Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
10 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
third party
|
Any party other than one of the two major parties. In any election there may be more than one party running against the major parties, yet each of them is labeled a “third” party.
|
|
|
single-member district
|
Electoral district in which only one candidate is elected to each office. In a plurality system, a winner must earn more votes than his opponent - even if his total is fewer than 50 percent. In a majority system, there are run-offs to ensure a lead candidate receives the majority of voters’ support.
|
|
|
direct primary
|
An election in which party members select people to run in the general election. A direct primary, which is now used in some form in all U.S. states, functions as a preliminary election whereby voters decide their party’s candidates. In an indirect primary, voters elect delegates.
|
|
|
closed primary
|
An election in which only members of a political party can vote. The closed primary serves to encourage party unity and prevent members of other parties from voting for a candidate they don't support in order to disrupt the election results. Voters must choose only one ballot. This system is opposed to an open primaries system, in which voters do not have to declare their party affiliation. Therefore, in open primaries, voters receive the same ballot, which contains the candidates' names from all political parties.
|
|
|
open primary
|
An election in which all voters may participate. In a traditional open primary, voters may select one party's ballot and vote for that party's nomination. As in a closed primary, the highest voted candidate in each party then proceeds to the runoff election. In a nonpartisan blanket primary, all candidates appear on the same ballot and the two highest voted candidates proceed to the runoff, regardless of party affiliation.
|
|
|
plurality
|
The largest number of votes in an election. Systems allowing plurality election are more vulnerable to corruption using the spoiler effect than systems which require a majority. If a party gains a plurality in an election, it has won more seats than any other party but not more than half the seats. The plurality choice is also the majority choice.
|
|
|
political action committee (PAC)
|
An organization formed to collect money and provide financial support for political candidates. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a matter of state and federal law. Under the Federal Election Campaign Act, an organization becomes a "political committee" by receiving contributions or making expenditures in excess of $1,000 for the purpose of influencing a federal election.
|
|
|
national convention
|
A gathering of local and state party members chosen to nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Beyond this function it has very little authority.
|
|
|
independent
|
A voter who does not support any particular party. Other independent candidates are associated with a political party and may be former members of it, but choose not to stand under its label. A third category of independents are those who may belong to or support a political party but believe they should not formally represent it and thus be subject to its policies. Finally, some independent candidates may form a political party for the purposes of running for public office.
|
|
|
propaganda
|
The use of ideas, information, or rumors to influence opinion. Propaganda can be used as a form of political warfare. Propaganda often presents facts selectively to encourage a particular synthesis, or uses loaded messages to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented.
|
