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American Government > Vocab > Flashcards

Vocab Flashcards

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1
Q

caucus

A

a form of candidate nomination that occurs in a town-hall style format rather than a day-long election; usually reserved for presidential elections

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2
Q

chronic minority

A

voters who belong to political parties that tend not to be competitive in national elections because they are too small to become a majority or because of the Electoral College system distribution in their state

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3
Q

coattail effect

A

the result when a popular presidential candidate helps candidates from the same party win their own elections

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4
Q

delegates

A

party members who are chosen to represent a particular candidate at the party’s state- or national-level nominating convention

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5
Q

early voting

A

an accommodation that allows voting up to two weeks before Election Day

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6
Q

district system

A

the means by which electoral votes are divided between candidates based on who wins districts and/or the state

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7
Q

early voting

A

an accommodation that allows voting up to two weeks before Election Day

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8
Q

Electoral College

A

the constitutionally created group of individuals, chosen by the states, with the responsibility of formally selecting the next U.S. president

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9
Q

incumbency advantage

A

the advantage held by officeholders that allows them to often win reelection

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10
Q

incumbent

A

the current holder of a political office

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11
Q

initiative

A

law or constitutional amendment proposed and passed by the voters and subject to review by the state courts; also called a proposition

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12
Q

recall

A

the removal of a politician or government official by the voters

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13
Q

referendum

A

a yes or no vote by citizens on a law or candidate proposed by the state government

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14
Q

residency requirement

A

the stipulation that citizen must live in a state for a determined period of time before a citizen can register to vote as a resident of that state

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15
Q

shadow campaign

A

a campaign run by political action committees and other organizations without the coordination of the candidate

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16
Q

straight-ticket voting

A

the practice of voting only for candidates from the same party

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17
Q

top-two primary

A

a primary election in which the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party, become the nominees for the general election

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18
Q

voter fatigue

A

the result when voters grow tired of voting and stay home from the polls

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19
Q

bandwagon effect

A

increased media coverage of candidates who poll high

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20
Q

classical liberalism

A

a political ideology based on belief in individual liberties and rights and the idea of free will, with little role for government

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21
Q

communism

A

a political and economic system in which, in theory, government promotes common ownership of all property, means of production, and materials to prevent the exploitation of workers while creating an equal society; in practice, most communist governments have used force to maintain control

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22
Q

covert content

A

ideologically slanted information presented as unbiased information in order to influence public opinion

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23
Q

diffuse support

A

the widespread belief that a country and its legal system are legitimate

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24
Q

fascism

A

a political system of total control by the ruling party or political leader over the economy, the military, society, and culture and often the private lives of citizens

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25
Q

favorability poll

A

a public opinion poll that measures a public’s positive feelings about a candidate or politician

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26
Q

heuristics

A

shortcuts or generalizations for decision making

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27
Q

modern conservatism

A

a political ideology that prioritizes individual liberties, preferring a smaller government that stays out of the economy

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28
Q

modern liberalism

A

a political ideology focused on equality and supporting government intervention in society and the economy if it promotes equality

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29
Q

political elite

A

a political opinion leader who alerts the public to changes or problems

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29
Q

overt content

A

political information whose author makes clear that only one side is presented

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30
Q

socialism

A

a political and economic system in which government uses its authority to promote social and economic equality, providing everyone with basic services and equal opportunities and requiring citizens with more wealth to contribute more

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31
Q

straw poll

A

an informal and unofficial election poll conducted with a non-random population

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32
Q

theory of delegate representation

A

a theory that assumes the politician is in office to be the voice of the people and to vote only as the people want

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33
Q

traditional conservatism

A

a political ideology supporting the authority of the monarchy and the church in the belief that government provides the rule of law

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34
Q

beat

A

the coverage area assigned to journalists for news or stories

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35
Q

cultivation theory

A

the idea that media affect a citizen’s worldview through the information presented

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36
Q

digital paywall

A

the need for a paid subscription to access published online material

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37
Q

fairness doctrine

A

a 1949 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) policy, now defunct, that required holders of broadcast licenses to cover controversial issues in a balanced manner

38
Q

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

A

a federal statute that requires public agencies to provide certain types of information requested by citizens

39
Q

hypodermic theory

A

the idea that information is placed in a citizen’s brain and accepted

40
Q

indecency regulations

A

laws that limit indecent and obscene material on public airwaves

41
Q

libel

A

printed information about a person or organization that is not true and harms the reputation of the person or organization

42
Q

mass media

A

the collection of all media forms that communicate information to the general public

43
Q

minimal effects theory

A

the idea that the media have little effect on citizens

44
Q

muckraking

A

news coverage focusing on exposing corrupt business and government practices

45
Q

party press era

A

period during the 1780s in which newspaper content was biased by political partisanship

