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Side A ------ Side B
What is franking privilege? ------ Senators and representatives can send job-related mail without having to pay for postage.
What is gerrymandering? ------ The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent.
What is a non-partisan election? ------ A local or judicial election in which candidates are not selected or endorsed by political parties and party affiliation is not listed on ballots.
What is issue advocacy? ------ Unlimited and undisclosed spending by an individual or group on communications that do not use words like "vote for" or "vote against," although much of this activity is actually about electing or defeating candidates.
What is hard money? ------ Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed. Raising such limited funds is harder than raising unlimited funds, hence the term's name.
What is subsidy? ------ A money payment or other form of aid that the government gives to a person or organization.
What is invisible primary? ------ The race to raise the most money and achieve frontrunner status before the primary season begins.
What is disclosure? ------ A requirement that candidates specify where the money came from to finance the campaign.
What is selective perception? ------ The phenomenon that people often pay the most attention to things they already agree with and interpret them according to their own predispositions.
What is precinct? ------ The smallest unit of election administration; a voting district.
What is the Polling Place? ------ The place where the voters who live in a certain precinct go to vote.
What is patronage? ------ One of the key inducements used by party machines. A patronage job, promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.
What is a party platform? ------ A political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years. This is drafted prior to the party convention by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate's strength. It is the best formal statement of a party's beliefs.
What is the Federal Election Campaign Act? ------ A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The act created the Federal Election Commission (FEC), provided public financing for presidential primaries and general elections, limited presidential campaign spending, required disclosure, and attempted to limit contributions.
What is the 
Federal Election Commission (FEC)? ------ A six-member bipartisan agency created by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974. It enforces and administers campaign finance laws.
What is 527 groups? ------ Independent groups that seek to influence the political process but are not subject to contribution restrictions because they do not directly advocate the election of a particular candidate.
What are Political Action Committees (PACs)? ------ Funding vehicles created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms. A corporation, union, or some other interest group can create this and register it with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), which will meticulously monitor its expenditures.
What are matching funds? ------ Contributions of up to $250 matched from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund to candidates for the presidential nomination who qualify and agree to meet various conditions, such as limiting their overall spending.
What is Soft Money? ------ Political contributions earmarked for party-building expenses at the grassroots level or for generic party advertising. Unlike money that goes to the campaign of a particular candidate, such party donations are not subject to contribution limits. For a time, such contributions were unlimited, until they were banned by the McCain-Feingold Act.
Who are the superdelegates? ------ National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the Democratic national party convention.
What is frontloading? ------ The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calender in order to capitalize on media attention.
How do Interest groups influence policy? ------ "Revolving Door" concept: Interest groups go in hoping their issue goes in and comes out w/ a policy that supports them.-Many interest groups offices are in D.C in K street.-Interest groups will meet w/ public officials( Private meetings), throw social events and awards, testifying before congress, meet w/ aides and staffers, drafting legislation. 
How do they help Congressmen? ------ -Provide Information, provide political and campaign strategies, and source of ideas and innovations.
How do interest groups influence policy outside of lobbying? ------ -Litigation: If legislation fails to meet the needs of an interest groups, the groups file lawsuits and try to reach their goals through the courts.-Going public: Interest groups also appeal to the public opinion to help their cause.
How do interest groups influence Elections? ------ -Educate their members about how government officials vote on the issues the interest group cares about.-Donate money to candidates who support their issues. (Limits: $5,000 per group per candidate).-Run radio and television ads for or against political candidates.
How do Interest groups encourage members o influence elections? ------ -Donate money to a campaign (Limit: $2,400 per person per campaign). -Vote for candidates who support the interest group's issues.
Are interest groups good or bad for democracy? ------ Good...-Participate and influence policy.-Keeps the government accountableBad...-Hyper pluralism and policy gridlock.-Unfair advantage because of the money they have.-Represent those who can pay.
What two stages are campaigns in America divided into? ------ First, nominations, and, second, campaigns, between two nominees.-Prize for a nomination campaign is gathering a party's nod as its candidate.-Prize for an election campaign is winning an office.
What is a nomination? ------ The official endorsement of candidate for office by a political party. Generally, success in the nomination game requires momentum, money, and media attention.
What is campaign strategy? ------ The master game plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign.
What is the national party convention? ------ The supreme power within each of the parties. The convention meets every four years to nominate the party's presidential and vice-presidential candidate and to write the party's platform. 

