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.