Public Opinion
A survey of public opinion
Poll
People who tend to participate in all forms of politics
Activists
A period when a major, lasting shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties.
Realignment Periods
Americans believe they should be free to do pretty much as they please, with some exceptions, as long as they don't hurt other people.
Liberty
Right of people to speak, publish, and assemble.
Freedom of Expression
The difference between the results of random samples taken at the same time.
Sampling Error
A clause in registration laws allowing people who do not meet registration requirements to vote if they or their ancestors had voted before 1867.
Grandfather Clause
An election held to determine the nominee from a particular party.
Primary Election
Americans believe everybody should have an equal vote and an equal chance to participate and succeed.
Equality
Censorship of a publication
Prior Censorship
Process by which one's family influences one's political views.
Political Socialization
Citizens who are eligible to vote after reaching the minimum age requirement.
Voting-Age Population (VAP)
A meeting of party delegates held every four years, which nominates the party's candidate for president.
National Convention
Americans think government officials should be accountable to the people.
Democracy
Writing that falsely injuries another person
Libel
Difference in political views between men and women.
Gender Gap
A requirement that citizens pay a tax in order to register to vote.
Poll Tax
A party organization that recruits members by dispensing patronage.
Political Machines
Americans generally feel people ought to take community affairs seriously and help out when they can.
Civic Duty
An act that conveys a political message
Symbolic Speech
An individual's identification with a party; whether they consider themselves a Democrat, Republican, or Independent.
Partisanship
A requirement that citizens show that they can read before registering to vote.
Literacy Test
An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in national elections.
Two-Party System
A characteristically American view is that, barring some disability, individuals are responsible for their own actions and well-being.
Individual Responsibility
Reasonable cause for issuing a search warrant or making an arrest; more than mere suspicion.
Probable Cause