American Government Unit 3

Think Tank

a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics --- more acedemic

Straight ticket

Voting for candidates who are all of the same party

split ticket

voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election

political factions

organized political group

interest groups

Madisonian factions

primary

an election held within each party to pick candidates for the general election

caucus

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform. --- deciding right then and there

Lobbying

someone whos task is to influence legislation or policy making

campaigns

organized efforts to bring about a particular result -- led by political parties

platform

decalration of a partys position and beliefs on major issues

planks

position statements on each specific issue in a party's platform

PACs

Political Action Committees, raise money for candidates &/or parties

List 10 facts about the electoral college.

• 1st step general election (pop. Vote)
• Electors are chosen by the state's political parties.
• Each state has as many electoral votes as they have Senators + Reps.
There are also 3 electors from D.C..
• Winner take all (except ME,NE)
• Electors meet in Dec., votes counted by Congress in Jan.
• Need more than 1⁄2 of the 538 electoral votes (270 to win)
• In the case of an Electoral College deadlock or if no candidate receives the
majority of votes (plurality), a "contingent election" is held. The election of
the President goes to the House of Representatives. Each state delegation
casts one vote for one of the top three contenders to determine a winner.
• Only two Presidential elections (1800 and 1824) have been decided in the
House.