Media, Campaigns/Elections, Political Parties and Interest Groups Vocab Quiz #2

Party Platform

a set of positions and policy objectives that members of a political party agree to

Third Party

a minor political party in competition with the two major parties

Political Ideology

an individual's coherent set of beliefs about government and politics

Straight Ticket Voting

voting for all of the candidates on the ballot from one political party

Split Ticket Voting

voting for candidates from different parties in the same election

Divided Government

a situation that occurs when control of the presidency and one or both chambers of Congress is split between the two major parties

National Convention

a meeting where delegates officially select their party's nominee for presidency

Proportional Representation System

an election system for a legislature in which citizens vote for parties, rather than individuals , and parties are represented in the legislature according to percentage of vote they received

Single Member plurality system

an election system for choosing members of the legislature where the winner is the candidate who receives the most votes, even if the candidate does not receive a majority of the votes

Pluralist Theory

A theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of groups in the policy making process

Elitist Theory

a theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process

Revolving Door

the movement of individuals between government and lobbying positions

Amicus Curiae Brief

a brief filed by someone who is not a party to a case in an attempt to persuade the Court to agree with the arguments set forth in the brief

Grassroots Lobbying

mobilizing interest groups members to pressure their representatives by contacting them directly through phone calls, email, and social media

Political Efficacy

a person's belief that he or she can make effective political change

Lobbying/Lobbyist

interacting with government officials in order to advance a group's public policy goals

Iron Triangle

coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals

Political Action Committee

an organization that raises money for candidates and campaigns

Issue Network

webs of influence between interest groups, policymakers , and policy advocates

Free Rider

individual who enjoys collective goods and benefits from the actions of an interest group without joining

Single Issue Group

association focusing on one specific area of public policy, often a moral issue about which they are unwilling to compromise

Ideological Groups

a collection of individuals who share a common set of beliefs, values, and principles that guide their political and social objectives.

Protest Movements

a public demonstration designed to call attention to the need for change

Social Movement

large groups of citizens organizing for political change