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emilyUnit3
Emily D: Unit 3 Political Party Vocab Cards
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Political Party | An association of voters with broad common interests who want to influence or control decision making in government by electing the party's candidates to public office. |
| Two-Party System | A system of government in which two parties compete for power. |
| Third Party | A party that 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 appointments 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. |
| Majority | A number that is more than 50 percent of the total. |
| Petition | A formal request for government action. |
| 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 | Ballots and results of an election. |
| 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 a citizen can vote to remove a public official from office. |
| 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 designated for a particular candidate's election campaign. |
| Political Opinion | An opinion about the political standings of the Government. |
| 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 | Newspapers, 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 is contacts lawmakers or other government officials direct to influence their policy making. |