Elections

ballot

the device voters use to register a choice in an election

candidate

A person running for office.

political party

A group of citizens/voters with common interests.

republican

One of the two major political parties. Symbol is the elephant. More likely to be a conservative Christian, support the right to own guns and the death penalty, and not support free public health care and free college education.

democrat

One of the two major political parties. Symbol is the donkey. More likely to support social programs, and policies that help the environment. They are also more likely to be supported by unions.

third party

A smaller lesser known party that seldom wins. They take votes and money away from the major two.

platform

What a political party believes in.

general election

election in which voters decide which candidates will actually fill elective public offices

primary election

The election in the spring that narrows the number of candidates running for office.

incumbent

A person who already has a job and wants to be re-elected.

suffrage

The right to vote.

popular vote

The actual number of votes a candidate gets.

electoral college

The system by which the president is elected.

propaganda

Anything done to influence voters such as posters and television commercials.

referendum

A general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision. Usually referred by the Ohio General Assembly.

initiative

These issues are initiated (started) by the people. These issues get on the ballot by voters signing petitions, then they get voted on by voters.

ballot issue

The general term for initiatives and referendums since they have to be voted on by the people in an election. A question that has been approved to be placed before the voters or is otherwise required by law to be placed before the voters.

recall election

a special election called by voters to remove an elected official before his/her term expires.

special interest group

A group that tries to influence lawmakers.

liberal

A word that describes a democrat. People who are more likely to support raising taxes and be open to the ideas of such things as abortion, gay marriage, and legalization of drugs.

conservative

A word that describes a republican. People who are more likely to not support raising taxes, be religious, and not agree with abortion, legalization of drugs.

lobbyist

A person hired by a group to influence laws.

majority vote

More than half of votes cast

Congress

the legislature of the United States government made up of 2 houses (bicameral)

plurality vote

Getting the most votes of all the options but not necessarily the majority of votes.

senate

The smaller group of lawmakers. There are two per state. 6 year term.

representative democracy

A system of government in which the leaders are elected by a country's citizens.

house of representatives

The larger house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on population. They have a 2 year term.

census

The count of the population done every 10 years. This effects the number of representatives each state gets in the house of representatives.

tuesday

General elections are held on the first _______________________________ after the first Monday in November.

term limit

limit to the amount of times you can get elected

four years

how often we vote for a President

register

What you have to do to vote in an election, once you do it you don't have to do it again unless you move etc...

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