9th Class Social Science Electoral Politics Important Terms and Concepts - Electoral Politics

 Important Terms and Concepts - Electoral Politics

  IMPORTANT TERMS AND CONCEPTS

1. By-election. Means an election held to fill a vacancy caused by either death, resignation or any other reason.
2. Campaigning.  Refers to a process by which a candidate tries to persuade the voter to vote for him rather than for others.
3. Constituency.  It refers to an area delimited for the purpose of election.
4. Electorate. It refers to the entire body of people who are qualified to vote in the elections for the legislatures or local bodies.
5. Election Commission. A parliamentary body constituted to conduct free and fair elections in the country.
6. Election Manifesto. A document published by each political party before elections containing the policies and programmers of that party.
7. Franchise.  Refers to the right of people to vote and elect their representatives to make laws.
8. Opposition Parties. The parties which are defeated in the election do not form the government but form the opposition and keep the government in check.
9. Public Opinion. Opinion of the electorate on all major—social, political, economic and other important issues.
10. General Election. When an election is held in all constituencies and people from all parts of the country participate to choose their representatives for Parliament or State Legislative Assembly, it is called a General Election.
11. Political Party. Refers to a well-knit voluntary association of an organised group of like-minded people who aim to gain political power through constitutional means and desire to work for national interest.
12. Secret Ballot. System of casting one's vote in secrecy so that the choice of the voter remains a secret and is not known to others.
13. Print Media. Means of public information which consists of newspapers, periodicals and magazines.
14. Electronic Media. Means of public information system which runs on electronics like radio, TV. computer etc.
15. Universal Adult Franchise. Every Indian citizen of 18 years and above has the right to vote irrespective of caste, creed and sex.
16. 'One person one vote'. Everybody has a right to cast one vote and everyone's vote is of equal importance.
17. Seats. The term refers to number of positions in any legislature.
18. Elections.  A contest of power between different candidates and parties.
19. Election Commission. An independent multimember body constituted for the superintendence, direction and control of elections.
20. Electoral Participation. It entails participating in the election procedure through voting, contesting elections, campaigning etc.
21. Impersonation. This is an electoral malpractice in which a person assumes the identity of another for unlawful purposes.
22. Electoral Roll. It is the voter's list prepared by a door to door survey to include only bonafide voters and minimise role of bogus voters.
23. Rigging.  Any unfair practice indulged in during elections is called rigging.
24. Turnout.  The percentage of eligible voters who cast their votes in an election.
25. Incumbent.  The current holder of a political office.
26. Code of Conduct. A set of norms and guidelines to be followed by political parties and contesting candidates during election time.