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PS 101: Exam 2
Vocabulary words
108
Political Studies
Undergraduate 1
10/27/2013

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Term
Know Nothing Party
Definition
An anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant party. It opposed Catholic candidates for political office because of their supposed ties to the Pope and opposed requiring immigrants to wait 21 years before applying for citizenship.
Term
Public Opinion
Definition
The sum total of individual beliefs about Political questions.
Term
Political Participation
Definition
Activities aiming to shape the choice of leaders and policies.
Term
Public Opinion Poll
Definition
A device that gauges public opinion by asking people a standard set of questions.
Term
Random Sampling
Definition
A relatively small group of people who represent the larger group that the pollster wants to study.
Term
Random Digit Dialing
Definition
A computer picks phone numbers by chance. It is better because it allows pollsters to call people with unpublished numbers or new addresses.
Term
Political Ideology
Definition
Systems of belief about what government should do.
Term
Political Socialization
Definition
The process by which people gain their opinions and knowledge about politics.
Term
Poll tax
Definition
Requirements that people had to pay a certain sum to vote, which kept poor people from the polls.
Term
Voter Registration
Definition
Requires citizens to enter their names on a government list before voting in elections.
Term
Motor Voter
Definition
A law passed by congress which says that states must offer voter registration when people apply for services such as driver`s licenses.
Term
Interest groups
Definition
A organization that seeks to influence public policy.
Term
Faction
Definition
A groups whose passions or interests are in favor of the rights of other citizens or to the permanent interests of the community.
Term
Free rider Problem
Definition
The difficulty that happens when an organization gets a good or policy change cannot follow up with the benefits to its own members. If they reap the benefits without being able to deal with the costs of membership, they lack incentives to join.
Term
Selective Incentives
Definition
A good or service that only members of an organization may enjoy.
Term
Closed shop
Definition
A requirement that employees join a labor union before the business hires them.
Term
Union Shop
Definition
A requirement that an employee join a union after starting employment.
Term
Right-to-work laws
Definition
Laws that's forbid union shops and let employees decline membership.
Term
Policy Group
Definition
An interest group that aims to seek goals that benefit the broader public, not just its own members.
Term
Ideological Interest group
Definition
An interest group with a strong commitment to a particular political philosophy whether liberal, conservative, or libertarian.
Term
Public interest group
Definition
A nonprofit organization whose goal is to get benefits for the broader public, not just its own members.
Term
Political Action Committee
Definition
A committee that raises and spends limited hard money to help of oppose candidates. They are not tax-exempt and must follow the contribution limits and disclosure rules. Most of them represent business such as the bank of America Pac
Term
527 groups
Definition
This is one way around the rules. These tax-exempt organizations operate under Section 527 of the federal tax code to raise funds for activities such as voter turnout and issue advocacy.
Term
501 C groups
Definition
Nonprofit groups exempt from federal tax under the part of the internal revenue Code that can take part in some political activities , depending on the type of group. The other groups that have religious, charitable etc. purposes have to refrain from partisan activities, although they may help register voters. Ex. Foundation. The other groups are social welfare organizations that may undertake political activities if theses do not become their main purpose.
Term
Think Tank
Definition
A research organization ,usually nonprofit, that issues statements and reports on policy issues.
Term
Special interest
Definition
An unfavorable way to characterize those who stand to gain or lose more from a public policy.
Term
National Labor Relations Act ( Wagner Act)
Definition
This law set up the new relations board to protect organizing and encourage collective bargaining.
Term
Taft-Hartley Act
Definition
The 1947 law that curbed union power in many ways, including a ban on closed shops.
Term
American federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations ( AFL-CIO)
Definition
The leading group of American labor, an organization of 56 unions and their 11 million members.
Term
Grassroots
Definition
The broad general public. Interest groups often seek this kind of support.
Term
Lobbyist
Definition
An individual whose job is to influence policymakers on behalf of an interest group.
Term
In-house lobby
Definition
A lobbyist on a group`s payroll.
Term
Contract Lobbyist
Definition
A lobbyist who works at outside law firms or consulting companies, and takes on interest groups as clients.
Term
Direct Lobbyist
Definition
Talking with officials( that they are trying to persuade)of the executive branch, lawmakers, and their aides; offering issue analysis, and supplying drafts of proposed bills.
Term
Revolving door
Definition
The interchange of employees between government and the private sector.
Term
Grasstops
Definition
An interest group tactic of enlisting the support of people with strong local influence or a personal connection to lawmakers.
Term
Air war
Definition
An interest group effort to sway public opinion through broadcast advertisements.
Term
Connected Pac
Definition
A Political action Committee that is under sponsorship of a corporation, union, or trade association and may get contributions only from people with connections to the parent organizations. Ex. members, employees, shareholders.
