| Term | Definition |
|---|
| American political community | citizens who are eligible to vote and participate in American political life |
| civic engagement | a sense of concern among members of the political community about public social and political life, expressed through participation in social and political organizations |
| gender gap | a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the difference in views between men and women |
| litigation | a lawsuit or legal proceeding; as a form of political participation, an attempt to seek relief in a court of law |
| lobbying | a strategy by which organized interests seek to influence the passage of legislation by exerting direct pressure on members of the legislature |
| mobilization | the process by which large numbers of people are organized for a political activity |
| political institution | an organization that connects people to politics, such as a political party, or a governmental organization, such as the Congress or the courts |
| political participation | political activities, such as voting, contacting political officials, volunteering for a campaign, or participating in a protest, whose purpose is to influence government |
| poll tax | a state-imposed tax upon voters as a prerequisite for registration. Poll taxes were rendered unconstitutional in national elections by the Twenty-fourth Amendment, and in state elections by the Supreme Court in 1966 |
| protest | participation that involves assembling crowds to confront a government or other official organization |
| public relations | an attempt, usually through the use of paid consultants, to establish a favorable relationship with the public and influence its political opinions |
| socioeconomic status | status in society based on level of education, income, and occupational prestige |
| suffrage | the right to vote; also called franchise |
| turnout | the percentage of eligible individuals who actually vote |
| white primary | primary election in which only white voters are eligible to participate |
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