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JNortonUnit3
Term | Definition |
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Political party | Organization of individuals with broad, common interests who organize to win elections, to operate the government, and to influence government policy. |
Two-party system | A system of government in which two parties compete for power. |
Third party | Smaller minor parties who challenges the two major parties |
Platform | A series of statements expressing the party's principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues. |
Caucus | A meeting of political party members to conduct party business. |
Political machine | A strong party organization that can control political opponents and deliver votes. |
Direct primary | An election in which voters choose candidates to represent each party in a general election. |
Closed primary | An election in which only the declared members of a party are allowed to vote for that party's nominees. |
Open primary | An election in which voters need not declare their party preference to vote for the party's nominees. |
Plurality | The most votes among all those running for a political office. |
Polling place | The location where voting is carried out. |
Ballot | The list of candidates on which you cast your vote. |
Absentee ballot | One that allows a person to vote without going to the polls on Election day. |
Returns | Profit earned through investing. |
Exit poll | A survey taken at polling places of how people voted. |
Electorate | All the people who are eligible to vote |
Proposition | A petition asking for a new law. |
Referendum | A way for citizens to vote on state or local laws. |
Recall | A special election in which citizens can vote to remove a public official from office; situation in which a company pulls a product off the market or agrees to change it to make it safe. |
Propaganda | certain ideas that may involve misleading messages designed to manipulate people |
Political Action Committee(PAC) | Political organization established by a corporation, labor union, or other special-interest group designed to support candidates by contributing money. |
Soft money | Donations given to political parties and not designed for a particular candidates election campaign. |
Public opinion | The ideas and attitudes that most people hold about elected officials, candidates, government, and political issues. |
Mass media | Mechanisms of mass communication, including television, radio, newspapers, magazines, recordings, movies, and books. |
Interest group | A group of people who share a point of view about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs. |
Public opinion poll | A survey in which individuals are asked to answer questions about a particular issue or person. |
Pollster | A specialist whose job is to conduct polls regularly. |
Survey | To gather information about, as in a poll. |
Print media | Newspaper, magazines, newsletters, and books. |
Electronic media | Radio, television, and the Internet. |
Public agenda | Issues considered most significant by government officials. |
Prior restraint | Government censorship of material before it is published. |
Malice | Evil intent |
Regulatory | Used to describe an agency or body whose function is to control or govern. |
Nonpartisan | Free from party ties or bias. |
Lobbyist | Representative of an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making. |