AP U.S. Government & Politics: Unit Three - Campaigns & Elections

These flashcards cover the essential vocabulary related to campaigns and elections for the AP U.S. Government & Politics Unit Three exam.

Winner-Take-All Elections

An electoral system where the candidate receiving the majority of votes wins all the electoral votes or delegates.

Gerrymandering

The practice of drawing district boundaries in a way that gives one political party an advantage over others.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)

Legislation aimed at regulating the financing of political campaigns, particularly to limit soft money contributions.

Electoral College

A body of electors established by the United States Constitution that formally elects the President and Vice President.

Federal Election Campaign Act (1974)

A law that regulates campaign financing, including limits on contributions and expenditures.

Primary-to-General Pivot

The strategic shift candidates often make after winning their party primaries to appeal to a broader electorate in a general election.

Hard Money vs. Soft Money

Hard money refers to regulated contributions to political campaigns, while soft money is unregulated donations used for party-building activities.

Open Primary vs. Closed Primary vs. Caucus

Open primaries allow any registered voter to participate, closed primaries restrict participation to registered party members, and caucuses involve local gatherings to select delegates.

Majority-Minority Districts

Electoral districts drawn to ensure a majority of voters from a particular racial or ethnic minority.

Citizens United v. FEC

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited under the First Amendment.

Candidate-Centered Campaigns

Campaigns that focus on the individual candidate rather than the party platform, often characterized by personal branding and media presence.

Super-Delegates

Party leaders and elected officials in the Democratic Party who are given the freedom to support any candidate for the presidential nomination.