incomplete gov unit 2 vocab

ideology

basic set of beliefs about the roles of gov and the individual in society

general election

election in which voters choose among candidates from different parties to fill an elective office

public opinion

sum of many individual opinions beliefs or attitudes about a public person or issue

mudslinging

negative campaigning attacking reputation of an opponent rather than focusing on policy issues

pluralism

idea that political power should be distributed and shared among various groups in a society

plain folks technique

propaganda to portray candidate was a ordinary person who understands the concerns of average citizens

two party system

political system where two parties dominate the electoral process/control the gov

liberalism

ideology favoring an active role for gov in efforts to solve societys problems

media bias

real or imagined prejudice that is thought to affect what stories journalists cover and how they report those stories

plurality

largest number of votes in a election

political socialization

process by which people form their political values and attitudes

conservatism

ideology favoring limited role of gov/more private initiatives by nongovernmental groups in efforts to solve societys problems

winner take all system

electoral system that awards offices to the highest vote-getters without ensuring representation for votes in the minority

soft money

money raised by political parties for purposes other than directly supporting candidates, often used for issue advocay

closed primary

primary election where only registered members of a political party can vote for that partys candidates

naturalization

legal process person not granted citizenship by birth can become citizen and enjoy most/all of rights native born citizens have

open primary

primary election voters choose which partys primary to vote in on election day

opinion poll

method of measuring public opinion by asking questions of a random sample of people

caucus

meeting of party members to choose party officials or nominees for elective office

interest group

any organized group whose members share a common goal and try to promote their interests by influencing gov policymaking/decision making

political action committee

organization raises and distributes funds to candidates running for office, formed by corporations, labor unions and interest groups

swing voter

voter not affiliated with any political party and whos vote may swing from one party to another in an election

incumbent

current holder of political office seeking reelection

citizenship

status of being a citizen, enjoying rights and duties in a nation state

lobbying

effort influence the policy process by persuading officials to favor/oppose action on a specific issue

mass media

means of communication that reach a large audience

coattail effect

influence popular politican have on voters making them more likely to choose other candidates from their party

voter turnout

percentage of eligible voters cast a ballot in an election

public policy

plan or course of action initagted by gov to achieve a stated goal

primary election

voters determine their political partys nominee for an elective office

political party

org seeking to achieve power by electing its members to public office