Civic vocab

political party

An organization of individuals with broad, common interests who organize to win elections, to operate the government, and to thereby influence government policy.

two-party system

When there are two political parties that dominate the political field in all three branches of government.

third parties

Smaller, minor parties that compete for power.

platform

A series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues.

plank

An individual part of the series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues.

national committee

Representatives from every state that help raise funds for presidential elections and organize the party’s national convention.

caucuses

Meetings of state and local party organizations in which a party chooses its delegates.

precinct

A geographic area that contains a specific number of voters.

ward

Geographically connected areas that make up a larger election unit.

political machine

A strong local party organization that becomes so powerful that, year after year, their candidates sweep almost every election.

direct primary

An election in which voters choose candidates to represent each party in a general election.

closed primary

An election in which only the declared members of a party are allowed to vote for that party’s nominees.

open primary

An election in which voters do not need to declare their party preference in order to vote for the party’s nominees.

plurality

When a candidate gets the most votes (the largest number), and wins the election, even if this means less than 50 percent of the votes cast.

majority

When a candidate gets more than 50 percent of the total votes.

petition

Papers that qualified voters sign to declare support for a candidate who is not affiliated with either of the two major parties in order to get the candidate on the ballot for the general election.

polling place

The location where voting is carried out.

ballot

The list of candidates on which voters cast their vote.

absentee ballot

A ballot used by people who know they will be out of town that day, those who are too sick to get to the polls, and military personnel serving away from home.

returns

The results of an election.

exit poll

A survey in which a sample of voters leaving selected polling places are asked how they voted.

electorate

The group of people who are eligible to vote.

apathy

A lack of interest.

Electoral College

The group of presidential electors that is formed every four years during the presidential election for the sole purpose of voting for the president and vice president.

initiative

A system in which citizens who want a new law or state constitutional amendment can propose it by gathering signatures of qualified voters on a petition.

proposition

A proposed law that is put on the ballot during a general election after signatures of qualified voters are gathered on a petition.

referendum

When citizens approve or reject state or local laws by having the law sent to the voters for their approval in the next general election.

recall

A type of special election in which citizens can vote to remove a public official from office.

electors

People who hold electoral votes and are part of the Electoral College system.

winner-take-all system

When the candidate who wins the popular vote receives all of the state’s electoral votes.

propaganda

Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause, point of view or person.

political action committees (PACs)

Organizations set up by interest groups especially to collect money to support favored candidates.

soft money

Unlimited funds collected for general political purposes, not designated to particular candidates.

incumbents

Politicians who currently hold elected office.