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absentee ballot one that allows a person to vote without going to the polls on Election Day
affirmative action programs intended to make up for past discriminations by helping minority groups and women gain access to jobs and opportunities
alien a noncitizen
ambassador an official representative of a country’s government
amendment any change in the Constitution
at-large election an election for an area as a whole; for example, statewide
ballot the list of candidates on which you cast your vote
bicameral a legislature consisting of two parts, or houses
Bill of Rights the first 10 amendments to the Constitution
cabinet a group of advisers to the president that includes the heads of 15 top-level executive departments
caucus a meeting of political party members to conduct party business
census a population count taken by the Census Bureau
checks and balances a system in which each branch of government is able to check, or restrain, the power of the others
citizen community member who owe loyalty to the government and is entitled to protection from it
citizenship rights and duties of members of a state
civics the study of the rights and duties of citizens
civil rights the rights of full citizenship and equality under the law
closed primary an election in which only the declared members of a party are allowed to vote for that party’s nominees
constitution a detailed, written plan for government
constitutional in accordance with the Constitution
delegate a representative to a meeting
democracy a government in which citizens hold the power to rule
direct primary an election in which voters choose candidates to represent each party in the general election
elector person appointed to vote in presidential elections for the major candidates
Electoral College a group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president
electorate all the people who are eligible to vote
executive branch the branch of government that carries out laws
exit poll a survey taken at polling places of how people voted
federal system the sharing of power between the central and state governments
filibuster a tactic for defeating a bill in the Senate by talking until the bill’s sponsor withdraws it
gerrymander an oddly shaped election district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group
government the ruling authority for a community
impeach to accuse government officials of misconduct in office
incumbent a politician who has already been elected to office
joint resolution a resolution that is passed by both houses of Congress
judicial branch the branch of government that interprets laws
judicial review the power of the Supreme Court to say whether any federal, state, or local law or government action goes against the Constitution
legislative branch the lawmaking branch of government
legislature a group of people that makes laws
lobbyist representatives of an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making
majority a number that is more than 50 percent of the total
majority party in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party to which more than half the members belong
majority rule political principle providing that a majority of the members of a community has the power to make laws binding upon all the people
Medicare government program that provides health care for the aged
minimum wage lowest legal wage that can be paid to most U.S. workers
minority party in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party to which fewer than half the members belong
national committee representatives from the 50 state party organizations who run a political party
nonpartisan free from party ties or bias
open primary an election in which voters need not declare their party preference to vote for the party’s nominees
plank each individual part of a political party’s platform
platform a series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues
plurality the most votes among all those running for a political office
pocket veto president’s power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days
policy a guiding course of action
political action committee (PAC) political organization established by a corporation, labor union, or other special-interest group designed to support candidates by contributing money
political machine a strong party organization that can control political appointments and deliver votes
political party an association of voters with broad common interests who want to influence or control decision making in government by electing the party’s candidates to public office
polling place the location where voting is carried out
pollster a specialist whose job is to conduct polls regularly
Preamble the opening section of the Constitution
precinct a geographic area that contains a specific number of voters
public interest group an organization that supports causes that affect the lives of Americans in general
public opinion the ideas and attitudes that most people hold about elected officials, candidates, government, and political issues
public opinion poll a survey in which individuals are asked to answer questions about a particular issue or person
recall a special election in which citizens can vote to remove a public official from office
referendum a way for citizens to vote on state or local laws
roll-call vote a voting method in the Senate in which members voice their votes in turn
seniority years of service, which is used as a consideration for assigning committee members
separation of powers the split of authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
Social Security federal program that provides monthly payments to people who are retired or unable to work
soft money donations given to political parties and not designated for a particular candidate’s campaign
special district a unit of government that deals with a specific function, such as education, water supply, or transportation
special-interest group an organization of people with some common interest who try to influence government decisions
spin a special point of view, emphasis, or interpretation
standing committee permanent committee that continues work from session to session in its Congress
standing vote in Congress, when members stand to be counted for a vote on a bill
swing state a U.S. state that is politically divided so that either Democratic and Republican candidates have a good chance of winning
third party a party that challenges the two major parties
two-party system a system of government in which two parties compete for power
unicameral one-house legislature
veto refusal to sign a bill or resolution
voice vote a voting method in which those in favor say “Yea” and those against say “No”
winner-take-all system a system in which the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state usually receives all of the state’s electoral votes
