AP GOV ch 7-8 vocab

Broadcast Media

Replaced print media and became Americans’ main source of news and information.

High-Tech Politics

The behavior of citizens and politicians and the political agenda are shaped by technology.

Investigative Reporting

The use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams, and schemes, often putting reporters in adversarial positions with political leaders.

Mass Media

Includes television, newspapers, radios, magazines, and the internet as the main communication services.

Media Event

Events that are purposely staged for the media and are significant because the media is present.

Narrowcasting

Focusing on one specific interest or audience rather than traditional broadcasting.

Policy Agenda

A list of subjects or problems that government officials pay attention to at any given time.

Print Media

Consists of newspapers and magazines, with newspapers focusing on violence, wars, and corruption, while magazines focus on political news and opinions.

Sound Bite

News or information that is conveyed in 10 seconds or less.

Trial Balloon

Information leaked to gauge political reactions.

Blanket Primaries

A primary in which voters can vote for candidates from any party.

Coalition Governments

When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature.

Closed Primaries

Primaries where only registered party members can vote for their party's candidates.

Critical Elections

An 'electoral earthquake' when new issues appear, dividing voters and causing realignment in party coalitions.

Linkage Institutions

Institutions that translate inputs from the public into outputs from policymakers.

National Chairperson

Responsible for the day-to-day activities of the party, including hiring staff and raising money.

National Committee

Keeps the party operating between conventions; composed of representatives from states and territories.

National Convention

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party’s platform.

Open Primaries

Primaries that allow voters to select candidates from either party on election day.

Party Competition

The battle between Democrats and Republicans for control of public office.

Party Dealignment

Gradual movement away from both parties, leading to a decrease in party identification.

Party Eras

Historical periods when a majority of voters identify with the party in power.

Party Identification

Citizens' self-proclaimed preference for one party over another.

Party Image

Voters’ perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for.

Party Machine

A political party organization that relies on material inducement to win votes and govern.

Party Neutrality

Not aligned with or favoring either party.

Party Realignment

The displacement of the majority party by the minority party during critical elections.

Patronage

Jobs given for political reasons rather than merit, often used by party machines.

Political Party

A team seeking to control the government by winning elections and endorsing candidates.

Proportional Representation

A system that awards legislative seats to parties in proportion to the votes they receive.

Rational-Choice Theory

The theory explaining voter and politician actions based on self-interest, costs, and benefits.

Third Parties

Electoral contenders besides the two major parties that rarely win elections.

Ticket-Splitting

Voting for candidates from different parties for different offices.

Winner-Take-All System

A system where legislative seats are awarded only to candidates who come first in their constituencies.