Citizen Responsibility and Voting Law
Primary Election
Election in which voters decide which of the candidates within a party will represent the party in the general election
Vote
Express a choice or opinion
Recall
An election in which voters can remove an incumbent from office by popular vote
Retrospective Voting
Basing voting decisions on reactions to past performance; approving the status quo or signaling a desire for change
Prospective Voting
Basing voting decisions on well-informed opinions and consideration of the future consequences of a given vote
Electoral College
A body of people representing the states of the U.S., who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president
Mandate
A command from the voters
Citizen
A native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection
Absentee Ballot
A paper ballot used by people who must vote in advance because they cannot be present on Election Day
Runoff Primary
A second primary election between the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes in the first primary
Crossover Voting
A voter who is registered as a member of one political party but who votes in the primary of another party
General Election
Election in which voters decide which candidates will actually fill elective public offices
Civic Values
Important principles that serve as the foundation of our democratic form of government. These values include justice, honesty, self-discipline, due process of law, equality, majority rule with respect for minority rights, and respect of self, others, and property
Citizenship
Membership in a community (neighborhood, school, region, state, nation, world) with its accompanying rights, responsibilities, and dispositions
Closed Primary
Primary available only to a single party
Open Primary
Primary available to all voters
Tax
The charge against a citizen's person or property or activity for the support of government
Electorate
The citizens who are eligible to vote
Civic Duty
The duties of a citizen (mandatory). These duties include paying taxes, obeying laws, jury duty, and serving as a witness
Laws
The duty of everyone to follow the rules and regulations created by the government
Selective Service
The duty of males, 18 years or older, to register for the draft
Suffrage
The legal right to vote, extended to African Americans by the Fifteenth Amendment, to women by the Nineteenth Amendment, and to people over the age of 18 by the Twenty-sixth Amendment
Allegiance
The loyalty that citizens owe to their country
Civic Responsibility
The responsibilities of a citizen (voluntary). These responsibilities include voting properly and wisely in elections, being an active member in the community and civic organizations, and being well-informed on current affairs or issues
Jury Duty
The responsibility of every citizen to serve on a jury when called