Ch. 13 Presidency

Presidential Elections

The processes through which voters select their president.

Electoral College

A body of electors established by the Constitution to elect the president and vice president.

Campaigning

The process of running for political office, including rallies, advertisements, and public appearances.

Swing states

States where both major political parties have similar levels of support among voters, making them critical in elections.

Primary elections

Elections held to determine a party's candidate for the general election.

General election

The final election in which voters select candidates for office.

Hillary Clinton

The Democratic candidate in the 2016 presidential election who won the popular vote.

Donald Trump

The Republican candidate in the 2016 presidential election who won the Electoral College.

Voter participation

Engagement by citizens in the electoral process, including voting and campaigning.

Electoral votes

Votes cast by electors in the Electoral College, which determine the winner of the presidency.

Popular vote

The total number of votes cast by citizens in an election, as opposed to the Electoral College results.

Majority vote

More than half of the total votes cast.

Plurality election

An election in which the candidate who receives the most votes wins, regardless of whether they achieve a majority.

State of the Union address

An annual speech delivered by the President to Congress outlining the administration's achievements and legislative agenda.

Commander in Chief

The role of the president as the head of the nation's armed forces.

Chief diplomat

The primary architect of U.S. foreign policy and the nation's representative abroad.

Chief executive

The role of the president as the head of the executive branch of government.

Presidential veto

The power of the president to reject legislation passed by Congress.

Pocket veto

A special type of veto that allows the president to take no action on a bill, effectively killing it if Congress adjourns.

Signing statement

A written message issued by the president upon signing a bill into law, explaining how the law should be interpreted.

Federal Reserve Board

The central banking system of the United States, which manages monetary policy.

Chief of State

The president's role as a symbolic leader and representative of the nation.

Cabinet

A group of advisors to the president, typically heads of executive departments.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

A group of agencies and advisors that support the president in policy implementation.

National Security Council (NSC)

A group within the EOP that advises the president on national security and foreign affairs.

Executive orders

Directives issued by the president to manage operations of the federal government.

Inauguration

The ceremony to officially swear in a president, typically held on January 20th.

Impeachment

The process by which the House of Representatives charges a president with misconduct.

Line of succession

The order in which officials replace the president in case of death or incapacity.

Twenty-Fifth Amendment

An amendment to the Constitution outlining presidential succession and procedures for presidential incapacity.

Electoral reform

Proposals and discussions about changing how elections are conducted and how votes are counted.

Voter turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election.

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

An independent regulatory agency that enforces campaign finance law in federal elections.

Political parties

Organized groups that seek to win elections and influence government policy.

Campaign finance

The fundraising and spending related to political campaigns.

Public opinion

The collective attitudes and beliefs of individuals on various issues, including politics.

Political polarization

The increasing ideological separation between political parties.

Media coverage

The reporting and analysis of political events and elections by news outlets.

Social media

Forms of electronic communication (such as Twitter and Facebook) used to facilitate the sharing of information and ideas.

Civic engagement

Participation in activities that promote the public good, including voting, volunteering, and advocacy.

Voting rights

Legal protections that ensure citizens can participate in elections without discrimination.

Constituents

The residents of a congressional district or senator's state, who elect them to office.

Polling data

Statistics collected from surveys to gauge public opinion on various issues.

Interest groups

Organizations of people with shared goals that seek to influence government policy.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts after each census.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another.

Caucus

A meeting of members of a political party to decide on candidates or policy.

Campaign rallies

Large public gatherings where candidates speak to supporters.

Debates

Formal discussions between candidates where they present their views and argue against each other.

Political advertisements

Paid messages in various media promoting a candidate or party.

Exit polls

Surveys of voters taken immediately after they have exited the polling station.

Polling places

Designated locations where voters go to cast their ballots on Election Day.

Electoral outcomes

The results of elections, including which candidates win and the distribution of power.

Landslide victory

A situation in which a candidate wins by a substantial margin.

Grassroots movements

Organized efforts that begin at the local level and seek to effect change.

Political action committees (PACs)

Organizations that raise money to support candidates or political causes.

Incumbent

An official who currently holds a political office.

Challenger

A candidate running against an incumbent in an election.

Debate formats

Structured formats for political debates that dictate rules and time allocations.

Absentee voting

Voting by mail or another method for individuals unable to be present at their polling place.

Provisional ballots

Ballots used to record a vote when there are questions about a voter's eligibility.

Ballot initiatives

Proposals put directly to voters for approval or rejection.

Referendums

Votes by the electorate on a specific policy question.

Campaign platforms

Formal set of principles and policies that candidates advocate for during elections.

Runoff elections

Follow-up elections held to determine a winner if no candidate achieves the required majority in the first round.

Polling averages

Aggregated polling data used to assess a candidate's standing in the election race.

Voter suppression

Strategies used to discourage or prevent specific groups of people from voting.