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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. When legitimacy is high, as in the United States, even the losers accept the results. |
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| A state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove legislation or a constitutional amendment proposed by the state legislature. |
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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, extended 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, this act went into effect for the 1996 election. It requires states to permit people to register to vote at the same time they apply for their driver's licenses. |
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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. Politicians like the theory better than political scientists do. |
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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 that provides for the selection of the president by electors chosen by the state parties. Although the electoral college vote usually reflects a popular majority, the winner-take-all rule gives clout to big states. |
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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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