a technique used by pollsters to place telephone calls randomly to both listed and unlisted numbers when conducting a survey (see also random sampling) the key technique employed by sophisticated survey researchers, which operates on the principle that everyone should have an equal probability of being selected for the sample (see also sample) the process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census a relatively small proportion of people who are chosen in a survey so as to be representative of the whole the level of confidence in the findings of a public opinion poll; the more people interviewed, the more confident one can be of the results the battle of the parties for control of public offices; ups and downs of the two major parties are one of the most important elements in american politics according to anthony downs, a "team of men and women seeking to control the government apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election" the voters' perceptions of what the republicans or democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism a popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians; it assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives a citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other

1. random-digit dialing

a technique used by pollsters to place telephone calls randomly to both listed and unlisted numbers when conducting a survey (see also random sampling)

2. random sampling

the key technique employed by sophisticated survey researchers, which operates on the principle that everyone should have an equal probability of being selected for the sample (see also sample)

3. reapportionment

the process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census

4. sample

a relatively small proportion of people who are chosen in a survey so as to be representative of the whole

5. sampling error

the level of confidence in the findings of a public opinion poll; the more people interviewed, the more confident one can be of the results

6. party competition

the battle of the parties for control of public offices; ups and downs of the two major parties are one of the most important elements in american politics

7. political party

according to anthony downs, a "team of men and women seeking to control the government apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election"

8. party image

the voters' perceptions of what the republicans or democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism

9. rational-choice theory

a popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians; it assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives

10. party identification

a citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other