What is a caucus? ------ A meeting of all state party leaders for selecting delegates to the national party convention. Caucuses are usually organized as a pyramid.-Since 1972 Iowa has held the nation's first caucuses. -Tests Candidates vote-getting ability,-Candidates sometimes spend more time during the nomination season in Iowa then they do in the big states like California, Texas, and Florida.
What are presidential primaries?  ------ Elections in which voters in a state vote for a candidate (or delegates pledged to him or her). Most delegates to the national party conventions are chosen this way.
What is the McGovern-Fraser Commission? ------ A commission formed at the 1968 Democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups and others who sought better representation. 
What is a Lobbyist? ------ Lobbying: is the practice of influencing decisions made by the govt.-A lobbyist is a person who works to influence politicians on a specific issue.
What are interest groups? ------ -Are groups of citizens who team up to influence the government on one particular issue.-They employ experts to help influence the government.-Have members who support what they do through civic participation.
Why do people join interest groups? ------ Solidarity incentives: To be with people like themselves.Material incentives: To receive something (example: AARP discounts)Purposive incentives: intangible rewards related to the goals of the organization... e.g., working on an election of a supported candidate.
What are the different types of groups?  ------ Economic-Business related- uschamber.com, The business roundtable (BRT) to ensure money.Economic-Labor-AFL(American Federation of labor) and Teachers Union.Economic Agriculture-American soybean Association, National Association of wheat growers, and Farm Bureau.Professional/Trade groups-Screen actors guild, American Medical Association, and (AGC) The Associated General Contractors of America.Public Interest Groups-Friends of the Earth, and the League of women votes.Single Issue groupsNational right to life, to prevent gun violence, and (NARAL)Pro-choice America.Ideological Groups: The conservative caucus and People for the American way.Civil Rights Groups(AARP) American Association of Retired Persons, (NCLR) National Council of La Raza, and Anti-Defamation.Religious Groups-United states conference of Catholics and Christian coalition. Government GroupsGroup of MayorsEnvironmentalGreenpeace, and Sierra Group.CommunityASPCA (Dogs/Cats), National Anti-Vivisection Society (No science that harms animals). International affairsHRW (everyone in the world should have equal rights) and Accuracy in Media.
What is the coattail effect? ------ The effect of a strong candidate running for an office at the top of a ballot helping to attract voters to other candidates on the party's ticket.
How are interest groups and political parties similar? ------ -self-interested (Different parts if groups help each other to get something.)-Factions (Federalist#51)-Supplement and use each other-Raise awareness -Recruit money -Educate politicians and the public-Forms of political participation.
What are the 3 major characteristics of an interest group? ------ -Shared interests and goals.-organized structure-Want to influence policy*Political Parties are not interest groups. 
What are the major differences between interest groups and political parties? ------ Interest Groups-Narrow focus-Policy focus-IdeologicalPolitical Parties-Broad Focus -Election focus-Mainstream (Being everywhere channels, anything to hear more about it.)
What are conventions? ------ - To get someone elected president, you have to pick the best group possible and put all your force behind him/her. * Three months before the presidential before the presidential election, each party has a convention (big meeting) tp pick their presidential nominee from the other party in the general election.
What is the difference between Primaries and Caucuses? ------ -Party members in each state vote to decide who gets to go to the convention. They choose between people who have promised to vote for different candidates. These contests are called "primaries."- Caucuses:  is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement to decide who goes to the next level in the election process.
What role do third parties play? ------ Draw attention to ignored issues and takes away votes from the Republican and democratic party. (Third parties are not really a party.)
What important information do you need to know about Running within your party? ------ -Many people run for an elected position within each party.-Only one person from each party can run in the general election.-Right now lots of people are " throwing their hat in" to run in the 2012 Presidential election.
What is a Responsible Party Model? ------ A view favored by some political scientists about how parties should work. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters, who can then use those choices as cues to their own preferences of candidates. Once in office, parties would carry out their compaign promises.
What is Proportional Representation? ------ An electoral system used throughout most of Europe that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election.
What is a Coalition Government? ------ When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. This form of government is quite common in the multiparty systems of Europe.
What is Winner-Take-All System? ------ An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies. In American presidential elections, the system in which the winner of the popular vote in a state receives all the electoral votes of that state.
What are Third Parties? ------ Electoral lcontenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections.
What is Party Dealignment? ------ The gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking aprty identification.
What is Party Neutrality? ------ A term used to describe the fact that many Americans are indifferent toward to two major political parties.
