Chapter 17-19 Government

political party

A group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy

single issue party

A political party that focuses on one main concern

Precinct

A voting district

Recall

The procedure by which an elected official may be removed from office by popular vote

midterm election

a Congressional election that takes place halfway through the president's term in office

absentee ballot

a ballot that allows a person to vote without going to the polls on election day

interest group

a group of people who share common goals and organize to influence government

sampling error

a measurement of how much the sample results may differ from the sample universe

Initiative

a method by which citizens propose a constitutional amendment or a law

Lobbyist

a paid representative of an interest group who contacts government officials on behalf of these interest groups

Ticket

a party's candidates for president and vice president

Centrist

a person whose views tend to be moderate

political efficacy

a person's belief that he or she can have an impact on government and policy

SuperPAC

a political action committee that does not coordinate with election campaigns and thus is eligible to receive unlimited donations

Ideological party

a political party that has a particular set of ideas about how to change society overall rather than focusing on a single issue

splinter party

a political party that splits away from a major party because of some disagreement

Caucus

a private meeting of party leaders to choose candidates for office

political socialization

a process by which individuals learn their political beliefs and attitudes from family, school, friends, coworkers, and other sources

political culture

a set of basic values and beliefs about a nation and its government that most citizens share

representative sample

a small group of people, typical of the universe, that a pollster questions

legislative referendum

a special election in which the legislature refers a measure to the voters for their approval

popular referendum

a special election in which voters can vote to approve or repeal the laws passed by the legislature

platform

a statement of a political party's principles, beliefs, and positions on vital issues

one-party system

a system in which only one political party exists, often because the government tolerates no other opposition; usually in authoritarian governments

proportional representation

a system in which several officials are elected to represent the same area in proportion to the votes each party's candidate receives

two-party system

a system of government in which two parties compete for power

random sampling

a technique in which everyone in a group has an equal chance of being selected

literacy test

a test based on a person's ability to read or write

straight party ticket

a ticket where a voter has selected candidates of his or her own party only

public interest group

a type of interest group whose members focus their work on influencing policies that they believe affect the general public, not just themselves

Independent

a voter who does not support any particular party

cross-pressured voter

a voter who is caught between conflicting elements in his or her identity

mass media

all the means for communicating information to the general public, such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the Internet

petition

an appeal

open primary

an election in which all voters may participate

closed primary

an election in which only members of a political party can vote

direct primary

an election in which party members select people to run in the general election

single-member district

an electoral district in which only one candidate is elected to each office

Grandfather Clause

an exemption in a law based for a certain group based on previous conditions

Peer group

an individual's close friends, religious group, clubs, or work groups

Election

an orderly process for making group decisions

Political Action Committee (PAC)

an organization formed to collect money and provide financial support for political candidates

straw poll

an unscientific attempt to measure public opinion

third party

any political party other than one of the two major parties

hard money

direct contributions to a candidate's political campaign

corruption

impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle

biased sample

in polling, a group that does not accurately represent the larger population

party identification

loyalty to a political party

Voting

making a choice among alternatives in an election

compulsory voting

mandatory voting

push polling

method of polling in which the wording of questions "push" respondents toward a particular answer or view

poll tax

money paid in order to vote

soft money

money raised by a political party for general purposes, not designated for a candidate

coalition government

one formed by several parties who combine forces to obtain a majority

grassroots lobbying

political advocacy efforts carried out by the general public and members of interest groups, sometimes under the guidance of their professional lobbyists

exit poll

polling that involves interviewing voters as they leave the polling place and asking them for whom they voted

early voting

provision that allows a person to vote in person for a specified period of time prior to Election Day

Moderate

the belief in both liberal and conservative viewpoints

conservative

the belief that the government should play a limited role in citizens' lives; also the belief in "traditional family values" and what is viewed as a moral lifestyle

liberal

the belief that the proper role of government is to actively promote health, education, and justice

civil society

the complex network of voluntary associations that exist outside of government

universe

the group of people that is to be studied

public opinion

the ideas and attitudes a significant number of Americans hold about issues

Plurality

the largest number of votes in an election

Polling place

the location in a precinct where people vote

canvassing board

the official body that counts votes and certifies the winner

Republican Party

the party more associated with conservative and moderate-conservatives

Democratic party

the party more associated with liberal and moderate-liberals

campaign manager

the person responsible for the overall strategy and planning of a campaign

Patronage

the practice of granting favors to reward party loyalty

Suffrage

the right to vote

Propaganda

the use of ideas, information, or rumors to influence opinion

Disenfranchise

to deprive of the right to vote

Polarize

to divide into opposing groups

Lobby

to make direct contact by lobbyists to persuade government officials to support the policies their interest group favors

Canvass

to solicit votes and determine opinions