1. Civics and Economics Vocabulary
Chapter 10 - Section One
Polling Place- location where voting is carried out
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: When ready to place a vote, voters must head to the polling place near them.
Precinct- voting district
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: Each precinct is made up of a specific number of votes.
Ballot- the list of candidates on which you cast your vote
Similarity: Absentee ballot
Sentence: In order to cast a vote you must fill out the ballot.
Absentee Ballot- Citizens who cannot get to the polls on Election Day
Similarity: Ballot
Sentence: If citizens canʼt vote on voting day they can often complete an absentee
ballot.
Returns- ballot results
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: When the returns come back the ballot results will be announced.
Exit Poll- to ask a sample of voters leaving selected polling places how they voted
Similarity: Surveying
Sentence: Professionals used the results of exit polls to try and predict the outcome of
the election.
Electorate- people who are eligible to vote
Similarity/Difference:
Sentence: The electorate is made up of people who can vote.
Apathy- lack of interest
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence:
Chapter 10 - Section Two
Electoral College- part of the process that Americans use to select their president
Similarity: Popular Sovereignty
Sentence: The electoral college plays a pivotal role in electing the president.
Initiative- way that citizens can propose new laws or state constitutional amendments
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: When citizens wish to propose a new law they make an initiative.
Tara Pawlyk Sunday, March 17, 2013 5:04:09 PM ET 04:0c:ce:d3:10:88

2. Proposition- proposed law
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: When a new law is proposed it is called a proposition.
Referendum- a way for citizens to approve or reject a state or local law
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: Citizens vote on a state law though a referendum.
Recall- citizens in some states can vote to remove a public official from office
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: When citizens donʼt like a public official they can have a recall.
Elector- people who hold electoral votes and are part of the Electoral College system
Similarity: Electoral college system
Sentence: The elector college system is made up of electors.
Winner Take All System- candidate who wins the popular vote in a state usually
receives all of the stateʼs electoral votes
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: In a winner take all system the candidate who won the popular vote also wins
all the electoral votes.
Chapter 10 - Section Three
Propaganda-an attempt to promote a particular person or idea
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: Propaganda is typically at large during wars.
Political Action Committee- PACs are organizations set up by interest groups especially
to collect money to support favored candidates
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: The political action committees help fund their favorite candidates campaign.
Soft Money- unlimited amounts of money for general purposes, not designated to
particular candidates
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: Soft money doesnʼt belong to a specific candidate.
Incumbent- politicians who have already been elected to office
Similarity/Difference: None
Sentence: Politicians who have already been elected into office are referred to as
incumbents.
Tara Pawlyk Sunday, March 17, 2013 5:04:09 PM ET 04:0c:ce:d3:10:88