PLS Exam 1-2

highest # of votes garnered, without getting a majority

candidates listed by name under office

candidates divided into columns and arranged by party

practice of voting for all of one party's candidates for various offices

allow voters to pick and choose among diff candidates and and party preference in private

election laws make it hard for them to compete

parties in power legislate to keep themselves there

candidates don't declare a party affiliation or receive a party nomination

local offices and elections are often nonpartisan

state govt system where the governor is not the dominant figure in the executive, but more like first among equals.

serves along side numerous other officials who were elected rather than appointed by the governor

citizens make laws themselves, rather than relying on elected representatives

citizens put a measure on the ballot to become law

citizens put a measure on the ballot to affirm or reject an action of the legislature or other political actor

legislature places a measure on the ballot to win voter approval

citizens petition and then vote on the ouster of an incumbent prior to the next election

drawing new boundaries for state and congressional legislative districts, usually following a census

individuals, corporations, or associations who seek to influence the actions of elected and appointed officials on behalf of specific company causes

organizations that nominate and support candidates for elected offices

shift with the winds and pursue whatever policy stance will bring them power

groups that struggle to control the message within a party

voters who are not consistently loyal to candidates from one party

candidates promote themselves and there own campaigns rather than relying on party organizations

when a voter strongly identifies with one of the parties

idea that parties present clear policy choices, try deliver on those policies once in office, and are held accountable by voters by the success or failure of those policies

political organizations controlled by a small # of people and run for partisan ends

control party nominations and and reward supporters with govt jobs and contracts

ability of elected officials to hand out to their friends or supporters, rather than hiring based on merit

ballots that don't list the candidates by political party

elections that determines a party's nominees for offices in the general election

decisive election in which all registered voters cast ballots for their preferred candidates for a political office

mettings of party delegates called to nominate candidates for office and establish an agenda for the party

nominating elections in which only voters belonging to that party may participate.

dem have to vote in a closed dem primary

when members of one party vote in another party's primary

open to all registered voters regardless of party affiliation

voters may cast ballots for any candidate for any office regardless of party

held if no candidate receives a majority in the regular primary.

two top finishers face off

when no one party can be said to dominate politics in this country

when popular support switches from one party to another

ad campaigns or other political activities that are run by a party or an outside group without the direct knowledge or approval of a particular candidate for office

groups formed for the purpose of raising $ to elect or defeat political candidates.

usually represent business, union, or ideological interests

money that is not subject to fed. regulation that can be raised and spent by state parties.

2002 law banned use in fed. elections

to win elections and to field people who can do so

when voters vote for diff parties' nominees for diff offices

1. membership group

2. trade association

3. individual institutions

4. govt lobbyists

5. private individuals who lobby on their own behalf

represent more than one client

works for an organization that tracks and promotes an issue

lobbyist deals with directly with the legislators to gain support

support their cause through media, rallies, and other way of influencing public opinion with the ultimate goal of swaying legislators to support their cause