Political Parties
What are the two major political parties in the United States?
Democratic and Republican
What is the electorate?
The group of people qualified to vote in the US
What are linkage institutions?
organizations that help connect people to the government
What are the media and the press sometimes referred to as?
the fourth estate
Where are presidential candidates formally nominated?
at a national convention
What term is used for the moment when the groups that make up political parties are rearranged?
realignment
What does an open primary mean?
All voters can participate.
What term refers to a paid representative for an interest group?
lobbyist
Freedom of the press is guaranteed in which amendment?
the First
Which term is used for a special fundraising mechanism for candidates?
political action committee (PAC)
Which minor party has never been active in the United States?
Conservative
Elections in the United States are managed and overseen by which of the following?
state governments
Which term is used for a loose alliance of political groups?
coalition
How can individuals use the Internet to publicly editorialize about the news?
blogs
Why is campaign finance a concern in the United States?
The need to raise campaign funds may lead to post-election corruption.
Which minor party has not influenced platforms and elections in the United States?
Parliamentarian
Which of the following is a cause of concern in the American election process?
The need to raise huge amounts of campaign funds opens the door to corruption.
The American Medical Association (AMA) is an example of which of the following?
a professional interest group
True or False: the media in the United States is largely privately owned?
True
After people vote in their state, which of the following is used to determine the winner of the presidential race?
the electoral college
An authoritarian government is usually evidence of which of the following?
single-party rule
Voting in a booth is an example of what kind of ballot?
secret
True or False: The goal of interest groups is to influence government policy in a way that is favorable to their members.
TRUE
What does print media include?
newspapers and journals
What impact can the electoral college system have on presidential elections?
The candidate with the most votes across the country can still lose the election.