ANG Study Guide (4/7)

australian ballot

* aka secret ballot
* printed by gov, not party organizations
* all candidates listed on single ballot
* cast in private

single-member district

electoral district represented by a single officeholder

gerrymandering

the manipulation of legislative districts in an attempt to favor a particular candidate

referendum/initiative

* referendum - a yes or no vote by citizens on a law or candidate proposed by the state gov
* initiative - law or constitutional amendment proposed and passed by the voters and subject to review by the state courts; aka a proposition

issue voting

when voters cast their vote in elections based on political issues

prospective/retrospective voting

* prospective voting - voter applies info about a candidate’s past behavior to decide how the candidate will act in the future
* retrospective voting - voter looks at the candidate’s past actions and the past economic climate and makes a decision using only these factors

political action committee (PAC)

organizations created to raise money for political campaigns and spend money to influence policy and politics