Copy of `Tampereen Yliopisto - US Politics glossary`

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Tampereen Yliopisto - US Politics glossary Category: History and Culture > American politics Date & country: 27/04/2012, FI Words: 12

Affirmative action
The term used to describe a series of programs -- federal, state and local -- designed to compensate for discrimination. Most affirmative action programs pertain to employment, college admissions and contracting.

Ballot initiative) Proposition 187
Proposition 187 appeared on the ballot in California in the 1994 Congressional elections. It proposed that illegal aliens would be ineligible for social services throughout the state. Although the measure passed by 59 percent to 41 percent, it is currently under challenge in the courts.

Blanket primary
A primary in which all the names of the candidates for all parties are on one ballot.

Blue Dog Democrat
Conservative, mostly Southern Democrats, who took their name from paintings by Louisiana artist George Rodrigue, who features a blue dog in a series of political situations.

Boll weevil
Politically, a boll weevil is a term used to describe conservative Southern Democrats. The name derives from the boll weevil insect, a beetle that infests cotton plants in the South.

Closed primary
Only voters registered with a particular political party can vote in that party's primary. For example, if it is a Democratic primary, only registered Democrats can vote.

Hatch Act
The Hatch Act places restrictions on the political activities of employees of the U.S. federal government. The original 1939 Hatch Act was amended in 1993 to permit more political activity, but the following restrictions still apply:

Open primary
All registered voters may participate in the primary, whether they are registered as Democrats, Republicans or independents.

Open primary
An electoral contest held to determine each political party

Primary
(see also Blanket primary) An electoral contest held to determine each political party

Proposition 187
Proposition 187 appeared on the ballot in California in the 1994 Congressional elections. It proposed that illegal aliens would be ineligible for social services throughout the state. Although the measure passed by 59 percent to 41 percent, it is currently under challenge in the courts.

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