Voting Terms
What term describes the percentage of eligible voters who actually cast a ballot?
Voter turnout
Which branch of the federal government interprets laws?
The judicial branch
What is a written request signed by people urging officials to take action called?
A petition
What government-set hourly wage minimum directly affects many college students working part-time jobs?
Minimum wage
What type of false information is shared deliberately to mislead people?
Disinformation
What term means trying to persuade eligible people to participate in an election?
Voter mobilization / Get-out-the-vote efforts / Voting Initiative
What is the term for a president rejecting a bill passed by Congress?
A veto
What do we call a person currently holding an elected position?
An incumbent
What type of debt might college graduates want lawmakers to address through repayment or forgiveness policies?
Student loan debt
What do we call the practice of examining sources and evidence to verify whether a claim is accurate?
Fact-checking
What is the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to unfairly benefit a political group called?
Gerrymandering
Which level of government is generally responsible for collecting municipal trash?
Local or municipal government
What is a proposal to change a government's foundational legal document called?
A constitutional amendment
What local government body often makes decisions about zoning, housing development, and city services?
City council
What is a political action committee commonly abbreviated as?
PAC
What type of election is held to fill an office that becomes vacant before the next regularly scheduled election?
A special election
Which chamber of Congress has representation apportioned by state population?
The House of Representatives
What is the term for removing an elected official from office through a voter-initiated election, where permitted?
A recall election
You bring your university student ID to vote. Is it automatically accepted as voter identification in every state?
No, voter ID rules vary by state.
What is the term for an organized effort to influence government decisions on an issue?
Lobbying