Political Terms and Concepts: A Comprehensive Glossary, Quizzes of Local Government Studies

Download Political Terms and Concepts: A Comprehensive Glossary and more Quizzes Local Government Studies in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 caucus (political) DEFINITION 1 a normally closed meeting of a political or legislative group to select candidates, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters TERM 2 divided government DEFINITION 2 the condition in American government wherein the presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress TERM 3 electoral realignment DEFINITION 3 the point in history when a new party supplants the ruling party, becoming in turn the dominant political force. In the United States, this has tended to occur roughly every thirty years TERM 4 527 committees DEFINITION 4 nonprofit independent groups that receive and disburse funds to influence the nomination, election, or defeat of candidates. Named after Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which defines and grants tax-exempt status to nonprofit advocacy groups TERM 5 gender gap DEFINITION 5 a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men TERM 6 machines DEFINITION 6 strong party organizations in late nineteenth-and early twentieth-century American cities. These machines were led by "bosses" who controlled party nominations and patronage TERM 7 majority party DEFINITION 7 the party that holds the majority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate TERM 8 minority party DEFINITION 8 the party that holds a minority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate TERM 9 multiple-member district DEFINITION 9 an electorate that selects all candidates at large from the whole district; each voter is given the number of votes equivalent to the number of seats to be filled TERM 10 national convention DEFINITION 10 a national party political institution that nominates the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates, establishes party rules, and writes and ratifies the party's platform TERM 21 responsible party government DEFINITION 21 a set of principles that idealizes a strong role for parties in defining their stance on issues, mobilizing voters, and fulfilling their campaign promises once in office TERM 22 single-member district DEFINITION 22 an electorate that is allowed to select only one representative from each district; the normal method of representation in the United States TERM 23 soft money DEFINITION 23 money contributed directly to political parties for political activities that is not regulated by federal campaign spending laws TERM 24 third parties DEFINITION 24 parties that organize to compete against the two major American political parties TERM 25 two-party system DEFINITION 25 a political system in which only two parties have a realistic opportunity to compete effectively for control TERM 26 collective goods DEFINITION 26 benefits, sought by groups, that are broadly available and cannot be denied to nonmembers TERM 27 free riders DEFINITION 27 those who enjoy the benefits of collective goods but did not participate in acquiring them TERM 28 grassroots mobilization DEFINITION 28 a lobbying campaign in which a group mobilizes its membership to contact government officials in support of the group's position TERM 29 informational benefits DEFINITION 29 special newsletters, periodicals, training programs, conferences, and other information provided to members of groups to entice others to join TERM 30 institutional advertising DEFINITION 30 advertising designed to create a positive image of an organization TERM 31 interest group DEFINITION 31 individuals who organize to influence the government's programs and policies TERM 32 iron triangle DEFINITION 32 the stable, cooperative relationship that often develops among a congressional committee, an administrative agency, and one or more supportive interest groups TERM 33 issue network DEFINITION 33 a loose network of elected leaders, public officials, activists, and interest groups drawn together by a specific policy issue TERM 34 material benefits DEFINITION 34 special goods, services, or money provided to members of groups to entice others to join TERM 35 membership association DEFINITION 35 an organized group in which members actually play a substantial role, sitting on committees and engaging in group projects TERM 46 majority-minority district DEFINITION 46 a gerrymandered voting district that improves the chances of minority candidates by making selected minority groups the majority within the district TERM 47 open caucus DEFINITION 47 a presidential nominating caucus open to anyone who wishes to attend TERM 48 platform DEFINITION 48 a party document, written at a national convention, that contains party philosophy, principles, and positions on issues TERM 49 plurality system DEFINITION 49 a type of electoral system in which, to win a seat in the parliament or other representative body, a candidate need only receive the most votes in the election, not necessarily a majority of votes cast TERM 50 proportional representation DEFINITION 50 a multiple-member district system that allows each political party representation in proportion to its percentage of the total vote TERM 51 prospective voting DEFINITION 51 voting based on the imagined future performance of a candidate TERM 52 recall DEFINITION 52 procedure to allow voters an opportunity to remove state officials from office before their terms expire TERM 53 redistricting DEFINITION 53 the process of redrawing election districts and redistributing legislative representatives. This happens every ten years to reflect shifts in population or in response to legal challenges in existing districts TERM 54 referendum DEFINITION 54 the practice of referring a measure proposed or passed by a legislature to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection TERM 55 retrospective voting DEFINITION 55 voting based on the past performance of a candidate TERM 56 soft money DEFINITION 56 money contributed directly to political parties for political activities that is not regulated by federal campaign spending laws TERM 57 spot advertisement DEFINITION 57 a fifteen-, thirty-, or sixty second television campaign commercial that permits a candidate's message to be delivered to a target audience TERM 58 superdelegate DEFINITION 58 a convention delegate position, in Democratic conventions, reserved for party officials TERM 59 town meeting DEFINITION 59 a media format in which candidates meet with ordinary citizens. Allows candidates to deliver messages without the presence of journalists or commentators TERM 60 winner-take-all system DEFINITION 60 system in which all of a state's presidential nominating delegates are awarded to the candidate who wins the most votes, while runners-up receive no delegates