Election
Process
Political
Parties
Electoral
College
Qualifications for
Office
Watchdogs of the Government
Media Analysis
100

Someone who declares their intention to run for a government office 

Candidate
100

This party was founded in order to end slavery, and it mainly supported factories and businesses.

Republicans

100

The total number of electoral votes required to win an election 

270

100

Which level of government does a governor have power over?

State government

100

This is when an individual writes a letter to the government and gathers signatures in order to influence public policy

Petition

100

A propaganda technique that uses celebrities to promote a certain product, candidate, or idea 

Testimonials

200

The official document that people use to mark their preferred candidates during elections

ballot

200

True or False: The United States two major political parties have always existed 

False: The U.S. was founded in 1776. The democratic party was founded in 1828. The republican party was formed in 1854.

200

This vote represents the total number of people who chose a certain candidate

the popular vote

200

What is the citizenship requirement to become president of the United States?

Natural-born citizen

200

This is the Constitutional basis for our right to petition and criticize the government

the First Amendment

200

Media that is designed to influence how people think and feel

propaganda

300

Halfway through a president's term in office, this is when most Congressmen and governors get elected.

Midterms

300

This party was founded to help common, working-class Americans. It favored states' rights

Democrats

300

This changed the electoral college so that the president and vice president would be on one "presidential ticket"-- they are always elected as a pair 

the 12th Amendment

300

This requirement ensures that officials in the U.S. Senate and House are familiar with the concerns of their the people they represent.

must live in the state they are representing, at the time of the election

300

This term describes the media's role in choosing what information is or isn't important enough for the public to know 

Gatekeeping

300

The practice of favoring one perspective over another 

Bias

400

This is where each party narrows down its pool of candidates into a single nominee for the ballot

Primary elections (the winners of these elections are declared at the national conventions)

400

This is what we call any party that does not agree with either Democrats or Republicans 

Third Party

400

This is an official count of the U.S. population 

The census

400

Which elected position has stricter requirements as far as age and citizenship, the Senate or the House of Representatives?

The Senate. It requires more experience because there are fewer senators (100) than representatives (435)

400

These people represent interest groups and meet directly with legislators in order to influence public policy

Lobbyists

400

The stars on the American flag are an example of this

a symbol

500

The election where all Americans of voting-age submit their votes to be counted. This happens in November 

The General Election

500

The (1)______ party believed in a strong federal government when it was founded, while the (2) ______ party believed in a limited federal government when it was founded. 

(1) Republican; (2) Democrat

500

This is how the U.S. calculates the number of electoral votes per state 

Representatives in Congress ( # of Senators + # of Representatives)

500

This office has an age requirement of 21 years and a residency requirement of at least 2 years

State Legislator

500

These are organizations whose main goal is to raise money for candidates

Political Action Committees

500

Which source of information would be the most accurate when researching a political candidate?

A. The voting record of the candidate while in Congress

B. Special interest group ratings of that Congress member

C. A television commercial sponsored by the candidate’s political party

D. Flyers sent through the mail by the candidate

A. The voting record of the candidate while in Congress