

Politics that focuses on candidates, their particular issues, and character rather than party affiliation

Question 22

Critical Election

Answer 22

Election when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty

Question 23

Party Realignment

Answer 23

Change in voting behavior between voting groups

Question 24

Party Platform

Answer 24

A list of actions which a political party, candidate or organization supports in oder to appeal to the general public

Question 25

Party Convention

Answer 25

Party meeting held during year of a presidential election in order to nominate a new presidential candidate

Question 26

Caucus

Answer 26

System to select convention delegates where voters attend a meeting to express presidential preference

Question 27

Front-loading

Answer 27

When states hold primaries early in the calender (Importance: in order to capitalize on media attention)

Question 28

Theory of elections

Answer 28

The winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out their platform and politics.

(Politicans like the theory better than political scientists)

Question 29

Retrospective Voting

Answer 29

Voting for or against a candidate or party in office because of past actions.

Question 30

Rational Choice Voting

Answer 30

Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen’s individual interest.

Question 31

Prospective Voting

Answer 31

Voting based on predictions of how a party of candidate will perform in the future

Question 32

Party-line Voting

Answer 32

Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices.

Question 33

Political Action Committees (PAC)

Answer 33

Group of people taking action about something in politics

Question 34

Incumbency Advantage

Answer 34

The advantage that the incumbent (individual currently holding office) candidate has over the challenger candidate.

Question 35

Reapportionment

Answer 35

Reallocation of # of seats in the House after each decennial census