Political Participation (Campaigns, Elections, Interest Groups; Ch9, 10, 11)

Ticket Splitting

voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election

Open Primary

A primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place

Closed Primary

A primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote

Top-Two Primary (Louisiana Primary)

Primary election in which voters choose from a list of all candidates regardless of party, with the top two facing off in the general election.

Caucus

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.

Lobbying

Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact.

PACs

Political Action Committees; electioneering groups often organized by interest groups or trade groups to raise/spend money for political campaigns

Super PACs

a type of independent political action committee which may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and individuals but is not permitted to contribute to or coordinate directly with parties or candidates.

Iron Triangle

an informal association of federal agency, congressional committee, and interest group that is said to have heavy influence over policy making; a so-called "subgovernment". Usually for fairly mundane policy areas

BCRA (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002)

Attempted to ban "soft money" by regulating issue advocacy and party building activities - also known as "McCain-Fiengold"

"Soft Money" (pre-BCRA)

Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state or local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.

"Dark Money"

political money where the donors of the money do not have to be disclosed

Front-Loading

The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention.

501(c)4 groups

"Issue Advocacy" groups - cannot directly campaign for/against candidates; technically focus on issues. Do NOT need to disclose donors

Federal Election Campaign Act

First major federal law (1971, amended in 1974) to regulate federal elections. Created Federal Election Commission (FEC). Required disclosure of sources of campaign funds, set limits on contributions to candidates, spending limits for candidates, limits on independent expenditures.

Federal Election Commission

a six-member bipartisan agency that enforces and administers campaign finance laws

National Convention Delegates

Party members that vote at the National Convention to select the party candidate for president. Pledged delegates follow the wishes of voters in primaries and caucuses. Unpledged "superdelegates" vote for whoever they want.

Referendum

a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate

Initiative

process that permits voters to put legislative measures directly on the ballot

Bush v. Gore (2000)

SCOTUS ruled that 2000 Florida recount was legal, but a consistent standard of voter intent needed to be developed and applied in all counties; because there was not enough time to accomplish this before the certification deadline, the recount was halted and Bush declared winner based on previous certified result

Voter Turnout

The number of eligible voters who actually vote in an election.

Political Efficacy

The belief that one's political participation really matters - that one's vote can actually make a difference

Electoral College

a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

Midterm Election

The congressional election that occurs midway through the president's term of office

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Ruled redistricting as a justiciable question for Supreme Court. Established principle of "One person, one vote" requiring state legislative districts to be as near equal as possible in population

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

A 2010 decision by the United States Supreme Court holding that independent expenditures are free speech protected by the 1st Amendment and so cannot be limited by federal law.

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

A case in which the Supreme Court of the United States upheld federal limits on campaign contributions and ruled that spending money to influence elections is a form of constitutionally protected free speech. The court also stated candidates can give unlimited amounts of money to their own campaigns.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Legislative redistricting must be conscious of race and ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965