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Government unit 2
N/A
114
History
12th Grade
10/30/2012

Additional History Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
absentee ballot
Definition

 official ballot that allows citizens of a particular district to vote in absentia.  Military personnel and businesspeople are examples of the people who take advantage of this particular service the most.

Term
Ballot
Definition

an official piece of paper or card (or more modern facsimile) used to register a vote.  Such casting of votes is done in secret.

Term
ballot box stuffing
Definition

This is the practice of one person voting multiple times or fabricating multiple ballots to ensure the victory of one candidate over another.

Term
Ballot Proposition
Definition

Better known as a referendum, this is a measure that is conceived by a legislature but put to the voters for approval

Term
Bandwagon Effect
Definition

This is when voters choose a candidate based on the likelihood of their victory, convinced so by either those around them or in the presentation of the news by the media

Term
Battleground States
Definition

Battleground states are those that could be won by any presidential candidate and could represent a significant impact on the electoral count. 

Term
The Beltway
Definition

 

“The Beltway” is a pejorative term that is used to showcase the shut-off and out-of-touch characteristics of those who serve in Washington, D.C. 

Term
Blue-Dog Democrat
Definition

moderate-to-conservative members of the Democratic Party who first emerged by name with the support of Republican President Ronald Reagan’s tax-cut measures in the early 1980s.

Term
Boll Weevil
Definition

a group of conservative Democrats from southern and western states that voted for and supported Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980. 

Term
Bully Pulpit
Definition

a term to describe a politician’s use of their authority, charisma and perceived mandate to push through their agenda on the city, state or federal level. 

Term
canvassing
Definition

a direct approach to voters in order to ascertain how they will vote or how they feel about particular issues. 

Term
Caucus
Definition

a word that might have origins from Native American tribes, is an exclusive meeting of a party’s members to decide delegates to a nominating convention as well as presidential candidates during the primary season. 

Term
Centrist
Definition

A person whose political beliefs are not nor cannot be characterized as either liberal or conservative but have elements of each side. 

Term
Closed Primary
Definition

A closed primary is an election where only members of one party can vote in that party’s primaries.

Term
Coattails
Definition

The idea of “coattails” is when the success and popularity of one candidate/politician will lead voters to elect other candidates of the same party. 

Term
Commission on Presidential Debates
Definition

The CPD was created in 1987 and its purpose is to conduct debates between viable presidential and vice-presidential candidates as well as conduct research and studies on the debate. 

Term
Conservative
Definition

a conservative is one who argues for smaller government. 

Term
Constituency
Definition

a collection of voters or residents within a particular district represented by an elected official

Term
Dark Horse
Definition

A dark horse candidate is characterized as one with, at the beginning of a race, little chance of winning or having little recognition beyond their immediate family. 

Term
Dealignment
Definition

Unlike realignment, that highlights voters moving from one major party to the other, this is the movement of voters from one of the two major parties to a third party or aligning themselves with an independent

Term
Delegate
Definition

A delegate is one who is chosen or voted to act on behalf of others.  This is seen, in particular, with the nominating conventions prior to presidential elections. 

Term
Democrat Party
Definition

The modern-day Democrat Party is the oldest, continuous political party in the United States. 

Term
Democrat Party Electoral Coalition
Definition

This term refers to the type of people who vote for the Democrat Party. 

Term
Direct Democracy
Definition

an event where the people make the choices without any representative serving such a role. 

Term
Divided Government
Definition

This occurs when the party that controls the White House does not have complete control over the Congress, or possibly, no control at all. 

Term
Election Timeline
Definition

-During the administration preceding an election, various politicians posture and position themselves as the favorite for their party in the coming vote. 

-Between the mid-term election and the upcoming general election, various candidates announce themselves after extensive straw polls and “feelers” to determine their validity as a candidate.

-Beginning the year before an election, parties hold debates between potential candidates. 

-In January of election year, primaries begin to select a party’s candidate. 

-The summer of election year, each party holds

-nominating conventions to select their candidate.

-Campaigning begins in earnest after the convention.

-The first Tuesday after the first Monday of November is Election Day. 

-At the end of the following January, the victor is sworn in.

Term
Election Day
Definition

According to federal law, general elections are to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November – once every four years.

Term
Elector
Definition

An elector is one who is allowed and qualified to vote in an election. 

Term
Electoral College
Definition

The Electoral College was created to help decide presidential elections. 

