Unit 3 AP Government Vocabulary

Referendum

a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate

National Convention

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

Rational Choice Theory

describes someone voting in their best interest, supporting the candidate whose platform will give them the most favorable outcomes.

Ticket Splitting

Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. It has become the norm in American voting behavior.

National Chairperson

The person responsible for the day-to-day activities of the party.

Party Dealignment

the gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification.

Partisan Politics

political actions or decisions that benefit a particular party

Party Machines

A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern.

Patronage

Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support

Initiative

A procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.

Independent party

formed around well-known individuals who cannot get support from one of the two major parties

Republican Party

Political party that believed in the non-expansion of slavery & consisted of Whigs, N. Democrats, & Free-Soilers in defiance to the Slave Powers

Political Party

A group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy

2 Party System

political system in which the candidates of only two major parties have a chance of winning

Winner Take All

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

Coalition Government

A government controlled by a temporary alliance of several political parties

Buckley v Valeo

A majority of justices held that, as provided by section 608 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, limits on election expenditures are unconstitutional.

Closed Primary

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

Blanket Primary

a primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties

2000 Election

Bush v. Gore, very controversial-Bush won (lost popular vote, won electoral vote)

Political Efficacy

The belief that one's political participation really matters - that one's vote can actually make a difference

Superdelegates

National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the Democratic national party convention.

Electoral College

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

Hard Money

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed.

PACS

Political Action Committees, raise money for candidates &/or parties

Nomination

The official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party. Generally, success in the nomination game requires momentum, money, and media attention.

Campaign Strategy

the master game plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign

Party Caucus

A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by the Republicans.

McGovern-Frasier commission

A commission formed at the 1968 Democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups and others who sought better representation.

Front Loading

The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention.

FEC Act

A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances.

Soft Money

Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.

Policy Voting

electoral choices that are made on the basis of the voters' policy preferences and on the basis of where the candidates stand on policy issues

Third Party

a party that challenges the two major parties

Democratic Party

A political party formed by supporters of Andrew Jackson after the presidential election of 1824.

Single Member Plurality

An electoral system based on districts that each have one representative, and in which the winner is the candidate with the most votes, but not necessarily a majority of those votes.

Proportional

seeks to create a representative body that reflects the overall distribution of public support for each political party.

26th Amendment

States cannot deny the right to vote based on age (18+)

15th Amendment

Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color , or precious condition of servitude

Poll Taxes Representation

a tax a person is required to pay before he or she is allowed to vote.

Gridlock

the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government

National Party Convention

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

Primaries

Election in which voters choose the candidates from each party who will run in the general election

Party Platform

A document drawn up at each national convention, outlining the policies, positions, and principles of the party.

FEC

the independent regulatory agency charged with administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance law.

Selective Perception

The process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages.

Suffrage

the right to vote

Re-Alignment

A process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance

Motor Voter Act

A 1993 act that requires states to permit people to register to vote when they apply for a driver's license.

Retrospective Voting

voting for a candidate because you like his or her past actions in office

Exit Polls

Polls conducted as voters leave selected polling places on Election Day.

Open Primary

A primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place

Electioneering

Direct group involvement in the electoral process, for example, by helping to fund campaigns, getting members to work for candidates, and forming political action committees.

Matching Funds

funds that are set to be paid in proportion to funds available from other sources.

19th Amendment

Gave women the right to vote

Presidential Primaries

Elections in which voters in a state vote for a candidate (or delegates pledged to him or her). Most delegates to the national party conventions are chosen this way.

3rd Amendment

No quartering of soldiers

Voter Registration

A system adopted by the states that requires voters to register well in advance of Election Day. A few states permit Election day registration.