Unit 5 Civics- Election Process and Political Parties

Republican

conservative, right side of political spectrum. one of the two major political parties in the US

Democract

liberal, left side of the political spectrum. one of the two major political parties in the US

Political Spectrum

a system of classifying different political positions

moderate political views

Views that are neither extreme left-wing nor right-wing.

Political Platform

Formal declaration of the principles and policies of a political party.

political plank

One specific point/issue of the overall platform.

two-party system

An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in national elections.

Political Parties

groups that help elect people and shape policies

national committee

delegates who run party affairs between national conventions

Functions of political parties

Recruiting and nominating candidates

Educating the electorate about campaign issues

Helping candidates win elections

Monitoring actions of officeholders

third party

A political party organized in opposition to the major parties in a two-party system

winner-take-all system

an election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins

single-issue parties

Parties that concentrate on only one public policy matter

ideolgical parties

Parties based on a particular set of beliefs, a comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters

primary

A ballot vote in which citizens select a party's nominee 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.

open primary

Primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote.

closed primary

A primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote

Precinct

A voting district

Requirements to vote

citizen of the United States and 18 years or older. must be registered in the state in which you live

absentee ballot

One that allows a person to vote without going to the polls on Election Day

15th Amendment (1870)

U.S. cannot prevent a person from voting because of race, color, or creed

17th Amendment

Direct election of senators

19th Amendment (1920)

Gave women the right to vote

23rd Amendment

Gives Washington DC electoral college votes as if it were a state (DC still has no representation in Congress)

24th Amendment

Abolishes poll taxes

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

Disestablishment

Separation of church and state; no religion is officially supported by the state/government; opposed tax-supported church

Requirements to be President

35 years old, natural-born citizen, US resident for 14 years

Electoral College

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

Electors in the Electoral College

chose presidential electors and most public officials in almost every state.

National Convention

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.

270

number of electoral votes needed to win the presidency

popular vote

the tally of each individual's vote within a given geographic area

general election

An election held to choose which candidate will hold office

inauguration

A ceremony in which the president takes the oath of office

Lobbyist

A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches.

watchdog

The role played by the national media in investigating political personalities and exposing scandals.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations

Bandwagon

tries to persuade the reader to do, think, or buy something because it is popular or everyone is doing it

Name-calling propaganda

an attack on a person instead of an issue

endorsement

an act of giving one's public approval or support to someone or something

Transfer Propaganda

Good feelings, looks, or ideas transferred to the person for whom the product is intended.

Glittering Generalities

propaganda technique using short phrases or words to promote positive feelings or emotions

Just Plain Folks

make the public feel that the candidate is just like them

Stacked Cards

propaganda technique that seeks to manipulate audience perception of an issue by emphasizing one side and repressing another. Such emphasis may be achieved through media bias or the use of one-sided testimonials, or by simply censoring the voices of critics