Term
Nonconnected Pac
Definition
A Political Action Committee that is not under a sponsorship of an organization and may get contributions from anyone who may lawfully give to federal campaigns.
Term
Bundling
Definition
The practice of combining a large number of small contributions into one group. Even though the views are seen as one contribution, each check counts separately for the purposes of campaign finance limits.
Term
Soft money
Definition
Money that influences federal elections but does not have contribution limits under the Federal Election Campaign Act. The 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act banned soft money contributions to political Parties.
Term
Hard Money
Definition
Campaign money that has contribution limits under the Federal Election Campaign Act.
Term
Amicus Curiae Brief
Definition
A document filed by an individual or group that is not a party to a legal case, which gives info that helps the court in deliberations. Interest groups use these to influence court decisions.
Term
Astroturf
Definition
the outpouring of "grassroots" sentiment that an interest group manufactures.
Term
Partisan Polarization
Definition
The movement of parties away from each other and toward more extreme issue positions.
Term
Political Party
Definition
A Political group that trys to elect its members to public office.
Term
Party in the electorate
Definition
The voters who want to support a certain party.
Term
Party Organization
Definition
The structure of party officers and workers who try to influence elections.
Term
Party in Government
Definition
Those who win office under the party label.
Term
Democratic- Republican Party
Definition
One of he two original major parties. It is also another name for the republicans. It became dominant after the fall of the federalists. Certain parts of the party formed the Democratic party.
Term
Federalist Party
Definition
One of the first two major parties, which included Adams and Hamilton. It dominated American politics in the early years but fell into rapid decline at the start of the 19th century.
Term
Partisan Realignment
Definition
A pattern of party loyalty in the electorate in which certain regions, interests, or social groups line up with one party or another. It usually happens with the party with the most political power for a certain period, the party that is in most control of the government.
Term
Realignments
Definition
Sudden and permanent shifts in a pattern.
Term
Third Parties
Definition
A political party other than the two major parties. It may be either a short-lived movement that gains significant support or a longer-lasting movement that gets little.
Term
Caucus
Definition
A meeting of political party members. In congress, it refers to the formal organization of House members or senators who belong to the same party.
Term
Political Patronage
Definition
The granting of jobs, contracts, and other official favors in return for loyalty to an individual leader or political party.
Term
Whig Party
Definition
A party that lasted from the 1830s to 1850s. It firmly supported economic development but split over the issue of slavery.
Term
American Party
Definition
A short-lived political party of the 1840s and 1850s that opposed immigration. A.K.A. The Know Nothing Party
Term
Political Machine
Definition
A party organization, usually in a city, that uses patronage to ensure its local dominance.
Term
Populist Party
Definition
A Political party of the 1890s that favored inflation to help farmers at the expense of city dwellers.
Term
Progressive Party
Definition
A reformist party that nominated president Theodore Roosevelt as its standard- bearer in the 1912 presidential election.
Term
Primary election
Definition
An election that determines who runs in the final or general election.
Term
Party ballots
Definition
A 19th century way of voting where each party printed a list of candidates. People who vote by putting a party`s list in this box.
Term
Australian ballot
Definition
A government published ballot that lists all lawful nominees for office. It lets voters make their choices in private and to choose nominees from different parties for different offices.
Term
Split-ticket voting
Definition
Voting in any given election for candidates of different political parties for different offices.
Term
New Deal Coalition
Definition
The voter support form of the Democratic Party, which took form during FDR`s administration. It included southerners, Jews, Catholics, African Americans, people with roots Southern and Eastern Europe, union members, poor people, artists etc.
Term
Divided Government
Definition
One party holds presidency while the other controls at least one chamber of Congress.
Term
Party Identification
Definition
A self-reported feeling of attachment to a political party.
Term
Party registration
Definition
A formal declaration of party affiliation. In most states it is necessary to register in a party in order to vote in party primaries.
Term
Closed Primary
Definition
A primary in which only voters who formally register with the political party may vote.
Term
Semiclosed Primary
Definition
A primary in which party members can only vote in their primary, but unaffiliated voters can vote in either party`s primary.
Term
Open Primary
Definition
A primary in which any voter can cast a ballot in any party`s primary.
Term
Open Primary
Definition
A primary in which any voter can cast a ballot in any party`s primary.
Term
Blanket Primary
Definition
A primary in which a single ballot displays candidates for all parties` nominations for all offices. Voters may choose a democrat for one office, a Democrat for another, and so on. It is seen b the court as a violation of freedom of assoc.
Term
Superdelegate
Definition
A Democratic National Convention delegate who is not chosen in a primary or a caucus, and who may vote for any candidate for the nomination. Most of them gain status by being current or former party leaders and elected officials.