Term
Electronic Voting
Definition

As the name suggests, this term refers to voting by use of computers or some other type of electronic device. 

Term
Exit Poll
Definition

An exit poll is any kind of data gathering of one after they have voted in an election. 

Term
Faithless Electors
Definition

A faithless elector is a member of the Electoral College who does not cast his electoral vote in the way in which he or she pledged to.

Term
Fat Cats
Definition

Originally, it referred to a wealthy contributor to a political campaign and the influence they wield but today, it is a general pejorative term for any wealthy or privileged person as seen in the cartoon referring to “fat cats” on Wall Street or those that head large corporations.

Term
Favorite Son
Definition

Someone who is strongly favored as a presidential candidate by delegates from their own state. 

Term
Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)
Definition

Passed by Congress in 1971, the act is meant to regulate how national election campaigns raise money and report their contributions.

Term
Federal Election Commision
Definition

As part of the act, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) was created to enforce the rules and regulations of the FECA. 

Term
Franking Privileges
Definition

This law allows members of Congress free mailing to their constituents. 

Term
Front Load
Definition

The term simply refers to the early dates of state primaries prior to, normally, the beginning of February. 

Term

Front runner

Definition

refers to one who builds up or maintains a lead in a political race. 

Term
Gender Gap
Definition

 

 

In political terms (it has many applications), it refers to the gap between the amount of women and the amount of men who vote as well as their voting behavior. 

Term
Gerrymandering
Definition

 

It is the practice of drawing up a legislative district to favor a particular party or ethnic group.  The name stems from an 1812-era Massachusetts district shaped like a salamander

Term
Government Regulation of the Media
Definition
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the government agency responsible for oversight of media outlets and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates mergers and potential monopolies, including the media industry
Term
Grass roots
Definition

 

This is political action done at the

 

local level and normally outside the framework of established

This is political action done at the

 

local level and normally outside the framework of established political parties and movements.

 

parties and movements.

 

Term
Grand Old Party (GOP)
Definition
It began in 1854 in Wisconsin as a conglomeration of Free-Soilers and abolitionists as well as Whigs who were not interested in joining the Democrat Party. 
Term
Green Party
Definition
a political party whose policies are based on concern for the environment
Term
Hard Money
Definition
Hard money is regulated money – such that can be given to candidates by individuals during the primary and/or general election campaigns. 
Term
Horse Race Journalism
Definition
Election coverage by the mass media that focuses on which candidate is ahead rather than on national issues
Term
incumbent
Definition
An incumbent is the office holder seeking re-election. 
Term
independent
Definition
, an independent is one not associated with any of the major political parties.
Term
invisible Primary
Definition
The invisible primary refers to the time between a politician announcing their candidacy for president and when the first primary votes are cast. 
Term
Iowa Caucus
Definition
The state of Iowa is first to cast its selection for who they want running for president. 
Term
Iron Triangle Triangle
Definition
This refers to the interdependent relationship between the Congress the makes the laws
Term
Lame Duck
Definition
This term refers to an office holder who has either been defeated or is retiring but has not left his position yet. 
Term
Left-Leftist-Left Wing-Liberal
Definition
All these terms are basically derivatives of the same concept.  In the political spectrum of ideas, liberal (a belief in greater government involvement and consequently, higher taxes) is to the left. 
Term
Libertarian Party
Definition
Started in the early 1970s in Colorado (if you’ve ever been there, this makes perfect sense), the Libertarian Party was based on the prime importance of personal autonomy. 
Term
Linkage institutions
Definition
These are organizations that serve as a conduit between the people and the government as a means for the public to express opinion. 
Term
Lobby-Lobbyist
Definition
To lobby is the persuade a politician to pass or support legislation that favors the interests of the lobbyist and their constituents. 
Term
Mass Media/Media Bias
Definition
One of the linkage institutions, the mass media refers to print and broadcast outlets of information.  It is also an influence on a person’s political ideas.   
Term
matching funds
Definition
the federal government offered to match the funds that candidates for office raised in exchange for a cap on spending limits. 
Term
Mcgovern-fraser commission
Definition
After the disastrous Democrat convention in 1968, the commission was put together for the purpose of reforming the nominating process to include more voices and more diversity. 
Term
media frenzy
Definition
This phrase has taken a new meaning with a plethora of news outlets and 24-hour news coverage that are constantly seeking for material to broadcast. 
Term
Media Outlet
Definition
This is basically any place to find information such as the Internet, television channels, radio, newspapers and magazines. 
Term
midterm elections
Definition
A midterm election refers to the congressional election between the two general elections. 
Term
mudslinging
Definition
The practice of mudslinging is a type of campaigning where the goal is to sully or destroy the opponent’s reputation. 
Term
National Party Convention
Definition
is for a party to select its candidate for president and vice-president. 
Term
nominee
Definition
A nominee, sometimes referred to as a candidate, refers to the selection of a political party base to run for a particular office. 
Term
nonpartisan
Definition
This term refers to a public official or government action that is not attached or connected to a particular party, interest group or ideology. 
Term
open primary
Definition
an open primary is a direct election in which citizens of a state from any party can vote in any party’s primary election. 
Term
partisan
Definition
Partisan movements, legislation or politicians are ones that act in a way that only reflects one particular party or point of view. 
Term
photo op
Definition
This refers to a politician’s opportunity to create an image through publicity. 
Term
platform
Definition
A party’s platform is a breakdown of its policies, ideas and objectives. 
Term
plurality
Definition
Plurality is a victory with a majority vote not over 50%. 
Term
Political Action Committee (PAC)
Definition
A political action committee (PAC) is responsible for raising money for the special interest group. 
Term
political culture
Definition
This refers to the fundamental values that a group of people have – the basic things they expect from their government. 
Term
Political Party
Definition
A political party is a joining together of people based on shared philosophies and beliefs. 
Term
Political socialization
Definition
The term refers to the way in which people obtain their political ideas and values which, in turn, influences party affiliation and candidate support. 
Term
politician
Definition
In short, this is anyone who is involved in politics, seeks or holds a public office. 
Term
poll-polls
Definition
A poll is any measure of the public’s opinion and in the political arena, they are used to measure the public’s thoughts on policies and the actions of government. 
Term
precinct
Definition
A precinct is any kind of subdivision of a city for the purpose of election organization. 
Term
Presidential Debate
Definition

