key concepts except red

party line voting

process in which voters select candidates by their party affiliation

demographics

the distribution of human population groups

general elections

a regular election of candidates for office, as opposed to a primary election.

mid-term elections

an election that takes place in the middle of a presidential term

linkage institutions

Institutions that connect citizens to government. The mass media, interest groups, and political parties are examples

critical elections

elections that disrupt party coalitions and create new ones in a party realignment

realignment

When the groups of people who support a political party shift their opinion to a different political party

proportional system

candidate gets same % of electoral votes as popular votes

winner-take-all system

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

party coalition

groups of voters who support a political party over time

bipartisan

supported by two parties

open primary

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

closed primary

a primary election in which voting is limited to already registered party members

party caucus

a closed meeting of the members of each party in each house

incumbency advantage

the electoral edge afforded to those already in office

PAC

Political Action Committee

Super PAC

raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and individuals

independent expenditure

Money spent on ads not sponsored by a candidate or party

horse race journalism

news coverage that focuses on who is ahead rather than on the issues

individualism

giving priority to one's own goals over group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications

equality of opportunity

giving people an equal chance to succeed

free enterprise

Economic system in which individuals and businesses are allowed to compete for profit with a minimum of government interference

rule of law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

political socialization

the process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions

political ideology

A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose, which helps give meaning to political events.

keynesian theory

The theory that a government policy of increasing spending and cutting taxes could stimulate the economy in a recession.

supply-side theory

The theory that the government should cut taxes to stimulate economic growth

monetary policy

Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and interest rates.

fiscal policy

the use of government spending and revenue collection to influence the economy

liberal ideology

A political view that government should protect individual freedom and civil rights

conservative ideology

Holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in politics or religion.

franchise/suffrage

the ability or right to vote in public elections

rational-choice voting

voting based on what a citizen believes is in his or her best interest

retrospective voting

voting based on the past performance of a candidate

prospective voting

voting based on the imagined future performance of a candidate

Limited government

government structure in which government actions are limited by law

Natural rights

Life, Liberty, and Property (John Locke)

Popular Sovereignty

Rule by the people (people are the source of a government's power and authority)

Republicanism

A form of government in which people elect representatives to create and enforce laws

Social Contract

An agreement between the people and their government signifying their consent to be governed

Participatory Democracy

a system of democracy in which all members of a group or community participate collectively in making major decisions

Pluralist Democracy

a model of democracy that stresses vigorous competition among various interests in a free society

Elite Democracy

A political system in which the privileged classes acquire the power to decide by a competition for the people's votes and have substantial freedom between elections to rule as they see fit.

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

Exclusive Powers

powers that can be exercised by the national government alone

Concurrent Powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

Mandates

terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants

Revenue Sharing

when the federal government apportions tax money to the states with no strings attached

Categorical Grants

Federal grants can be used only for specific purposes, or "categories," of state and local spending. They come with strings attached

Block Grants

grants given to the states from the federal government for more broad spending categories with fewer "strings" attached

Enumerated Powers

Powers given to the national government alone

Implied Powers

Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution

Constituency

the residents in the area from which an official is elected

Filibuster

a tactic for delaying or obstructing legislation by making long speeches

Cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate, and coming to vote

Unanimous Consent

A Senate requirement, applied to most of that body's business, that all senators agree before an action can proceed.

Hold In The Senate

A procedure to prevent a bill from reaching the floor

Discharge Petition

Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.

Discretionary Spending

Federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process

Mandatory Spending

Required govt spending by permanent laws

Entitlement Programs

government programs providing benefits to qualified individuals regardless of need

Budget Defecit

when the government spends more than it takes in

Pork Barrel Legislation

legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return

Logrolling

An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's bills

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census

Reapportionment

the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census

Divided Government

Governance divided between the parties, especially when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress.

Lame Duck President

A person still in office after he or she has lost a bid for reelection

Trustee Model

a model of representation in which a member of the House or Senate follows his or her own conscience when deciding issue positions

Delegate Model

The view that an elected represent should represent the opinions of his or her constituents.

Politico Model

Members of Congress act as delegates or trustees depending on the issue

Pocket Veto

president's power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days

Executive Order

a rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law.

Executive Agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

Signing Statement

are written pronouncements issued by the President of the United States at the time of signing a bill into law