Ch. 22-23 Civics

Check another party's actions

Political parties act as "watchdogs" when they

planks

Position statements on each specific issue in a party's platform.

Fence Mending

Reestablishing ties with local contacts, such as with local contacts, such as with local politicians or the media.

Rubber Chicken

Slang term for meals consumed on the campaign trail

incumbent

Someone who already holds the office for which he or she is running, has a very good chance of winning again.

Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken

TWO current U.S. Senators for Minnesota

media

Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet.

Advance Man

The person in charge of scheduling speeches, conferences, etc., for the candidate.

split ticket

The practice of voting for candidates of more than one party on the same ballot.

registration

The process of signing up to be a voter.

direct mail

A way of sending messages to large groups of people through the mail.

Witch Hunt

An investigation with much fingerpointing

Straw Vote

An opinion poll

political party

An organization of citizens who wish to influence and control government by getting their members elected to office.

Brouhaha

An uproar or uprising, usually because of a controversy

Political Football

Any issue or topic used or "grabbed" by a politician for partisan gain.

Republican

Are Reactionary and Conservative Democrat or Republican

Democrat

Are radical and Liberal Democrat or Republican

Constituent

A voter represented by a particular politician

Support that party's candidates

A voter who agrees with a political party's basic positions is likely to

straight ticket

A ballot cast for all the candidates of one party.

Pundit

A broadcaster who is educated in politics and elections and works as an analyzer and observer

Shoo-in

A candidate whose election is nearly guaranteed

Darkhorse

A candidate whose name is unfamiliar to the public

bias

A favoring of one point of view.

Slate

A list of candidates

Caucus

A meeting of party leaders to discuss issues or to choose candidates.

propaganda

A message that is meant to influence people's ideas, opinions, or actions in a certain way.

Platform

A party's statement of policy and political views

Incumbent

A person currently holding an elective office

Closed Primary

A primary in which a voter must be registered as a party member and may vote only in that party's primary.

Open Primary

A primary in which voters do not need to declare a party before voting, but they may vote in only one party's primary.

Electoral College

A process which was set down in the Constitution where the President is chosen by votes in this system.

Referendum

A public vote on an issue

Groundswell

A rapidly growing wave of popular opinion.

Muckraker

A reporter who tries to uncover corruption and incompetence within the government.

platform

A statement of the party's official stand on major public issues.

Direct Primary

An election in which members of a political party choose candidates to run for office in the name of the party.

general election

An election in which voters make final decisions about the candidates and issues.

Landslide

An election where the winner receives a very large percentage of the popular vote

Run as a party member

Candidates who run for a partisan office

The Hill

Capitol Hill or the legislature branch of government

Mark Dayton

Currently the Governor of Minnesota

self-nomination

Declaring that you are running for office.

Returns

Election results

canvass

Going door-to-door handing out information and asking people which candidates they support.

campaign manager

Helps plan the broad outlines of the campaign: where to go, what issues to discuss, and what image of the candidate to put forth.

Mudslinging

Leveling offensive accusations between candidates

campaign press secretary

Makes certain that the media show the candidate in the best light.

Write-in Candidate

One who asks voters to write his or her name on the ballot.

nominate

Or name, candidates to run for public office.

Cant

Pet words and phrases used by a politician

patronage

The system in which party leaders perform favors for loyal supporters of the party.

Electorate

The voting public

Independent voters

Those who do not support a particular political party.

precincts

Voting districts.

Straight Ticket

Voting for the candidates of only one party

Coattails

When a popular nominee helps other members of the party win election

The first Tuesday after the First Monday in November

When is election day in the United States?

Iowa

Where is the first caucus held in an election year?

New Hampshire

Where is the first primary held in an election year?