UNIT #9 - VOTING, ELECTIONS & POLITICAL PARTIES
9.1: 5/5/2016
IDEOLOGY: set of beliefs about human nature & role of govt
POLITICAL SPECTRUM: range of political ideologies, from left- to right-wing
POLITICAL PARTY: organization of indvs w/ broad, common interests that organize to win elections, operate govt, & influence govt policy
TWO-PARTY SYSTEM: political system where only two parties have a reasonable chance of winning elections, even if other minor parties exist; what exists in the USA
THIRD PARTY: smaller, minor parties that compete w/in our two-party system
NATIONAL COMMITTEE: official party organization that recruits candidates, raises funds for campaigns, conducts campaign activities, & makes rules about selecting candidates for the party
9.2: 5/6/2016
PUBLIC OPINION: attitudes & opinions held by many people w/in a society
MASS MEDIA: form of communication that reaches a large audience
PUBLIC OPINION POLLS: surveys conducted to measure public opinion
INTEREST GROUPS: organizations of indvs who unite to promote their ideas
LOBBYISTS: indvs hired by interest groups that try to influence govt officials
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES (PACs): organizations that collect money from indvs/groups to support/oppose candidates; formed by interest groups
PROPAGANDA: techniques used to influence public opinion
9.3: 5/9/2016
SUFFRAGE: right to vote
PLATFORM: official positions of a party on a SET of issues
PLANK: official position of a party on ONE issue
NOMINEE: candidate for each party who wins their party’s nominating contests
OPEN-PRIMARY: nominating contest open to voters regardless of party affiliation
CLOSED-PRIMARY: nominating contest that is only open to voters who are registered or affiliated with that party
RUN-OFF: if no candidate wins a majority vote (50%+1), another election is held where the top two vote-getters in face off against each other
RECALL: election where current officeholder can be voted out before next official election
STRAIGHT-TICKET: voting for the same party’s candidates in an election
SPLIT-TICKET: voting for different parties’ candidates in an election
SWING VOTER: indvs who switch their votes for different parties’ candidates from one election to another
IDEOLOGY: set of beliefs about human nature & role of govt
POLITICAL SPECTRUM: range of political ideologies, from left- to right-wing
POLITICAL PARTY: organization of indvs w/ broad, common interests that organize to win elections, operate govt, & influence govt policy
TWO-PARTY SYSTEM: political system where only two parties have a reasonable chance of winning elections, even if other minor parties exist; what exists in the USA
THIRD PARTY: smaller, minor parties that compete w/in our two-party system
NATIONAL COMMITTEE: official party organization that recruits candidates, raises funds for campaigns, conducts campaign activities, & makes rules about selecting candidates for the party
9.2: 5/6/2016
PUBLIC OPINION: attitudes & opinions held by many people w/in a society
MASS MEDIA: form of communication that reaches a large audience
PUBLIC OPINION POLLS: surveys conducted to measure public opinion
INTEREST GROUPS: organizations of indvs who unite to promote their ideas
LOBBYISTS: indvs hired by interest groups that try to influence govt officials
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES (PACs): organizations that collect money from indvs/groups to support/oppose candidates; formed by interest groups
PROPAGANDA: techniques used to influence public opinion
9.3: 5/9/2016
SUFFRAGE: right to vote
PLATFORM: official positions of a party on a SET of issues
PLANK: official position of a party on ONE issue
NOMINEE: candidate for each party who wins their party’s nominating contests
OPEN-PRIMARY: nominating contest open to voters regardless of party affiliation
CLOSED-PRIMARY: nominating contest that is only open to voters who are registered or affiliated with that party
RUN-OFF: if no candidate wins a majority vote (50%+1), another election is held where the top two vote-getters in face off against each other
RECALL: election where current officeholder can be voted out before next official election
STRAIGHT-TICKET: voting for the same party’s candidates in an election
SPLIT-TICKET: voting for different parties’ candidates in an election
SWING VOTER: indvs who switch their votes for different parties’ candidates from one election to another