What is New Deal Coalition? ------ A coalition forged by the Democrats, who dominated American politics from the 1930s to the 1960s. Its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals.
What is Party Realignment? ------ The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usualy during a critical election periods.
What is the National Convention? ------ The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.
Who and What is the National Committee? ------ One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. The national committee is composed of reresentatives from the states and territores.
Who is the National Chairperson? ------ The national chairperson is responsible for the day-to-day activites of the party and is usually hand picked by the presidential nominee.
What is Coalition? ------ A group of individual with a common interest upon which every political party depends.
What are Party Eras? ------ Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections.
What is Critical Election? ------ An electoral "earthquake" where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. Critical election periods are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election to bring about a new party era.
What are Blanket primaries? ------ Elections to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of condidates from all the parties. Voters can then select some Democrats and some Republicans if they like.
What are Open primaries? ------ Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on election day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests.
What is Patronage? ------ One of the key inducements used by party machines. A patronage job, promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.
What are Closed Primaries?  ------ Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can voted for that party's condidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty.
What are Party machines? ------ A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern. 
What is a Party Image? ------ The voter's perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism.
What is the Rational-Choice Theory? ------ A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.
What is someone's Party identification? ------ A citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other.
What is Ticket-splitting?  ------ Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. It has become the norm in American voting behavior.
What are Linkage institutions? ------ The channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.
What is Party Competition? ------ The battle of the parties for control of public offices. Ups and downs of the two major parties are one of the most important elements in American politics.
What is a Political Party? ------ According to Anthony Downs, a "team of men and women seeking to control the giverning apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election."-Group of people that think alike on most issues team up to get people who think like them elected.
What is legitimacy? ------ A characterization of election by political scientists meaning that they are almost universally accepted as a fair and free method of selecting political leaders. When high, as in United States , even the losers accept the results peacefully.
What is referendum? ------ A state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a proposed constitutional amendment. 1st method for getting item in state ballot.
What is an 
initiative petition? ------ A process permitted in some states whereby voters may put proposed changes in a state constitution to a vote if sufficient signatures are obtained on petitions calling for such referendum;2nd method in getting item in state ballot.
What happened in Bush vs. Gore? ------ U.S supreme court over ruled Florida's Supreme Court and held that more precise and consistent standards for evaluatingballots would have to be applied in all counties; they ruled that thee was not enough time to count the ballots in orderly fashion by the time the electors were to vote therefore determining George W. Bush winner.
What is suffrage? ------ The legal right to vote , extended to African Americans by the Fifteenth Amendment, to woman in the nineteenth amendment, and the people over 18 by the twentieth-sixth amendment. 
What does the 15th Amendment say? ------ 1870-extended the right to vote for African Americans.
What does the 19th Amendment say? ------ 1920- extended the right to vote for women
What does the 
23rd amendment say? ------ 1961-Permits the District of Columbia o choose electors for President and Vice President; people in D.C didn't have the choice to vote but now they do;Under this amendment they have the same votes as any other state (ie, one vote for each senator and representative it would be entitled to if DC were a state).
What does the 
24th amendment say? ------ 1964- The Constitution guarantees that no person can be denied the right to vote due to an inability to pay a tax prior to voting. The "poll tax" is now considered unconstitutional.
What does the 26th amendment say? ------ 1971- It is the amendment that allows us citizens over the age of 18 vote in elections. such as the presidential election, the election for governor, and any other election that rely on citizens to vote on.
What is political efficacy? ------ The belief that one's political participation really matters- that one's vote can actually make a difference; ordinary people can influence the government.
What is civic duty? ------ The belief that in order to support democratic government, a citizen should always vote ; long-term contribution made toward preserving democracy.
What is voter registration? ------ A system adopted by the states that requires voters to register well in advance of Election day. A few states permit Election Day registration.
What is the Motor voter act? ------ Passed in 1993, this act went into effect for the 1996 election. It requires states to permit people to register to vote at the same time they apply for their driver's license.
What is mandate theory of election? ------ The idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his or her platform and politics. Politicians like the theory better than political scientist do.
What is policy voting? ------ Electoral choices that are made on the basis of the voters' policy preferences and on the basis of where the candidate stand on policy issues.
Who/What is the electoral college? ------ A unique American institution, created by the Constitution, providing for the selection of the president by electors chosen by the state parties. Although, the electoral college vote usually reflects popular majority, the winner-take-all rule gives clout to big states.
What is retrospective voting? ------ A theory of voting in which voters essentially ask this simple question : "What have you done for me lately?

