Vocabulary - Part Two Flashcards
Blanket Primary
Elections to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of candidates from all parties.
Affirmative Action
A policy designed to give special attention to, or compensatory treatment of, members of some previously disadvantaged group.
Civil Rights
Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals.
Closed Primary
Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party’s candidate.
Critical Election
An electoral “earthquake” where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often replaced by the minority party.
Divided Government
When one party controls the presidency while another controls Congress.
Free Riders
People who benefit from an interest group without making any contributions.
Horse-race Journalism
The tendency of the media to cover campaigns by emphasizing how candidates stand in the polls instead of where they stand on the issues.
Interest Group
The organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process at several points to achieve those goals.
Mass Media
Television, newspapers, magazines, the internet, and means of popular communication.
Open Primary
Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests.
Party Era
Historical period in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win the majority of elections.
Party Realignment
The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period.
Plurality Election
The winning candidate is the person who receives more votes than anyone else, but less than half of the total.
Political Action Committee (PAC)
A group of people whose members share views on specific policies and attempt to influence public policy to their benefit.
