Vocabulary Flashcards
What private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns
Political Action Commitee
What are the political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda
Linkage Institutions
Which amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
26th Amendment
What is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election
Voter turnout
What is the belief that one’s political participation really matters - that one’s vote can actually make a difference
Political Efficacy
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.
Political Mobilization
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.
Absentee Ballot
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.
Rational Choice Theory
What is the theory of voting in which voters essentially ask this simple question: “What have you done for me lately?”
Retrospective Voting
What is the theory of voting for a candidate because you favor his or her ideas for handling issues
Prospective Voting
What is the process in which voters select candidates by their party affiliation
Party-Line Voting
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.
Battleground States
What are the states that do not consistently vote either Democratic or Republican in presidential elections
Swing States
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
Super PACs
What is it called when someone casts votes only for candidates of one’s party
Straight Ticket Voting
What is it called when someone votes for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election
Split Ticket Voting
What are the groups that identify with a political party, usually described in demographic terms such as African American Democrats or evangelical Republicans called?
Party Coalition
What is the long-term shift in party allegiance by individuals and groups, usually resulting in a change in policy direction called?
Realignment
What election happens when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty?
Critical Election
What is the official endorsement (public support or approval) of a candidate for office by a political party called?
Nomination
What is the person appointed or elected to represent others
Delegate
What election happens to choose party candidates who will run in the general election
Primary Election
What is the primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote?
Open Primary
What is the primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote?
Closed Primary
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?
Caucus
What are the party leaders and elected officials who become delegates to the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses
Super Delegates
What is it called when states have the tendency to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention.
Front- Loading
What is the meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party’s platform?
National Convention
What is a system of electoral competition in which two parties are consistently the most likely to win office and gain power?
Two-Party System
What is the party that challenges the two major parties called?
Third Party
