Unit 5 Vocab - AM/AZ Gov

American Government Unit 5 Vocab

Suffrage

The right to vote

Electorate

All of the people entitled to vote in a given election

Franchise

The right to vote

Literacy

A person’s ability to read or write

Poll Tax

A special tax, demanded by States, as a condition of voting

Gerrymandering

The drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group

Preclearance

Mandated by the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the prior approval by the Justice Department of changes to or new election laws by certain States

Off-Year Election

Congressional election that occurs between presidential election years

Political Efficacy

One’s own influence or effectiveness on politics

Political Socialization

The process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions

Split-Ticket Voting

Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election

Gender Gap

Measurable differences between the partisan choices of men and women today

Partisanship

Government action based on firm allegiance to a political party

Bipartisan

Supported by two parties

Single-Member District

Electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office

Coalition

A temporary alliance of several groups who come together to form a working majority and so to control a government

Incumbent

The current office holder

Faction

A conflicting group

Electorate

All of the people entitled to vote in a given election

Single-Issue Parties

Parties that concentrate on only one public policy matter

Splinter Parties

Parties that have split away from one of the other major parties

Precinct

The smallest unit of election administration; a voting district

Public Policy

All of the goals a government sets and the various courses of action it pursues as it attempts to realize these goals

Labor Union

An organization of workers who share the same type of job, or who work in the same industry, and press for government policies that will benefit their members

Public-Interest Group

An interest group that seeks to institute certain public policies of benefit to all or most people in this country, whether or not the belong to or support that organization

Single-Interest Group

Political action committees that concentrate their efforts exclusively on one issue

Lobbying

Activities by which group pressures are brought to bear on legislators, the legislative process, and all aspects of public-policy-making process