 

Presidential debates are ran by the Commission on Presidential Debates, a body that determines the rules and sites of debates.  It has been criticized in the past for excluding third party candidates.

 

Term
presidential elector
Definition
Each state has a certain amount of electoral votes (equal to the number of representatives and senators it has in the U.S. Congress).  Each of those votes are represented by an elector, an official tasked with casting a vote on behalf of their state in the spirit of the votes from the people of that state. 
Term
primary election
Definition
A product of the Progressive Era (1901-1920), primary elections were designed to give people more power by allowing them to elect, not just a president but also who the candidates for president should be. 
Term
progressive
Definition
The Progressive Era of U.S. history, from 1901 until 1920, was characterized by several overreaching goals:  improve the responsiveness of the government to the concerns of the people, give the people more power to direct the activities of government, curing societal ills like drinking and poverty and increasing the role of the government in solving economic, political and social issues
Term
proportional representation
Definition
Proportional representation refers to an electoral system in which the amount of seats a party has in the legislature closely matches the percentage of votes it received during elections. 
Term
protest vote
Definition
A protest vote is one cast not for a particular candidate but based on the voter’s displeasure with the other candidate’s performance or beliefs. 
Term
push polling
Definition
In short, this is an attempt by one candidate to smear their opponent by suggesting negative characteristics in the form of a poll. 
Term
Reagan Democrat
Definition

 

During the 1980 and 1984 presidential elections, President Ronald Reagan was able to sway conservative Democrats to vote for him and support his policies.  These voters were mostly characterized as white, northern working-class men who felt the Democrat Party had abandoned the working class in favor of other groups.

 

Term
realignment
Definition
This is a phenomenon where voters switch from one party to another, impacting subsequent elections. 
Term
re-districting
Definition

 

This is a process that occurs every ten years (after the census) requiring state legislatures to redraw all congressional districts based on the population changes that occurred. 

 

Term
reform party
Definition
The American Reform Party was founded by Texas billionaire, H. Ross Perot.  The businessman’s goal was to create a more responsible government with more integrity and fiscal responsibility. 
Term
Republican Party Electoral Coalition
Definition

 

Since 1960, the Republican Party, like the Democrat Party, have enjoyed the support of some consistent groups of voters to include:  men, white Protestants, business leaders, rural dwellers and those making over $50,000 a year.

