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| a characterization of elections by political scientists meaning that they are almost universally accepted as a fair and free method of selecting political leaders |
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| a state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a proposed constitutional amendment |
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| a process permitted in some states whereby voters may put proposed changes in the state constitution to a vote if sufficient signatures are obtained on petitions calling for such a referendum |
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| the legal right to vote, extened to African Americans by the Fifteenth Amendment, to women by the Nineteenth Amendment, and to people over the age of 18 by the Twenty-sixth Amendment |
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| the belief that one's political participation really matters - that one's vote can actually make a difference |
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| the belief that in order to support democratic government, a citizen should always vote |
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- a system adopted by the states that requires voters to register well in advance of Election Day
- (a few states permit Election Day registration)
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- passed in 1993
- went into effect for the 1996 election
- requires states to permit people to register to vote at the same time they apply for their driver's license
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| mandate theory of elections |
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| the idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his or her platforms and politics |
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| electoral choices that are made on the basis of the voters' policy preferences and on the basis of where the candidates stand on policy issues |
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| a unique American institution, created by the Constitution, providing for the selection of the president by electors chosen by the state parties |
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| a theory of voting in which voters essentially ask this simple question: "What have you done for me lately?" |
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