Political Participation (Voting, Parties, Elections, Interest Groups, Media) Vocabulary List

15th Amendment

This provision stated that the right of citizens to vote may not be denied on account of race or color.

17th Amendment

This provision changed the method of election for U.S. senators from state legislators to a popular vote.

19th Amendment

This provision granted women’s suffrage.

24th Amendment

This provision eliminated the poll tax.

26th Amendment

This provision lowered the voting age to 18.

Prospective Voting

Voting for a candidate based on campaign promises and a belief that he or she will bring about positive change.

Retrospective Voting

Voting for a candidate based on the approval of his or her past actions in office.

Rational Choice Voting

Voting for a candidate based on an individual’s best interests, weighing the pros and cons of alternative options.

Party-Line Voting

Voting for a candidate based on party loyalty.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election.

Compulsory Voting

Requirement that all eligible citizens vote in elections.

Linkage Institutions

The means through which people’s concerns and interests become political issues on the government’s policy agenda. For example: political parties, interest groups, media, and elections.

Political Party

A group of like-minded citizens who organize to win elections, hold office, and determine public policy.

Party Platform

A political party’s statement of its beliefs, goals, and policy aims for the next four years.

Party Convention

A meeting of party delegates every four years, where a party’s candidate is officially nominated and the platform is adopted.

Critical Election

An election in which new issues emerge and voters shift party loyalty.

Direct Primary

Elections that take place from January to June of an election year for the purpose of selecting each party’s candidate for the general election.

Open Primary

Elections in which registered party members and non-members can vote to select a presidential candidate.

Closed Primary

Elections in which only registered party members can vote.

Caucus

A meeting of party members to select delegates that will back a particular primary candidate.

General Election

Elections held to determine which candidate will hold public office.

Mid-term Election

Elections that take place every other year during which there is no presidential contest.

Incumbency Advantage

The benefit a current office holder has going into an election, due to factors such as name recognition and campaign finance.

Electorate

The people who are entitled to vote in an election.

Electoral College

The group of 538 individuals who ultimately elect the President of the United States every four years.

Winner-Take-All System

An electoral system in which all votes are given to the candidate who comes in first in their constituency.

Proportional System

An electoral system that awards votes to a candidate as a percentage of the number of votes won in an election.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money.

Super PACs

Citizens United v. FEC paved the way for these organizations, which are allowed to raise an unlimited amount of funds as long as they do not coordinate directly with candidates.

Hard Money

Funding given directly to a candidate.

Soft Money

Funding given to political parties for party activities, as opposed to funding directed towards a specific candidate.

Interest Group

An organization of people sharing a common concern or goal that seeks to influence public policy.

Ideological Interest Group

Political organizations that appeal to members based on a coherent set of political convictions or interests.

Free Rider

An individual who does not join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.

Lobbyist

Individuals who provide information and pressure legislators to pass laws that align with a particular agenda.

Grassroots support

A tactic of influencing government officials that involves utilizing large groups of members or the public to make phone calls, send letters, sign petitions, etc.

Mass Media

Popular means of communication to reach a wide audience, such as television, radio, and the Internet.

Sound Bite

A short radio or video clip lasting approximately 8-10 seconds.

Horse-race Journalism

News coverage that focuses on who is ahead in the polls rather than the issues.

Gatekeeper

The role of the media that can influence what subjects become national political issues and for how long.