Term
Party Platform
Definition
A statement of party issue positions.
Term
Party unity
Definition
A vote in which a majority of one party votes against a majority of the other.
Term
Spoiler effect
Definition
A minor party draws its voters mainly from one major party and tipping elections to the other major party.
Term
Single Member Districts
Definition
They elect only one member to a legislative body.
Term
Initiative
Definition
A step that allows citizens to draft their own legislation and get it on the ballot through a petition.
Term
Popular Referendum
Definition
A process in which people may gather signatures to allow the voters to accept or reject measures that the legislature has passed.
Term
Legislative Referendum
Definition
A vote that takes place when a state legislature sends measures to the people for their approval.
Term
Recall Elections
Definition
Special elections in which voters in some states may remove officeholders before their regular terms expire.
Term
Partisan Election
Definition
The process of state and federal races, each candidate`s party appears on the ballot.
Term
Nonpartisan Election
Definition
An election un which ballots list the candidates` names without their party affiliation.
Term
General election
Definition
An election for final selection of a variety of offices.
Term
Partisan Primary
Definition
Candidates from different parties appear on different ballots. Voters elect candidates for the general election.
Term
Runoff Primary
Definition
A primary in some states in which the top finishers face off if no one wins a majority in the first-round partisan primary.
Term
At-large election
Definition
Race in which candidates run not in districts but in an entire state, county, city, or town.
Term
At-large election
Definition
Race in which candidates run not in districts but in an entire state, county, city, or town.
Term
Gerrymandering
Definition
The drawing of boundaries for legislative districts, which usually takes place after the federal census. This is done by packing its vote into a few districts where lopsided elections waste voting strength, cracks or fragments its remaining vote among districts, merges the district of its lawmakers or isolates its lawmakers from their bases of support by putting them in new districts with fewer voters.
Term
Majority-Minority district
Definition
An election district in which members of an ethnic or racial minority makes up a majority of votes.
Term
Front loading
Definition
The practice of scheduling presidential primaries and caucuses at earlier and earlier dates.
Term
Electoral College
Definition
It consists of 538 members or electors. Each state has a number of electors equal to the number of its U.S. senators and House members. The electors meet in their own state and vote for President or vice president. To win a candidate must have a majority of the electoral votes.
Term
Winner-take-all system
Definition
The presidential candidate who wins most of a state`s popular votes will win all of its electoral votes.
Term
Coattail Effect
Definition
Congressional candidates of the same party may get more votes than they would if they weren`t.
Term
Midterm Elections
Definition
Elections that take place in even numbered years when there is no residential election.
Term
Ticket splitting
Definition
Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices in the same election.
Term
Mobilization
Definition
Efforts to motivate supportive voter groups to turn out in higher numbers.
Term
Incumbent
Definition
The person who currently holds the office that is up for election.
Term
Incumbency advantage
Definition
The electoral benefits that come with holding office, such as visibility and staff. ex. Fundraising.
Term
Mandate
Definition
An endorsement of candidates` policies, which in turn give them the moral authority to put those policies into practice.
Term
What was David`s argument about social movements?
Definition
They bring about disruption, change people`s minds and cause them to think about a certain issue differently, bring about social change and attention to people to convince them that they need to do something about an issue, they expand conflict and mobilize allies, they can change the make up of a policy. Civil mobilization has caused social movement activism to go up and support more political action.
Term
What are the arguments that Martin Luther King made and how do they relate to his perception of what makes an effective social movement?
Definition
He argued that everything that Hitler did was legal and if the law is not changed people will take advantage of other illegal. The purpose of social movements was to promote non-violent tension and make the government do something about the violence?
Term
What was the argument of proportional representation?
Definition
It would help more candidates to be able to be represented and make sure that no one is left out, it would eliminate gerrymandering( people being cheated out of seats), allow more women to be represented and go into office, everyone would have a fair share of seats.
Term
What are some advantages and disadvantages of interests groups?
Definition
They influence public policy, cause people to lean more to a common aim, give money to charities and organizations. Disadvantages are that they are not always successful at influencing public policy, they are subject to the rights of citizens and interests of the community, they can be a faction because they do not follow up with the actual means of citizenship and deliberation.
Term
Independent Expenditure
Definition
The spending is not coordinated with the campaign, favors corporate interests, tried to stop campaign reform regulation.
Term
Citizen`s United Decision
Definition
It tossed out corporate and union ban on independent expenditures and financing electioneering communications. It let corporates and unions spend unlimited amounts on ads and political tools for the election or defeat of individual candidates. It was a 5-4 decision they said that corporates and unions could spend how ever much they wanted to convince people to vote for or against a candidate.
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