Politics + Elections Study Guide PDF

Government Politics + Elections STUDY GUIDE Vocabulary: Electoral College: A body of representatives from each state who formally cast votes for the President and Vice President. Federalists: Supporters of the Constitu...

Government Politics + Elections STUDY GUIDE Vocabulary: Electoral College: A body of representatives from each state who formally cast votes for the President and Vice President. Federalists: Supporters of the Constitution who favored a strong central government. Anti-Federalists: Opponents of the Constitution who advocated for states' rights and feared a strong central government. Federalist Paper #10: An essay by James Madison arguing that a large republic can best control factions and protect minority rights. Nomination: The process by which political parties select their candidates for an election. General Election: A nationwide election where voters choose officeholders. Self-Announcement: When a person declares themselves a candidate for public office. Petition: A formal request signed by voters to qualify a candidate or initiative for the ballot. Popular Vote: The total votes cast by citizens in an election. Electoral Votes: Votes cast by members of the Electoral College to determine the President and Vice President. Liberal vs Conservative: Ideological perspectives where liberals favor progressive change and government intervention, while conservatives prioritize tradition and limited government. Republicans: A major political party generally associated with conservative policies. Democrats: A major political party generally associated with liberal policies. Platform: A political party's formal statement of its principles, goals, and policy positions. Caucus: A meeting of party members to select candidates or discuss policy. Third Parties: Political parties outside the two major parties that focus on specific issues or alternative platforms. Plurality: When a candidate wins an election by receiving more votes than any other, but not necessarily a majority. Exit Poll: Surveys conducted outside polling places to predict election outcomes and analyze voter behavior. 12th Amendment: Changed the process of electing the President and Vice President to separate votes in the Electoral College. 15th Amendment: Guaranteed voting rights regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 17th Amendment: Established the direct election of U.S. Senators by voters. 19th Amendment: Granted women the right to vote. 24th Amendment: Prohibited poll taxes in federal elections. 26th Amendment: Lowered the voting age to 18. Returns: The official results of an election. Congressional District: A geographic area within a state represented by one member in the House of Representatives. Electorate: All eligible voters in an election. Elbridge Gerry: A politician whose name is associated with gerrymandering, the manipulation of electoral boundaries for political gain. Cracking: A gerrymandering tactic that spreads opposition voters across many districts to dilute their influence. Packing: A gerrymandering tactic that concentrates opposition voters in one district to minimize their influence elsewhere. Baker v Carr: A Supreme Court case that established the principle of "one person, one vote" in legislative redistricting. Initiative: A process where citizens propose legislation or amendments for a vote through a petition. Wesberry v Sanders: A Supreme Court case requiring congressional districts to have roughly equal populations. Shaw v Reno: A Supreme Court case ruling that redistricting based on race must meet strict scrutiny. Referendum: A direct vote by citizens on a proposed law or amendment. Recall: A process allowing voters to remove an elected official from office before their term ends. Canvassing: Campaigning by directly contacting voters to solicit votes or share information. Public Opinion: The collective attitudes and beliefs of the public about issues or candidates. Public Agenda: The issues and priorities that receive attention from the public and policymakers. Winner-Take-All System: An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes wins all of a state's electoral votes or a district's representation. Content: What type of party system does the United States have? The United States has a two-party system dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties. What are the factors that can influence party membership? Party membership can be influenced by family, education, occupation, economic status, religion, major events, and personal beliefs. The first Republican to serve as President of the U.S. was: Abraham Lincoln. What are the types of third parties? The types of third parties include single-issue parties, ideological parties, economic protest parties, and splinter parties. List all examples of third parties discussed in class: Examples include the Green Party, Libertarian Party, Constitution Party, and Reform Party. Why do third party candidates have difficulty winning elections? Third-party candidates face challenges such as lack of funding, limited media coverage, the winner-take-all electoral system, and ballot access restrictions. Explain the different types of direct primaries: Direct primaries include closed primaries, where only registered party members can vote, and open primaries, where any voter can participate regardless of party affiliation. Nonpartisan party What happens at the National Convention? At the National Convention, parties officially nominate their presidential and vice-presidential candidates, adopt their party platform, and unite the party for the upcoming election. What is the difference between open and closed primaries? In open primaries, voters of any party or no party can participate, while in closed primaries, only registered party members can vote. What are the different functions of Political Parties? Political parties nominate candidates, organize elections, provide voter information, govern, and act as watchdogs against the opposition. Describe the Characteristics of Early voters in the United States: Early voters are often older, better educated, wealthier, and more politically engaged. Three requirements to vote in the United States: To vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, meet your state’s residency requirements, and be at least 18 years old by Election Day. The two most common types of voting machines: Optical scan machines and direct-recording electronic (DRE) machines. Why do people request absentee ballots? People request absentee ballots if they are unable to vote in person due to being out of town, ill, disabled, or serving in the military. Reasons why people do not vote: People may not vote due to lack of interest, feeling their vote doesn’t matter, registration difficulties, or logistical issues like work or transportation. Reasons why people do vote: People vote to express their civic duty, influence government, support a candidate or issue, or because they believe their voice matters in shaping the future.