46
Q

priming

A

the process of predisposing readers or viewers to think a particular way

47
Q

prior restraint

A

a government action that stops someone from doing something before they are able to do it (e.g., forbidding someone to publish a book they plan to release)

48
Q

public relations

A

biased communication intended to improve the image of people, companies, or organizations

49
Q

reporter’s privilege

A

the right of a journalist to keep a source confidential

49
Q

slander

A

spoken information about a person or organization that is not true and harms the reputation of the person or organization

50
Q

soft news

A

news presented in an entertaining style

51
Q

sunshine laws

A

laws that require government documents and proceedings to be made public

52
Q

first-past-the-post

A

a system in which the winner of an election is the candidate who wins the greatest number of votes cast, also known as plurality voting

53
Q

gerrymandering

A

the manipulation of legislative districts in an attempt to favor a particular candidate

54
Q

majoritarian voting

A

a type of election in which the winning candidate must receive at least 50 percent of the votes, even if a run-off election is required

55
Q

majority party

A

the legislative party with over half the seats in a legislative body, and thus significant power to control the agenda

56
Q

minority party

A

the legislative party with less than half the seats in a legislative body

57
Q

party identifiers

A

individuals who represent themselves in public as being part of a party

58
Q

party realignment

A

a shifting of party alliances within the electorate

59
Q

party-in-the-electorate

A

members of the voting public who consider themselves part of a political party or who consistently prefer the candidates of one party over the other

60
Q

personal politics

A

a political style that focuses on building direct relationships with voters rather than on promoting specific issues

61
Q

plurality voting

A

the election rule by which the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of vote share

62
Q

political machine

A

an organization that secures votes for a party’s candidates or supports the party in other ways, usually in exchange for political favors such as a job in government

63
Q

political parties

A

organizations made up of groups of people with similar interests that try to directly influence public policy through their members who seek and hold public office

64
Q

reapportionment

A

the reallocation of House seats between the states to account for population changes

65
Q

redistricting

A

the redrawing of electoral maps

66
Q

safe seat

A

a district drawn so members of a party can be assured of winning by a comfortable margin

67
Q

sorting

A

the process in which voters change party allegiances in response to shifts in party position

68
Q

astroturf movement

A

a political movement that resembles a grassroots movement but is often supported or facilitated by wealthy interests and/or elites

69
Q

Citizens United

A

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission was a 2010 Supreme Court case that granted corporations and unions the right to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections

70
Q

collective good

A

a good such as public safety or clean air, often produced by government, that is generally available to the population as a whole

71
Q

contract lobbyist

A

a lobbyist who works for a contract lobbying firm that represents clients before government

72
Q

disturbance theory

A

the theory that an external event can lead to interest group mobilization

73
Q

efficacy

A

the belief that you make a difference and that government cares about you and your views

74
Q

elite critique

A

the proposition that wealthy and elite interests are advantaged over those without resources

75
Q

fragmentation

A

the result when a large interest group develops diverging needs

76
Q

inside lobbying

A

the act of contacting and taking the organization’s message directly to lawmakers in an attempt to influence policy

76
Q

in-house lobbyist

A

an employee or executive within an organization who works as a lobbyist on behalf of the organization

77
Q

issue network

A

a group of interest groups and people who work together to support a particular issue or policy

78
Q

legislative liaison

A

a person employed by a governmental entity such as a local government, executive department, or university to represent the organization before the legislature

79
Q

lobbyist

A

a person who represents an organization before government in an attempt to influence policy

80
Q

material incentives

A

substantive monetary or physical benefits given to group members to help overcome collective action problems

81
Q

membership organization

A

an interest group that usually consists of dues-paying members who organize around a particular cause or issue

82
Q

neopluralist

A

a person who suggests that all groups’ access and influence depend on the political environment

83
Q

outside lobbying

A

the act of lobbying indirectly by taking the organization’s message to the public, often through the use of the media and/or by issue press releases, in hopes that the public will then put pressure on lawmakers

84
Q

particularized benefit

A

a benefit that generally accrues to a narrow segment of society

85
Q

public interest group

A

an interest group that seeks a public good, which is something that accrues to all

86
Q

purposive incentives

A

benefits to overcome collective action problems that appeal to people’s support of the issue or cause

87
Q

revolving door laws

A

laws that require a cooling-off period before government officials can register to lobby after leaving office

88
Q

soft money

A

money that interests can spend on behalf of candidates without being restricted by federal law

89
Q

solidary incentives

A

benefits based on the concept that people like to associate with those who are similar to them

90
Q

voting cues

A

sources—including fellow lawmakers, constituents, and interest groups—that lawmakers often use to help them decide how to vote, especially on unfamiliar issues

American Government (16 decks)

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