This glossary is a work in progress. As I come across words that need to be added, I will do so. If their is political term you would like clarification on that isn’t listed, let me know and I will do the research for us all.
Amendment: A change or addition to the existing Constitution.
Caucus: A multi-layered system where by delegates are selected for each party’s national convention. It starts at the local level with party activists choosing delegates for the county meetings. These delegates then choose the delegates for state meetings. At the state level a delegate is chosen for the national convention. The system is designed this way to allow as many people to participate as possible.
Convention: On the national level, this is a meeting of delegates from each state and U.S. territory with the goal of choosing a candidate for office for their political party. Conventions are held every four years the summer before November’s general elections.
Delegate: This is a person chosen by caucus or primary election to represent their state at a political convention.
Electoral College: A group of people chosen by voters in each state who formally choose the president on election day. This system was created in the Constitution and requires 270 of the 538 members to elect the next president.
GOP: Grand Ol’ Party. A nickname given to the Republicans.
Hard Money:Political contributions that are limited by the government. These contributions may be given directly to a candidate or to a political party and are used to endorse a particular candidate. These contributions are regulated in hopes of limiting campaign corruption.
Independent:A voter or candidate who claims no affiliation with a major political party when they register to vote or run for office.
Midterm Elections:Elections held halfway through the Presidents 4 year term to elect 1/3 of the members of the Senate and all 435 members of the House. Many state and local elections are held then as well.
Platform:A candidate or party’s stated position on political issues.
Primary:The second method of choosing delegates for the national convention. Closed primaries only allow people to vote within their chosen party. Open primaries allow votes regardless of party affiliation. See also Caucus.
Soft Money:Financial contributions made to a political party provided the money is not used to tell voters who to vote for. The amounts of these contributions are not regulated by the government. See Hard Money.
Straw Poll:A non-binding vote in the early stages of candidate selection to determine which candidates are favored on the local level.
Super Tuesday:Since most primaries are on Tuesday, Super Tuesday denotes a day when several states are having caucuses or primaries (depending on the states provided method) on the same day. This day is important for candidates because of the increased media coverage and the favorable or unfavorable perception created by the outcome on this one day.
Swing Voters:Voters who don’t always vote according to their party affiliation and are as such up for grabs.
Third Party:A small, relatively unknown party that has a considerable number of supporters.
