Studied by 13 peoplepartisanship
\n Strong allegiance to one's own political party, often leading to unwillingness to compromise with members of the opposing party.
government
The way a group of people is ruled
politics
The laws, programs, and procedures implemented by the government to carry out its policies
public policy
A choice the government makes in response to a political issue
public opinion
How a nation’s population collectively views policy issues and evaluates political leaders
agenda
The issues and actions that people want to accomplish or enact
rational ignorance
High cost of being informed makes ignorance a logical choice
aggregate
The group as a whole
disaggregated
Information or data broken down by subgroups
interest group
A collection of people who share certain views on specific issues and work to shape policy to their benefit.
faction
A small group within a larger group that represents a more narrow view than the group as a whole
pluralism
When no single group holds all the power; many interests are represented, which keeps one group or faction from gaining too much power or influence
lobbyists
People who try to persuade public officials to do things that interest groups want them to do
amicus curiae brief
"Friend of the court;" written arguments submitted to a court in support of one side in case
grassroots pressure
Actions taken by members of the interest group at large rather than just a few leaders or representatives
electioneering
Direct group involvement in the electoral process. Groups can help fund campaigns, provide testimony, and get members to work for candidates, and some form Political Action Committees (PACs).
media
Any means of mass communication
freedom of the press
The right of the media to print truthful information without interference from the government
media regulation
Rules for how the media can operate; necessary because the media is considered to operate for the public good
priming
When the media decides what to cover or not cover in terms of issues or stories
framing
\n When the media decides what information to share about a topic
lateral reading
Fact-checking information by asking who produced it, what the evidence is, and what other sources say
ideology
System of beliefs about the government and politics; the things you value most
political socialization
The process by which your ideology develops; where your views originate
American Conservatives
Generally believe that liberty is the most important value and that in most cases, government is a threat to liberty
American Liberals
Generally believe that equality is the most important value and that in most cases, government is a necessary agent in promoting equality.
polarization
Deep division between opposite sides
Bradley Effect
When polling data is skewed and inaccurate because people do not give honest answers
retrospective issue voting
Voting based on a candidate’s past performance
prospective issue voting
Voting based on a candidate’s imagined future performance
spatial issues
Voters choose from a range of possible choices on a spectrum like minimum wage, abortion, tax laws
valence issues
All voters prefer a higher value like government transparency or quality of healthcare
political parties
Teams of politicians, activists, and voters whose goal is to win control of government through elections
voter mobilization
A political party's efforts to get its supporters to vote in a specific election
campaign
Organized effort by a candidate to get elected to office
platform
Statement of a political party or candidate's principles and policy goals
plank
An individual statement about a specific issue within a candidate's platform
primary
When voters of a specific party and state choose the candidates that they want to represent them in a general election
polling place
The location a voter is assigned to vote
caucus
When voters of a specific party and precinct meet face to face to discuss and select the candidates that they want to represent them in a general election
battleground states
Also called swing states where votes are hotly contested between the two parties
third party
A political party that organizes a campaign to challenge the 2 main parties in an election
majority
Fifty percent plus one
plurality
Winning the most votes even if the final count is not a majority of the votes cast
Electoral College
The indirect means provided by the US Constitution for the election of the President and Vice President; based on the popular vote, but with a winner-take-all process that sometimes allows a candidate to win the Electoral College without winning the popular vote
early voting
When a state allows people to vote in person before Election Day
mail-in ballot
When a state allows people to vote by mail instead of appearing in person
absentee ballot
When a person who cannot appear in person to vote on Election Day submits a ballot
tabulation
Counting the votes
voter fraud
Any kind of illegal interference or rigging of votes
recount
When states require or candidates request votes to be counted a second time to verify that the vote totals are accurate
run-off election
A second election among the top candidates that is held if no candidate wins a majority of the vote in the election
Federal Election Commission
An independent government organization that monitors federal elections and keeps track of how much money candidates are raising, who the money is coming from, and how it is spent.
Buckley v. Valeo (1994)
Supreme Court ruling that states putting a limit on how much someone could spend on an election was the same thing as limiting free speech and is unconstitutional
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)
Supreme Court’s ruling to roll back limits on campaign donations from corporations and unions. Corporations and unions could now spend unlimited amounts to promote a cause or a candidate they cared about.
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