| A | B |
|---|
| absentee battot | A ballot that allows people to vote without going to he polls on Election Day. |
| apportionment | The proportional distribution of the number of members of the U.S. House of Representatives on the basis of the population of each state. |
| ballot | – A sheet of paper or a card used to cast or register a vote. |
| campaign finance | the means by which money is raised for political election campaigns. |
| caucus | – A private meeting of party leaders to choose candidates for office. |
| constituents | All persons represented by a legislator or other elected official. |
| electoral college | - A body of electors chosen to elect the President and Vice President of the United States. |
| general election | An election to choose between different parties candidates for local, state, or national office. |
| gerrymandering | The drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group. |
| hard money | Funding that is repetitive, not a one time grant or gift. Following federal fund raising regulations by donating to a specific particular candidate or campaign |
| independent voter | A voter who does not support any particular party. |
| interest group/special interest group | - An organized body of individuals who share some goals and try to influence public policy to meet those goals. |
| lobbying | Direct contact made by a lobbyist in order to persuade government officials to support policies their interest groups favor. |
| media | different means of communicating information to reach large audiences. |
| national convention | A gathering of local and state party members chosen to nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates. |
| party platform | A list of the principles that a political party supports in order to appeal to the general public for the purpose of having the party's candidates voted into office |
| patronage/political patronage | The practice of granting favors to reward party loyalty. |
| political action committee (pac) | An organization formed to collect money and provide financial support for political candidates. |
| platform | a statement of the party's belief |
| primary election | – An election to choose a political party's candidates for an elective office. |
| redistricting | To set up new district lines after reapportionment is complete. |
| soft money | Political donations made in such a way as to avoid federal regulations or limits, as by donating to a party organization rather than to a particular candidate or campaign. |
| suffrage | The right to vote |
| ticket | A political party’s candidates for president and vice president. |
| winner-take-all system | Candidates who receive the largest number of popular votes in a state win all the electoral votes for that state. |