 

Term
right-rightist-right wing
Definition
Both of these terms stem from the same concept.  In the political spectrum of ideas, conservatives (a belief in lesser government involvement and lower taxes) is to the right.  From this, those who are considered conservatives are considered to be on the right. 
Term
running mate
Definition
A running mate refers to the one seeking the office of vice president as part of a team with the one seeking the presidency. 
Term
soft money
Definition
Soft money is unregulated money given to political parties by individuals or corporations for the purpose of funding party-endorsed activities and goals. 
Term
solid south
Definition

 

The term refers to the southern states a near complete support of the Democrat Party for the party’s support of post-Reconstruction anti-black policies. 

 

Term
sound bite
Definition
This refers to a portion of a politician’s comments made in a speech or other public venue and then relayed in the media.  Sometimes, these bites can encapsulate a political idea or belief. 
Term
special interest
Definition
These groups represent one of the linkage institutions that connect the citizen with the government
Term
spin
Definition
Spin refers to a politician or party’s way of framing events (successes or setbacks) in such a way as it makes them look good. 
Term
split ticket
Definition
  It is the practice of a citizen voting for candidates that span political parties or ideologies
Term
state of the union address
Definition

 

Though Article II, section 3 of the U.S. Constitution declares that the president will deliver information on the state of the Union, it was not until President Woodrow Wilson that it was delivered as a speech before a joint session of Congress.  Prior to that, it was delivered as a letter.

 

Today, it is mainly used as a pep rally for the president’s programs and proposals with the two parties each playing their part – the president’s party cheering wildly and standing up and sitting down while the other party sits and at times, do the little golf clap. 

 

Today, the speech is followed by the opposition party’s response.

 

Term
straight vote
Definition

 

This refers to voters who vote solely for one party or another without any other consideration for the choice. 

 

Term
Presidential job approval ratings
Definition
This is the lifeblood of a president’s effectiveness and perception and the main problem is that such a measure can vary greatly from week to week, month to month or even day to day
Term
straw poll
Definition

 

This refers is an unofficial and unscientific poll conducted to measure the trend of opinions of a particular candidate or an issue.  It provides a snapshot but not necessarily accurate. 

 

Term
stump speech
Definition
Since the late 1800s, the term of “being on the stump” referred to traveling for the purpose of making speeches.  Often, to be seen during impromptu speeches, politicians stood on the stumps of trees.  Today, a stump speech refers to a speech made while on the campaign trail. 
Term
suffrage
Definition

 

The history of suffrage in the U.S. began with landed gentry.  The first expansion of suffrage rights went to landless, white men.  After the Civil War and as part of the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, black men received the right to vote.  However, it was not until the Nineteenth Amendment that women were granted the right to vote.  In the late 1960s, calls for 18-year-olds to have the right to vote surfaced.  Ultimately, the Twenty-sixth Amendment lowered the voting age from twenty-one to eighteen. 

 

Term
superdelegate
Definition

 

, a superdelegate (normally a high or influential party member) is able to cast a vote in the nominating process but do not have to declare their intention and do not have to follow the frame of mind of the public. 

 

Term
super tuesday
Definition
In an increasingly early phenomenon, a large collection of states are holding their primaries on a Tuesday in early February.  This large collection of state primary elections have given the Tuesday, in a nod to Idiocracy, the superlative title of Super Tuesday. 
Term
swing voter
Definition

 

A swing voter is one not particularly tied to a party but who, as part of a bloc, represents enough votes to sway an election one way or another. 

 

Term
term limits
Definition
This is limits placed on how long a public official can hold a particular office. 
Term
third party
Definition

 

Though the country has always been dominated by two parties (most recently and longest-lasting – the Republicans and Democrats), third parties have strongly influenced the

 

behavior and policy of the

aforementioned major parties. 

Term
ticket
Definition
, a ticket refers to a candidate for president and vice-president running
Term
voter turnout
Definition
Since 1960, presidential election voter turnout has ranged from 50 to 60%.  In the same time frame, mid-term elections have proven less interesting to voters, garnering only between 35 to 50%. 
Term
war chest
Definition
A war chest refers to the accumulation of funds by a political candidate for the purpose of campaigning. 
Term
wedge issue
Definition
As the name suggests, this is a very politically divisive issue that tends to engender support for one party or candidate or another alone. 
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