Political Science Terms and Definitions, Quizzes of Local Government Studies

Download Political Science Terms and Definitions and more Quizzes Local Government Studies in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 political participation DEFINITION 1 voting, contacting political officials, volunteering for campaign, or protesting, whose purpose is to influence the government. TERM 2 lobbying DEFINITION 2 strategy in which organized interests seek to influence the passage of legislation by exerting direct pressure on members of the legislature. TERM 3 suffrage DEFINITION 3 the right to vote; also called franchise TERM 4 poll tax DEFINITION 4 a state imposed tax on voters as a prerequisite for registration. Poll taxes were rendered unconstitutional in the nat. elections by the 24th amendment. TERM 5 turnout DEFINITION 5 the % of eligible voters who actually vote. TERM 6 political parties DEFINITION 6 organized groups that attempt to influence the gov. by electing their members to gov. offices. TERM 7 two party system DEFINITION 7 a political system in which only two parties have a realist opportunity to compete effectively for control. TERM 8 electoral realignment DEFINITION 8 the point in history when a new party supplements the ruling party, becoming the dominant political force. This roughly happens every 30 years in the US. TERM 9 divided gov. DEFINITION 9 when the presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls both the house and senate. TERM 10 third parties DEFINITION 10 parties that organize to compete against the two major political parties TERM 21 nomination DEFINITION 21 the process through which political parties select their candidates for election to public office. TERM 22 policy entrepreneur DEFINITION 22 an individual who identifies a problem as a political issue and brings a policy proposal into the political agenda. TERM 23 majority party DEFINITION 23 the party that holds the majority of legislative seats in the House or Senate TERM 24 Minority party DEFINITION 24 the party that holds the minority of legislative seats in the house or senate TERM 25 midterm election/ off year election DEFINITION 25 congressional elections that do not coincide with a presidential election. TERM 26 primary election DEFINITION 26 elections held to select a parties candidate for general election. TERM 27 closed primary DEFINITION 27 primary election where voters can participate in the nomination of candidates, but only of the party they are enrolled in prior to the election. TERM 28 open primary DEFINITION 28 primary election where voter can wait until the day of the primary to choose which party to enroll in to select candidates for the general election. TERM 29 referendum DEFINITION 29 the practice of referring a measure proposed or passed by a legislature to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection. TERM 30 recall DEFINITION 30 procedure to allow voters an opportunity to remove state officials from office before their terms expire. TERM 31 proportional representation DEFINITION 31 a multi- member district system that allows each political party representation in proportion to its percentage of the total vote. TERM 32 redistricting DEFINITION 32 the process of redrawing election districts and redistributing legislative representatives. TERM 33 benign gerrymandering DEFINITION 33 attempts to draw district boundaries so as to create districts primarily made up of disadvantaged, or underrepresented minorities TERM 34 majority/ minority districts DEFINITION 34 a gerrymandered voting district the improves that improves the chances of minority candidates by making selected minority groups the majority w/i the district. TERM 35 coattail effect DEFINITION 35 the results of voters casting their ballot for the president or governor and automatically voting for the remainder of the party's ticket. TERM 46 interest group DEFINITION 46 people who organize to influence the government's programs and policies TERM 47 member association DEFINITION 47 an organized group that members actually play a sustainable role, sotting on committees and engaging in group projects. TERM 48 collective goods DEFINITION 48 benefits sought by groups that are braodly available and cannot be denied to nonmembers TERM 49 free riders DEFINITION 49 those who enjoy the benefits of collective goods but did not pursue in acquiring them TERM 50 material benefits DEFINITION 50 special goods, or money provided to members of groups to entice others to join TERM 51 solidary benefits DEFINITION 51 selective benefits of group membership that emphasize friendship, networking, and consciousness raising TERM 52 purposive benefits DEFINITION 52 selective benefits of group membership that emphasize the purpose and accomplishments of the group TERM 53 Public Interest Groups DEFINITION 53 Groups that claim they serve the general good rather than only their own interests TERM 54 Iron Triangle DEFINITION 54 cooperative relationship among a congressional committee, administrative agency, and one or more interest groups TERM 55 issue network DEFINITION 55 a loose network of elected leaders, public officials, activists, and interest groups drawn together by a specific policy issue TERM 56 grassroots mobilization DEFINITION 56 a lobbying campaign in which a group mobilizes its membership to contact gov. officials in support of the group's position