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?