Side A ------ Side B
What is franking privilege? ------ Senators and representatives can send job-related mail without having to pay for postage.
What is gerrymandering? ------ The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent.
What is a non-partisan election? ------ A local or judicial election in which candidates are not selected or endorsed by political parties and party affiliation is not listed on ballots.
What is issue advocacy? ------ Unlimited and undisclosed spending by an individual or group on communications that do not use words like "vote for" or "vote against," although much of this activity is actually about electing or defeating candidates.
What is hard money? ------ Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed. Raising such limited funds is harder than raising unlimited funds, hence the term's name.
What is subsidy? ------ A money payment or other form of aid that the government gives to a person or organization.
What is invisible primary? ------ The race to raise the most money and achieve frontrunner status before the primary season begins.
What is disclosure? ------ A requirement that candidates specify where the money came from to finance the campaign.
What is selective perception? ------ The phenomenon that people often pay the most attention to things they already agree with and interpret them according to their own predispositions.
What is precinct? ------ The smallest unit of election administration; a voting district.
What is the Polling Place? ------ The place where the voters who live in a certain precinct go to vote.
What is patronage? ------ One of the key inducements used by party machines. A patronage job, promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.
What is a party platform? ------ A political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years. This is drafted prior to the party convention by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate's strength. It is the best formal statement of a party's beliefs.
What is the Federal Election Campaign Act? ------ A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The act created the Federal Election Commission (FEC), provided public financing for presidential primaries and general elections, limited presidential campaign spending, required disclosure, and attempted to limit contributions.
What is the 
Federal Election Commission (FEC)? ------ A six-member bipartisan agency created by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974. It enforces and administers campaign finance laws.
What is 527 groups? ------ Independent groups that seek to influence the political process but are not subject to contribution restrictions because they do not directly advocate the election of a particular candidate.
What are Political Action Committees (PACs)? ------ Funding vehicles created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms. A corporation, union, or some other interest group can create this and register it with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), which will meticulously monitor its expenditures.
What are matching funds? ------ Contributions of up to $250 matched from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund to candidates for the presidential nomination who qualify and agree to meet various conditions, such as limiting their overall spending.
What is Soft Money? ------ Political contributions earmarked for party-building expenses at the grassroots level or for generic party advertising. Unlike money that goes to the campaign of a particular candidate, such party donations are not subject to contribution limits. For a time, such contributions were unlimited, until they were banned by the McCain-Feingold Act.
Who are the superdelegates? ------ National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the Democratic national party convention.
What is frontloading? ------ The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calender in order to capitalize on media attention.
How do Interest groups influence policy? ------ "Revolving Door" concept: Interest groups go in hoping their issue goes in and comes out w/ a policy that supports them.-Many interest groups offices are in D.C in K street.-Interest groups will meet w/ public officials( Private meetings), throw social events and awards, testifying before congress, meet w/ aides and staffers, drafting legislation. 
How do they help Congressmen? ------ -Provide Information, provide political and campaign strategies, and source of ideas and innovations.
How do interest groups influence policy outside of lobbying? ------ -Litigation: If legislation fails to meet the needs of an interest groups, the groups file lawsuits and try to reach their goals through the courts.-Going public: Interest groups also appeal to the public opinion to help their cause.
How do interest groups influence Elections? ------ -Educate their members about how government officials vote on the issues the interest group cares about.-Donate money to candidates who support their issues. (Limits: $5,000 per group per candidate).-Run radio and television ads for or against political candidates.
How do Interest groups encourage members o influence elections? ------ -Donate money to a campaign (Limit: $2,400 per person per campaign). -Vote for candidates who support the interest group's issues.
Are interest groups good or bad for democracy? ------ Good...-Participate and influence policy.-Keeps the government accountableBad...-Hyper pluralism and policy gridlock.-Unfair advantage because of the money they have.-Represent those who can pay.
What two stages are campaigns in America divided into? ------ First, nominations, and, second, campaigns, between two nominees.-Prize for a nomination campaign is gathering a party's nod as its candidate.-Prize for an election campaign is winning an office.
What is a nomination? ------ The official endorsement of candidate for office by a political party. Generally, success in the nomination game requires momentum, money, and media attention.
What is campaign strategy? ------ The master game plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign.
What is the national party convention? ------ The supreme power within each of the parties. The convention meets every four years to nominate the party's presidential and vice-presidential candidate and to write the party's platform.

