Unit 5 Vocab Quiz

Political Efficacy

The degree to which someone feels their vote actually matters

A person’s belief that he or she can have impact on government and policy

Rational-choice model

voters make decisions in the same fashion that they would decide on which car to purchase or brand of detergent to buy. They vote on what is in their best individual interest

15th Amendment

Prohibits denial of the vote because of race, color, or previous

19th Amendment

Right to vote for women

26th Amendment

Minimum age for voting set at 18

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Mid-term election (off year election)

A congressional election that takes place halfway through the president’s term in office

The years in which there are congressional elections but not a presidential election, due to less media coverage and general public interest

Interest group

An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence public policy

A group of people who share common goals and organize to influence government and policy

Iron Triangle

A relationship formed among government agencies, congressional committees, and client groups that work together

A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group

Issue networks

A network of people in Washington, DC–based interest groups, on congressional staffs, in universities and think tanks, and in the mass media, who regularly discuss and advocate public policies.

Third- party (minor party)

Any party other than the Democrats or Republicans

Plurality voting

An electoral system in which the winner is the person who gets the most votes, even if he or she does not receive a majority; used in almost all American elections.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold Act)

a United States federal law that amended the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, which regulates the financing of political campaigns.

Incumbency advantage

The tendency of incumbents to do better than otherwise similar challengers, especially in congressional elections.

Primary election (open or closed)

An election held to determine the nominee from a particular party.

Political action committee

Committees set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raise and spend campaign money from voluntary donations.

An organization formed to collect money and to provide financial support for political candidates

Sound bite

A radio or video clip of someone speaking

Horse- race journalism

News coverage that focuses on who is ahead rather than on the issues.

Narrowcasting

Allows media consumers to essentially hear only what they wish to hear

Social Media

Internet- and mobile-phone-based platforms such as Snapchat, Facebook, and twitter), politicians can bypass the media and appeal directly to the voters

Hard Money

Direct contributions to a candidate’s political campaign

Soft Money

Funds obtained by political parties that are spent on party activities, such as get-out-the-vote drives, but not on behalf of a specific candidate

Money raised by a political party for general purposes; money not designated for a candidate