Civics Glossary

The process of dividing the 435 seats in the House of Representatives among the 50 states based on population. After each census, states may gain or lose seats depending on population changes.

A process that allows citizens to propose legislation or constitutional amendments to be voted on directly by the electorate. Not all states allow ballot initiatives, and the requirements vary significantly.

A state where voters predominantly support Democratic candidates. The color designation comes from television network election maps that began using blue for Democrats in 2000. Examples include California, New York, and Massachusetts.

A Senate procedure that ends debate and allows a vote to proceed. Cloture requires 60 votes (three-fifths of the Senate) to pass. It is the primary tool for ending filibusters.

A meeting of party members to select candidates or decide on policy. In presidential elections, some states use caucuses instead of primaries, where party members gather and publicly declare their support for candidates.

A geographic area represented by one member of the House of Representatives. Each state is divided into districts based on population, with each district containing roughly the same number of people (about 760,000 as of 2020).

A person authorized to represent others, particularly at a political party convention. In presidential primaries, candidates compete to win delegates who will vote for them at the national convention.

A body of electors established by the U.S. Constitution to elect the President and Vice President. Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to its total representation in Congress (Senators + Representatives). The candidate who wins a majority of electoral votes (at least 270 of 538) becomes President.

A person chosen to represent their state in the Electoral College. Electors are typically party loyalists selected by their state's political parties. They formally cast their votes for President and Vice President in December following the general election.

A legislative tactic used in the U.S. Senate where a senator or group of senators extend debate on proposed legislation to delay or block a vote. Under current rules, 60 votes are needed to end a filibuster through a cloture vote.

An Electoral College elector who casts a vote for someone other than the candidate to whom they were pledged. While rare, this has occurred in some elections. Some states have laws penalizing or replacing faithless electors.

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one political party over another. This can be done by 'packing' opposition voters into a few districts or 'cracking' them across many districts to dilute their voting power.

A person who currently holds a political office. Incumbents often have advantages in elections, including name recognition, established donor networks, and the ability to use their office to attract media attention.

An elected official who continues to serve after their successor has been elected but before the new term begins. The period between Election Day (November) and Inauguration Day (January 20) is called the 'lame duck' period for outgoing presidents.

More than half of all votes cast (50% + 1). Some elections require a candidate to win a majority to be declared the winner, sometimes necessitating a runoff election if no candidate achieves this threshold.

Congressional elections held in the middle of a president's four-year term. All 435 House seats and about one-third of Senate seats are up for election. Historically, the president's party often loses seats in midterm elections.

Having more votes than any other candidate, but not necessarily more than half of all votes cast. In a three-way race, a candidate might win with 40% of votes if the other candidates receive 35% and 25% each.

An election in which voters select candidates to represent their political party in the general election. Primaries can be 'closed' (only registered party members can vote) or 'open' (any registered voter can participate).

The total number of votes cast directly by citizens. In presidential elections, the popular vote determines which candidate wins each state's electoral votes, but the national popular vote winner does not necessarily win the presidency.

The minimum number of members required to be present for a legislative body to conduct business. In the House, a quorum is 218 members (majority of 435). In the Senate, it is 51 members (majority of 100).

The process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts, typically done every 10 years after the census. State legislatures usually control this process for congressional and state legislative districts.

A state where voters predominantly support Republican candidates. The color designation comes from television network election maps that began using red for Republicans in 2000. Examples include Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama.

A second election held when no candidate receives the required majority in the first round. In Georgia, for example, Senate elections go to a runoff if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.

A voting system where voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their voters' second choices are redistributed. This continues until a candidate has a majority.

A state where the two major political parties have similar levels of support, making the state's electoral outcome uncertain. Presidential campaigns often focus their resources on these states because they can be won by either party.

A voting requirement that exceeds a simple majority, typically two-thirds (67%) or three-fifths (60%). The Senate requires a three-fifths supermajority (60 votes) to end a filibuster and a two-thirds supermajority to override a presidential veto or remove an official from office.

One of three groups of Senate seats, with each class up for election every six years on a rotating basis. Class I, II, and III each contain approximately one-third of the Senate seats, ensuring continuity while allowing for regular electoral accountability.

Restrictions on how many terms an official can serve. The President is limited to two terms (or 10 years maximum) by the 22nd Amendment. Members of Congress have no term limits at the federal level, though some states have term limits for state legislators.

The president's power to reject legislation passed by Congress. Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate. The president can also use a 'pocket veto' by not signing a bill within 10 days if Congress has adjourned.

The system used by 48 states and D.C. in which the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote in a state receives all of that state's electoral votes. Only Maine and Nebraska use a different system, allocating some electoral votes by congressional district.