What is a caucus? ------ A meeting of all state party leaders for selecting delegates to the national party convention. Caucuses are usually organized as a pyramid.-Since 1972 Iowa has held the nation's first caucuses. -Tests Candidates vote-getting ability,-Candidates sometimes spend more time during the nomination season in Iowa then they do in the big states like California, Texas, and Florida.
What are presidential primaries?  ------ Elections in which voters in a state vote for a candidate (or delegates pledged to him or her). Most delegates to the national party conventions are chosen this way.
What is the McGovern-Fraser Commission? ------ A commission formed at the 1968 Democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups and others who sought better representation. 
What is a Lobbyist? ------ Lobbying: is the practice of influencing decisions made by the govt.-A lobbyist is a person who works to influence politicians on a specific issue.
What are interest groups? ------ -Are groups of citizens who team up to influence the government on one particular issue.-They employ experts to help influence the government.-Have members who support what they do through civic participation.
Why do people join interest groups? ------ Solidarity incentives: To be with people like themselves.Material incentives: To receive something (example: AARP discounts)Purposive incentives: intangible rewards related to the goals of the organization... e.g., working on an election of a supported candidate.
What are the different types of groups?  ------ Economic-Business related- uschamber.com, The business roundtable (BRT) to ensure money.Economic-Labor-AFL(American Federation of labor) and Teachers Union.Economic Agriculture-American soybean Association, National Association of wheat growers, and Farm Bureau.Professional/Trade groups-Screen actors guild, American Medical Association, and (AGC) The Associated General Contractors of America.Public Interest Groups-Friends of the Earth, and the League of women votes.Single Issue groupsNational right to life, to prevent gun violence, and (NARAL)Pro-choice America.Ideological Groups: The conservative caucus and People for the American way.Civil Rights Groups(AARP) American Association of Retired Persons, (NCLR) National Council of La Raza, and Anti-Defamation.Religious Groups-United states conference of Catholics and Christian coalition. Government GroupsGroup of MayorsEnvironmentalGreenpeace, and Sierra Group.CommunityASPCA (Dogs/Cats), National Anti-Vivisection Society (No science that harms animals). International affairsHRW (everyone in the world should have equal rights) and Accuracy in Media.
What is the coattail effect? ------ The effect of a strong candidate running for an office at the top of a ballot helping to attract voters to other candidates on the party's ticket.
How are interest groups and political parties similar? ------ -self-interested (Different parts if groups help each other to get something.)-Factions (Federalist#51)-Supplement and use each other-Raise awareness -Recruit money -Educate politicians and the public-Forms of political participation.
What are the 3 major characteristics of an interest group? ------ -Shared interests and goals.-organized structure-Want to influence policy*Political Parties are not interest groups. 
What are the major differences between interest groups and political parties? ------ Interest Groups-Narrow focus-Policy focus-IdeologicalPolitical Parties-Broad Focus -Election focus-Mainstream (Being everywhere channels, anything to hear more about it.)
What are conventions? ------ - To get someone elected president, you have to pick the best group possible and put all your force behind him/her. * Three months before the presidential before the presidential election, each party has a convention (big meeting) tp pick their presidential nominee from the other party in the general election.
What is the difference between Primaries and Caucuses? ------ -Party members in each state vote to decide who gets to go to the convention. They choose between people who have promised to vote for different candidates. These contests are called "primaries."- Caucuses:  is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement to decide who goes to the next level in the election process.
What role do third parties play? ------ Draw attention to ignored issues and takes away votes from the Republican and democratic party. (Third parties are not really a party.)
What important information do you need to know about Running within your party? ------ -Many people run for an elected position within each party.-Only one person from each party can run in the general election.-Right now lots of people are " throwing their hat in" to run in the 2012 Presidential election.
What is a Responsible Party Model? ------ A view favored by some political scientists about how parties should work. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters, who can then use those choices as cues to their own preferences of candidates. Once in office, parties would carry out their compaign promises.
What is Proportional Representation? ------ An electoral system used throughout most of Europe that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election.
What is a Coalition Government? ------ When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. This form of government is quite common in the multiparty systems of Europe.
What is Winner-Take-All System? ------ An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies. In American presidential elections, the system in which the winner of the popular vote in a state receives all the electoral votes of that state.
What are Third Parties? ------ Electoral lcontenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections.
What is Party Dealignment? ------ The gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking aprty identification.
What is Party Neutrality? ------ A term used to describe the fact that many Americans are indifferent toward to two major political parties.
