unit 3 civic engagement terms (copy)

Political Parties

organizations of individuals with broad, common interests who organize to win elections, to operate the government, and to thereby influence government policy.

Two Party System

2 political parties competing in an election

Democratic party

One of the two major U.S political party;founded in 1828 by Andrew Jackson to support a decentralized government and state's rights

Republican party

1854 - anti-slavery Whigs and Democrats, Free Soilers and reformers from the Northwest met and formed party in order to keep slavery out of the territories

Third Parties

Smaller minor Parties competing with the 2 major.

Single issue parties

formed to promote a social, economic, or moral issue.

Ideological Parties

parties that support a particular philosophy or political doctrine.

Multiparty Systems

three or more parties compete for control of the government.

One party system

the party and the government are nearly the same thing.

Platform

a series of statements expressing the party's principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues.

National committee

helps raise funds for presidential elections and organizes the party's national convention. Each party has one.

Caucuses

meetings where political parties chose their candidates

Precinct

a geographic area that contains a specific number of voters

Direct Primary

Election in which voters choose party nominees.

Closed Primary

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

Open primary

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

Ballot

the lost of candidates on which you cast your vote.

Absentee Ballot

Citizens who cannot get to the polls on Election Day can vote by absentee ballot.

Exit poll

a poll of people leaving a polling place, asking how they voted.

Electorate

all the people in a country or area who are entitled to vote in an election.

Initiative

is a way that citizens can propose new laws or state constitutional amendments.

Proposition

If enough people sign the petition, the proposed law, or proposition, is put on the ballot at the next general election.

Referendum

is a way for citizens to approve or reject a state or local law.

Recall

a power reserved to the voters that allows the voters, by petition, to demand the removal of an elected official.

Propaganda

an attempt to promote a particular person or idea.

Political Action Committees

organizations set up by interest groups especially to collect money to support favored candidates.

Incumbent

politicians who have already been elected to office.

Public opinion

the ideas and attitudes that most people hold about a particular issue or person.

Interest group

Made up of Individuals who share a point of view about an issue sometimes unite to promote their beliefs.

Public agenda

a list of subjects or problems (issues) to which government officials as well as individuals outside the government are paying serious attention to at any given time.

Nonpartisan

group that educates voters about candidates and issues.

Lobbyist

a person who takes part in an organized attempt to influence legislators.

Role of the Public Opinion

Shapes the decisions of every president

Personal Background

__ __ and lives greatly affect their opinions.

The Mass Media

Mass Communication that reaches far across the world

Direction

The public opinions on topics is an important question that government officials have to consider.

Public usually has mixed opinions.

Public Opinion Polls

A request of individuals to survey questions with results that measures the presidents popularity

Random Samples

Pollsters select random groups of people to ask them unbiased questions about their political opinions.

Push Polls

Questions worded with the intention of influencing people's responses.

Hamilton vs. Jefferson-Political Parties

Political parties first emerged when followers of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson disagreed over major issues on the Constitution and government.

Jeffersons Group

Took the name Democratic-Republicans. They feared a Strong central government

Hamiltons Group

wanted a strong national government with a powerful chief executive.

Whigs and Democrats

Made up the 2 major parties for 2 decades in the 1800's

Liberal

One who believes government should be active in supporting political & social change; open to new behavior & ideas that are nontraditional; progressive

Conservative

One who favors traditional views & values in government & society & who is cautious regarding change; proponent of limited government and private property

Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy refers to the and a nation takes in every aspect of its relationships with other countries—diplomatic, military, commercial, etc.

The State Department

Headed by the Secretary of state and Appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate

Foreign Policy Goals of State Department

1. protect the United States and Americans;

2. Advance democracy, human rights, and other global interests;

3. Promote international understanding of American values and policies; and

4. Support U.S. diplomats, government officials, and all other personnel at home and abroad who make these goals a reality.

Diplomacy

the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations, typically by a country's representatives abroad.

Passport

is a legal document that identifies a person as a citizen of his/her state.

Ambassadors

Official Representatives of a state in the conduct of foreign affairs.

Public Policy

the action the government takes to address an issue, solve a problem, or meet the needs and wishes of citizens.