Unit 4 Vocabulary

Precinct Textbook Definition: The smallest unit of election administration; a voting district My Definition: Smallest election unit to determine voter locations Example: voting district

Presidential Primary Textbook Definition: An election where a party’s voters express a preference for their party’s presidential nomination My Definition: Choosing a party’s presidential candidate Example: Democrats choosing between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in 2008

Mass Media Textbook Definition: Those means of communication that reach large audiences, especially TV, radio, printed publications, and the Internet My Definition: The means of spreading information to large audiences Example: TV, radio, newspapers, Internet

Public Opinion Textbook Definition: The complex connection of the opinions of many different people; the sum of all their views My Definition: The sum of peoples’ views Example: Abortion, gay marriage, gun laws

Interest Groups Textbook Definition: Private organizations whose members share certain views and work to shape public policy My Definition: Organizations that want to shape public policy based on their views Example: Lawyers, teachers, health professionals

Public Affairs Textbook Definition: Those events and issues that concern the people at large My Definition: Events and issues that affect everyone Example: politics, public issues, making of public policies

Lobbying Textbook Definition: Activities by which group pressures are brought to bear on legislators, the legislative process, and all aspects of the public policy-making process My Definition: Putting pressure on representatives to influence government decisions Example: Gun lobbyists

Grassroots Textbook Definition: Of or from the voters, the average voter My Definition: Everyday voters Example: everyday voters