CH 12 Study Guide (Campaigns and Elections)

Primary Election

when voters decide which candidates within a party will represent the party in the general election

Closed Primary

only a party’s registered voters can cast a ballot

Open Primary

party members, independents, and sometimes members of other parties can participate

General Election

voters decide which candidate will actually fill elective public offices

Referendum

an election whereby the state legislature submits proposed legislation or state constitutional amendment to the voters for approval

Recall

an election in which voters can remove an incumbent from office prior to the next scheduled election

Primary process for Presidential Candidates

both must earn delegates. Democrats must earn at least 15% to earn any delegates and through proportional allocation. Republicans use winner-takes-all and proportional, some states award all delegates to the plurality winner

National Conventions

used to increase interest and to engage those who are faithful to the party

Electoral College

they cast the final ballots to elect the president, and they get votes through electors who makes the decision for a whole state which has a certain number of electoral votes

Electoral Votes

270 needed

Incumbents

people already holding office, and have institutional advantages that fend off challengers

Presidential Coattail Effect

when successful presidential candidates carry into office congressional candidates of the same party in the year of their election

Mid-terms

an election that takes place in the middle of a presidential term and the party usually loses seats

Voter Canvass

process by which a campaign reaches individual voters and the GOTV’s goal is to encourage supporters to go to the polls at the end of a political campaign

Press Coverage Control

by isolating the candidate from the press, staging media events, putting forth favorable interpretations, and making media appearances

Super PACs

political action committees established to make independent expenditures, and they have the ability to make and run their own ads

Turnout

the proportion of the voting-age public that casts a ballot

Gender and Age

women vote at a higher rate and tend to vote more democratic than men. Age groups of those 30 and older tend to vote more than those under 30

Income and Education

higher levels of income and education tend to vote more