Ap Gov. Vocab 7
Chapter ten and chapter eight
Terms
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- referendum
- a state level method of direct language that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove legislation or a constitutional amendment proposed by state legislature
- motor vehicle act
- allows people to register to vote at the same time they are applying for a driver's license
- responsible party model
- the view that candidates should give voters clear choices and allow them to be in charge.
- coalition
- A group of individuals with a common interest upon which every political party depends
- new deal coalition
- a coalition forged by democrats who dominated american politics from the 30's to the 60's.
- patronage
- one of the key inducements used by political machines.
- national chairperson
- one of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. elected official
- rational-choice theory
- a popular choice that explains the actions of voters and politicians. individuals act in self interest
- third parties
- electoral contenders other than the two major parties
- party competition
- the battle of parties for control of public offices
- party dealignment
- the gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification
- party realignment
- the displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period
- coalition governments
- when two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature.
- critical election
- an electoral earthquake where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones and and the majority party is often displaced by a minority party
- ticket splitting
- voting with one party for one office and another party for another
- policy voting
- electoral choices that are made on the basis of the voter's policy preferences and where the candidates stand on those issues
- winner-take-all system
- electoral seats are awarded to the candidates who came first in their constituancies
- party image
- the voters' perception of what the republicans or democrats stand for
- proportional representation
- an electoral system that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election
- national committee
- one of the institutions that keep the party operating between conventions. reps from all states and territories.
- blanket primaries
- elections to select party nominees where voters are presented with a list of candidates from all parties
- party eras
- historical periods of time in which a majority or voters cling to the party in power
- retrospective voting
- a theory in which voters ask, "what have you done for me lately?"
- electoral college
- a unique american institution that provides the selection of the president
- voter registration
- a system that requires voters to register in advance of election day
- party neutrality
- a term used to describe the fact that many americans are indifferent toward the two major political parties
- legitimacy
- a characterization of elections saying that the process is universally accepted as fair
- party machine
- A type of political party organization that relies on material inducements to win votes
- political efficacy
- the belief that a person's political participation really matters
- civic duty
- the belief that in order to support democratic governments, citizens should vote
- party identification
- a citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or another
- political party
- a group of people trying to gain control of government by gaining office
- national convention
- the meeting of party delegates every four years to chose a presidential ticket and write the platform
- suffrage
- the legal right to vote
- mandate theory of elections
- the idea that the winning candidate has a mandate to carry out campaign promises