Unit 2 Vocab 2025

Baker v Carr

Supreme Court case that set the precedent of SCOTUS hearing and ruling on political cases.

Balancing the ticket

Occurs when a presidential nominee chooses a vice presidential running mate with different qualities to attract more votes.

Caucus

Local party meeting.

Closed primary

Party election to choose candidates that is closed to independents; voters may not cross party lines.

Coattail effect

The influence of a popular presidential candidate on the election of congressional candidates of the same party.

Demographics

Characteristics of populations, such as race, sex, and income.

Direct election

Election of an official directly by the people rather than by an intermediary group like the Electoral College.

Fixed terms

Terms of office that have a definite length of time, e.g., two years for a member of the House.

Front loading

Scheduling presidential primary elections early in an election year, typically in February or March.

Gender gap

Difference in voting patterns for men and women, particularly the tendency of women to vote for Democratic candidates.

General election

Election in which officeholders are chosen, contrasting with a primary election where only candidates are chosen.

Ideology

Set of beliefs about political values and the role of government.

Incumbent

An officeholder who is seeking reelection.

Independent

A voter not registered with a political party.

Marbury v Madison

SCOTUS case that established judicial review.

McCulloch v Maryland

Supreme Court case stating that states cannot tax the federal government via the Supremacy Clause.

Open primary

Election to choose candidates that is open to independents, allowing voters to choose candidates from any one party.

Party identification

A sense of affiliation that a person has with a particular political party.

Plurality

More votes than anyone else but less than half; e.g., Clinton won a plurality of popular votes in 1992.

Political culture

Widely shared beliefs, values, and norms that citizens share about their government.

Political efficacy

Capacity to understand and influence political events.

Political socialization

Process in which one acquires his/her political beliefs.

Primary Election

Election in which the people choose candidates for office.

Safe seat

An office that is extremely likely to be won by a particular candidate or political party.

Shaw v Reno

SCOTUS case that ruled against racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries.

Single member district system

System in which people elect one representative per district, strengthening major parties and weakening minor parties.

Solid South

Historically, the South voted solidly Democratic but is now strongly Republican.

Split ticket voting

Casting votes for candidates of one’s own party and for candidates of opposing parties.

Straight ticket voting

Casting votes only for candidates of one’s party.

Suffrage

The right to vote.

Super Tuesday

A Tuesday in early March when many presidential primaries are held, particularly in the South.

Superdelegate

A delegate to the Democratic national convention who is there by virtue of holding an office.

Swing state

A state that does not consistently vote either Democratic or Republican in presidential elections.

US v Lopez

SCOTUS case that ruled Congress overstepped their commerce authority on the Gun Free