What is New Deal Coalition? ------ A coalition forged by the Democrats, who dominated American politics from the 1930s to the 1960s. Its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals.
What is Party Realignment? ------ The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usualy during a critical election periods.
What is the National Convention? ------ The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.
Who and What is the National Committee? ------ One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. The national committee is composed of reresentatives from the states and territores.
Who is the National Chairperson? ------ The national chairperson is responsible for the day-to-day activites of the party and is usually hand picked by the presidential nominee.
What is Coalition? ------ A group of individual with a common interest upon which every political party depends.
What are Party Eras? ------ Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections.
What is Critical Election? ------ An electoral "earthquake" where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. Critical election periods are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election to bring about a new party era.
What are Blanket primaries? ------ Elections to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of condidates from all the parties. Voters can then select some Democrats and some Republicans if they like.
What are Open primaries? ------ Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on election day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests.
What is Patronage? ------ One of the key inducements used by party machines. A patronage job, promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.
What are Closed Primaries?  ------ Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can voted for that party's condidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty.
What are Party machines? ------ A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern. 
What is a Party Image? ------ The voter's perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism.
What is the Rational-Choice Theory? ------ A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.
What is someone's Party identification? ------ A citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other.
What is Ticket-splitting?  ------ Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. It has become the norm in American voting behavior.
What are Linkage institutions? ------ The channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.
What is Party Competition? ------ The battle of the parties for control of public offices. Ups and downs of the two major parties are one of the most important elements in American politics.
What is a Political Party? ------ According to Anthony Downs, a "team of men and women seeking to control the giverning apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election."-Group of people that think alike on most issues team up to get people who think like them elected.
What is legitimacy? ------ A characterization of election by political scientists meaning that they are almost universally accepted as a fair and free method of selecting political leaders. When high, as in United States , even the losers accept the results peacefully.
What is referendum? ------ A state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a proposed constitutional amendment. 1st method for getting item in state ballot.
What is an 
initiative petition? ------ A process permitted in some states whereby voters may put proposed changes in a state constitution to a vote if sufficient signatures are obtained on petitions calling for such referendum;2nd method in getting item in state ballot.
What happened in Bush vs. Gore? ------ U.S supreme court over ruled Florida's Supreme Court and held that more precise and consistent standards for evaluatingballots would have to be applied in all counties; they ruled that thee was not enough time to count the ballots in orderly fashion by the time the electors were to vote therefore determining George W. Bush winner.
What is suffrage? ------ The legal right to vote , extended to African Americans by the Fifteenth Amendment, to woman in the nineteenth amendment, and the people over 18 by the twentieth-sixth amendment. 
What does the 15th Amendment say? ------ 1870-extended the right to vote for African Americans.
What does the 19th Amendment say? ------ 1920- extended the right to vote for women
What does the 
23rd amendment say? ------ 1961-Permits the District of Columbia o choose electors for President and Vice President; people in D.C didn't have the choice to vote but now they do;Under this amendment they have the same votes as any other state (ie, one vote for each senator and representative it would be entitled to if DC were a state).
What does the 
24th amendment say? ------ 1964- The Constitution guarantees that no person can be denied the right to vote due to an inability to pay a tax prior to voting. The "poll tax" is now considered unconstitutional.
What does the 26th amendment say? ------ 1971- It is the amendment that allows us citizens over the age of 18 vote in elections. such as the presidential election, the election for governor, and any other election that rely on citizens to vote on.
What is political efficacy? ------ The belief that one's political participation really matters- that one's vote can actually make a difference; ordinary people can influence the government.
What is civic duty? ------ The belief that in order to support democratic government, a citizen should always vote ; long-term contribution made toward preserving democracy.
What is voter registration? ------ A system adopted by the states that requires voters to register well in advance of Election day. A few states permit Election Day registration.
What is the Motor voter act? ------ Passed in 1993, this act went into effect for the 1996 election. It requires states to permit people to register to vote at the same time they apply for their driver's license.
What is mandate theory of election? ------ The idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his or her platform and politics. Politicians like the theory better than political scientist do.
What is policy voting? ------ Electoral choices that are made on the basis of the voters' policy preferences and on the basis of where the candidate stand on policy issues.
Who/What is the electoral college? ------ A unique American institution, created by the Constitution, providing for the selection of the president by electors chosen by the state parties. Although, the electoral college vote usually reflects popular majority, the winner-take-all rule gives clout to big states.
What is retrospective voting? ------ A theory of voting in which voters essentially ask this simple question : "What have you done for me lately?