Question | Answer |
absentee ballot | a mail able paper ballot that is used by voters who will not be able to vote on election day (like military personnel stationed overseas). The absentee ballots are mailed before election day and counted on election day |
bipartisan | supported by members of the two major political parties (the Democrats and the Republicans) |
ballot | either in paper form or electronic, the way voters to show their vote preferences, or a list of candidates |
campaign | the process of gathering public support for a candidate |
candidate | person running for elected office |
caucus | meetings where political party leaders and supporters choose candidates through discussion and consensus |
congressional district | an area within a state from which a member of the House of Representatives is elected. There are 435 Congressional district. |
conservative | believing that it’s better for individuals and businesses—not the government—to find solutions for society’s problems |
convention | meeting where a political party chooses its presidential candidate |
Election Day | the Tuesday after the first Monday in November |
Electoral College | each state has a group of people called electors who cast the actual votes for president. When people vote for a presidential candidate, they are really voting to decide which candidate the electors in their state will vote for |
Inauguration Day | the day a new president and vice president are sworn into office (January 20) |
incumbent | a person who is currently in office |
independent | a person who is not associated with any political party |
issues | problems facing our country that need solutions. Common examples are immigration, access to health care, finding energy sources, and how to provide quality education |
liberal | believing that the government has a role in solving society’s problems and should take action for creating solutions |
majority party | the political party that is represented by more than 50% of the members in the Senate or the House of Representatives |
minority party | the political party that is represented by less than 50% of the members in the Senate or the House of Representatives |
midterm election | a general election that does not occur during a presidential election year. In a midterm election, some members of the US Senate, all members of the House of Representatives, and many state and local positions are elected |
nominee | the candidate a political party chooses, or nominates, to run in the national election |
nonpartisan | not relating to any political party |
partisan | relating to a particular political party |
platform | a set of statements that describe a political party’s views about the issues facing our country |
policy | position the government takes on what role the government should have in solving the issues facing our country |
political party | organized groups of people who share similar beliefs about how the government should be run and how the issues facing our country should be solved |
primary election | an election in which people vote for the presidential candidate they want to represent their political party in the national election |
referendum | a proposed piece of legislation (a law) that people can directly vote on. (also called a ballot measure, initiative or proposition) |
running mate | a candidate who is running for office with another candidate on the same ticket. (Example: president and vice president) |
swing voter | voters who do not have a commitment to a particular political party |
third party | any political party other than the two major parties (Republican and Democratic) |
Republican | is usually the color red, elephant is the animal that represents them, usually on the right side, conservative, and the GOP |
Democratic | is usually the color blue, donkey is the animal that represents them, usually on the left side, and liberal |
What does GOP stand for? | Grand Ole Party |
How is the president elected? | By the Electoral College |
How many votes does Alabama have? | 9 votes |
How many are the total votes? | 538 total votes |
What is the magic number of votes to win? | 270 votes is the magic number to win |