Term | Definition |
Canvassing | going through neighborhoods asking for votes or taking public opinion polls. |
Interest groups | people with similar points of view who work together to promote that point of view |
campaign | an organized effort to gater support for a candidate |
conservative | a political ideology in which a person wants to keep things the way they are, and want less change. They prefer a small government with less social programs, and more individual responsibility for success. |
Bias | a one sided or slanted point of view |
candidate | a person seeking an elected government office |
referendum | an election in which voters can approve or reject a local or state law |
propaganda | technique used to promote a particular person or idea |
precinct | a geographical area that contains a specific number of votes |
platfrom | a political party's statement of its goals and positions on public issues. It is made up of a series of planks |
liberal | a political ideology in which a person is open to new ideas, and willing to initiate change or reform. They prefer a larger government that can adress social issues and provide programs to help groups achieve success. |
lobbying | an organized effort to persuade government officials to support a particular group or position on an issue |
nominate | to choose a candidate to run for political office |
PAC | an organization established to raise money to support an issue or candidate |
Moderate | a political ideology in which a person's opinions and beliefs are not strong or extreme. The majority of Americans fall into this category |
Convention | a large gathering of people who share a common interest including formal gathering of people for political purposes |
editorials | a writing or cartoon based on opinion of political events that is published in a newspaper or magazine and is designed to promote discussion about an issue |
straight ticket | the practice of voting for all the candidate of one political party |
plank | an item of a political party's platform. Specific statements about how a political party stands on the issues |
caucus | a meeting of political party members to conduct party business. Usually to nominate a candidate to run for office |
recall | elections in which voters can remove a public official from office |
political party | an organization made up of people who share similar ideas about the way the country should be governed |
popular vote | votes cast directly by the people |
split ticket | the practice of voting for candidates of different political parties in an election |