How to get Involved in Government Sergio Mejia

Lobbyist

A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches.

poll

A survey of public opinion

NRA

National Recovery Administration: established and adminstered a system of industrial codes to control production, prices, labor relations, and trade practices

absentee ballot

One that allows a person to vote without going to the polls on Election Day

PACs

Political Action Committees, raise money for candidates &/or parties

MADD

mothers against drunk driving, founded to look for effective solutions to underage drinking and drunk driving

grass roots

of or from the people, the average voters

ACLU

The American Civil Liberties Union. It defends and preserves the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.

polling place

the location where voting is carried out

Suffrage

the right to vote

LULAC

The League of United Latin American Citizens was a middle-class Mexican American civil rights organization founded in Texas in 1929. It focused on ending segregation in housing, public facilities and schools.

Gerrymendering

The process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefitting the party in power

apathy

a lack of feeling, emotion, or interest

platform

a series of statements expressing the party's principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues

Ideology

a system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.

primary election

an election held to choose candidates for office

public policy

A choice that government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem.

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

Electoral College

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

general election

An election held to choose which candidate will hold office

interest group

An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy

NAACP

Interracial organization founded in 1909 to abolish segregation and discrimination and to achieve political and civil rights for African Americans.