Vocabulary

Question 1

What private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns

Answer 1

Political Action Commitee

Question 2

What are the political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda

Answer 2

Linkage Institutions

Question 3

Which amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

Answer 3

26th Amendment

Question 4

What is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election

Answer 4

Voter turnout

Question 5

What is the belief that one’s political participation really matters - that one’s vote can actually make a difference

Answer 5

Political Efficacy

Question 6

The efforts to encourage people to engage in the public sphere: to vote for a particular candidate (and donate money, work on the campaign, etc.) or to get involved in specific issues.

Answer 6

Political Mobilization

Question 7

What is the ballot completed and typically mailed in advance of an election by a voter who is unable to be present at the polls.

Answer 7

Absentee Ballot

Question 8

What is the popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.

Answer 8

Rational Choice Theory

Question 9

What is the theory of voting in which voters essentially ask this simple question: “What have you done for me lately?”

Answer 9

Retrospective Voting

Question 10

What is the theory of voting for a candidate because you favor his or her ideas for handling issues

Answer 10

Prospective Voting

Question 11

What is the process in which voters select candidates by their party affiliation

Answer 11

Party-Line Voting

Question 12

What are the key states that the presidential campaigns focus on because they are most likely to decide the outcome of the Electoral College vote.

Answer 12

Battleground States

Question 13

What are the states that do not consistently vote either Democratic or Republican in presidential elections

Answer 13

Swing States

Question 14

What are the organizations that may spend unlimited amounts of money on a campaign, as long as the spending is not coordinated with the campaign

Answer 14

Super PACs

Question 15

What is it called when someone casts votes only for candidates of one’s party

Answer 15

Straight Ticket Voting

Question 16

What is it called when someone votes for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election

Answer 16

Split Ticket Voting

Question 17

What are the groups that identify with a political party, usually described in demographic terms such as African American Democrats or evangelical Republicans called?

Answer 17

Party Coalition

Question 18

What is the long-term shift in party allegiance by individuals and groups, usually resulting in a change in policy direction called?

Answer 18

Realignment

Question 19

What election happens when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty?

Answer 19

Critical Election

Question 20

What is the official endorsement (public support or approval) of a candidate for office by a political party called?

Answer 20

Nomination

Question 21

What is the person appointed or elected to represent others

Answer 21

Delegate

Question 22

What election happens to choose party candidates who will run in the general election

Answer 22

Primary Election

Question 23

What is the primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote?

Answer 23

Open Primary

Question 24

What is the primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote?

Answer 24

Closed Primary

Question 25

What is the meeting that is held of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform?

Answer 25

Caucus

Question 26

What are the party leaders and elected officials who become delegates to the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses

Answer 26

Super Delegates

Question 27

What is it called when states have the tendency to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention.

Answer 27

Front- Loading

Question 28

What is the meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party’s platform?

Answer 28

National Convention

Question 29

What is a system of electoral competition in which two parties are consistently the most likely to win office and gain power?

Answer 29

Two-Party System

Question 30

What is the party that challenges the two major parties called?

Answer 30

Third Party