15th Amendment

The amendment to the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen's right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude."

17th Amendment

The amendment that established the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote, rather than being chosen by state legislatures.

19th Amendment

The amendment that granted women the right to vote in the United States.

24th Amendment

The amendment that prohibits the use of poll taxes in federal elections.

Rational-choice voting

A voting theory that suggests individuals make electoral decisions based on personal benefit or rational assessment of their preferences.

Retrospective voting

A voting behavior where voters base their decisions on the past performance of a candidate or political party.

Prospect voting

A voting behavior where voters make decisions based on the anticipated future performance of a candidate or political party.

Party-line voting

A voting pattern where voters align their votes with the chosen candidates of their political party.

Voter registration laws

Laws that dictate the process and requirements for registering to vote in elections.

Compulsory Voting

A legal requirement for eligible citizens to participate in elections, with penalties for noncompliance.

Mid-Term Elections

Elections that occur halfway through a president's term, where members of Congress are primarily elected.

Presidential Elections

Elections held every four years for the office of the President of the United States.

Linkage Institutions

Organizations that connect citizens to government, including political parties, interest groups, and the media.

Party Platforms

Formal sets of principles and policies adopted by political parties that outline their positions on issues.

Candidate Centric Campaigns

Campaigns that focus primarily on the individual candidate rather than the political party or platform.

Direct Primaries

Elections where party members directly vote for their preferred candidates to represent the party in the general election.

Critical Elections

Elections that signal significant shifts in political party coalitions and voter loyalty.

Realignments

Long-lasting shifts in the political landscape and voter preferences, typically characterized by significant changes in party dominance.

Campaign Finance

The funding of political campaigns, including how money is raised and spent.

Proportional System

An electoral system where parties gain seats in the legislature in proportion to the number of votes they receive.

Winner-Take-All System

An electoral system where the candidate who receives the most votes wins all the electoral votes or seats, with no proportional distribution.

Political efficacy

The belief that one’s participation in politics can influence political processes and outcomes.

Voting and party identification

The relationship between an individual's party affiliation and their voting behavior.

Voting and ideological orientation

How an individual's values and beliefs influence their voting choices.

Voting and candidate characteristics

How the traits and backgrounds of candidates affect voters' decisions.

Voting and contemporary issues

The influence of current societal issues on voter preferences and elections.

Voting and demographic characteristics

How various demographic factors, such as age, race, income, and education, affect voting patterns.

Political parties and their function

The roles that political parties play in the political system, including recruitment of candidates, mobilization of voters, and formulation of policies.

Interest groups

Organizations that seek to influence public policy and decision-making.

Elections

The formal process by which citizens vote for and elect their representatives or decide on specific policy issues.

Media

The means of communication that reach large audiences, influencing public opinion and political discourse.

Iron Triangle

The stable, mutually beneficial relationship between government agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups.

Issue Networks

Loose configurations of interest groups and individuals who collaborate on a specific policy issue.

Free Rider Problem

A situation in which individuals benefit from resources, goods, or services without paying for them, leading to under-provision of those goods.

Open Primaries

Primary elections where voters can choose which party's primary to participate in, regardless of their own party affiliation.

Closed Primaries

Primary elections where only registered party members can vote to choose their party's candidate.

Caucus

A meeting of party members to select candidates or decide policy, characterized by discussion and consensus-building.

Incumbency

situation in which an individual currently holds a particular office or position, . In elections, an incumbent is a candidate who is seeking re-election to the position they already occupy. Incumbents often have advantages over challengers, such as established recognition, experience, and access to resources.