SS- Mid-Term Elections

11/17-11/18

Political Party

Organized group that seeks to control government through elections and public office.

Major Political Party

Dominant party in government system

Two-Party System

System which candidates from only 2(major) parties have a real chance of winning.

Third Party

One of the less widely supported political party

Independent

A voter or candidate who doesn't identify with or regularly support a particular party

Platform

Written declaration of the principles and policy positions of a political party

Endorse

The action of publicly declaring support for a candidate

Mid-Term Election

Elections held in the U.S. in which members of Congress, state legislatures, and some state governors are elected, but the president is not.

Partisan

Very strong adherence to a political party(Biased)

Non-Partisan

Do not formally have a political party affiliation(Unbiased)

Bi-Partisan

Refers to an issue which both parties are in agreement

Incumbent

Current holder of a political office

Lobby/Lobbyist

Activities of an agent for a pressure group, usually to influence public policy

Swing State/Battleground State

A state that does not regularly support one political party over another

Ballot measures

An issue on which citizens directly vote to create or change a state of local law

Poll

Measures people's probability to do something or their opinion about a topic