Unit 5(3) Vocabulary

Amendment 15

Constitutional amendment that prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Amendment 17

Constitutional amendment that established the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote.

Amendment 19

Constitutional amendment that granted women the right to vote.

Amendment 24

Constitutional amendment that prohibits the use of poll taxes in federal elections.

demographic data

Statistical characteristics of a population, such as age, race, and income.

efficacy

The ability to produce a desired or intended result.

party line voting

Voting in accordance with the political party's official position.

prospective voting

Voting based on predictions of a candidate's future performance.

rational choice

The theory that individuals make decisions by comparing the costs and benefits to maximize their utility.

retrospective voting

Voting based on the past performance of a candidate or party.

straight ticket voting

Voting for all candidates of one political party in an election.

suffrage

The right to vote in political elections.

Voting Right Act 1965

Legislation aimed at eliminating racial discrimination in voting.

age and wealth groups

Demographic categories often analyzed in political behavior and voting patterns.

ballot initiatives

Proposed laws or amendments that are submitted to voters for approval.

demographic voter groups US

Categories of voters defined by characteristics such as age, race, gender, and income.

down ballot

Refers to elections for offices lower than the top offices on a ballot, such as state or local positions.

gender groups, ethnic groups

Social categories that share common characteristics, such as gender or ethnicity, influencing political behavior and identity.

mid-term elections

Elections held halfway through a president's term to elect representatives and senators.

presidential elections

The process by which voters elect the President of the United States, typically held every four years.

rational choice voting

Voting based on the individual voter's perceived benefits and costs of a candidate's policies.

structural barriers to voting

Obstacles that prevent certain groups from voting, such as voter ID laws or registration requirements.

turnout rates

Percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election.

vote incentives

Factors that motivate individuals to participate in elections.

voter patterns religious groups

Trends in voting behavior among different religious affiliations.

voter registration rules

Regulations governing the process by which eligible citizens sign up to vote.

campaign management

The process of planning and executing strategies to promote a candidate's election.

candidate recruitment

The process of identifying and attracting individuals to run for political office.

fundraising

The process of collecting money for political campaigns or causes.

linkage institutions

Organizations that connect citizens to the government, such as political parties, interest groups, and the media.

media strategies

Techniques used by politicians and organizations to communicate and influence public opinion through various media channels.

mobilization of voters

The process of encouraging and organizing citizens to participate in elections.

national committees

Organizations that oversee the election process and coordinate party activities at the national level.

platforms

Political party's formal set of principles and goals.

legislative leadership

Positions that guide and influence the legislative process, such as the Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader.

party de-alignment

A trend where voters become less attached to political parties, leading to an increase in independent voters.

candidate centered campaigns

Political campaigns that focus on the individual candidate's personality, issues, and qualifications rather than the party's platform.

changes in finance laws (Citizens United)

Citizens United v. FEC allowed unlimited independent political expenditures by corporations and unions.

critical elections

Elections that lead to significant and lasting shifts in party alignment and voter behavior.

data management

The process of collecting, storing, and using data effectively.

demographic coalitions

Alliances formed between different demographic groups to achieve common political goals.

micro-data management

The process of collecting, analyzing, and utilizing detailed data at the individual or small group level.

ORCA Romney campaign

A data management system used by the Romney campaign to organize voter information and outreach efforts.

Project Narwhal--Obama

A data-driven initiative by the Obama campaign to analyze voter behavior and optimize outreach.

public primaries

Elections where registered voters can participate in selecting a party's candidate for the general election.

regional de-alignments

Shifts in political party support across different regions, often leading to changes in voting patterns.

independent candidates

Candidates who run for office without affiliation to a political party.

proportional elections

Electoral systems that allocate seats based on the percentage of votes each party receives.

single issue parties

Political parties that focus on one specific issue.

winner take all elections

Electoral system where the candidate receiving the most votes wins all electoral votes or delegates.

Club for Growth

A conservative political action committee that advocates for limited government and economic growth through free-market policies.

Emily’s List

Political action committee that supports pro-choice Democratic women candidates.

expert testimony

Evidence provided by a qualified individual with specialized knowledge on a particular subject.

free-rider problem

Situation where individuals benefit from resources or services without paying for them, leading to under-provision.

issue networks (iron triangles)

The relationship among interest groups, government agencies, and congressional committees that work together to influence policy.

lobbying

The act of attempting to influence the decisions of government officials, typically legislators.

protest movements

Collective actions by groups to express opposition or demand change regarding social or political issues.

re-alignments

Significant shifts in party affiliation and political support among voters.

single issue groups

Organizations that focus on one specific area of public policy, often influencing legislation.

subsidies

Financial assistance granted by the government to support a specific industry or economic sector.

voter education

Process of informing and educating voters about the electoral process, candidates, and issues.

voter mobilization

Efforts to encourage and facilitate voter participation in elections.

270 to win

The number of electoral votes needed to secure the presidency in the United States.

caucuses

Meetings of party members to select candidates or decide policy.

closed primaries

Elections where only registered party members can vote to select their party's candidate.

delegate counts

The number of delegates assigned to a candidate based on their performance in primaries and caucuses.

Electoral College

A body of electors established by the U.S. Constitution that formally elects the President and Vice President.

faithless electors

Electors who do not vote for the candidate they pledged to support in the Electoral College.

frontloading

The practice of scheduling primaries and caucuses earlier in the election cycle to gain more influence.

lame duck

An elected official whose term is about to end and who has little power or influence.

Maine and Nebraska systems

Electoral systems that allocate electoral votes proportionally rather than winner-takes-all.

open primaries

Elections allowing voters to choose candidates regardless of their party affiliation.

party conventions

Gatherings of political parties to nominate candidates and establish party platforms.

presidential conventions

Gatherings of political parties to nominate candidates for president and establish party platforms.

Super Delegates

Party leaders and elected officials who are given the right to vote at the Democratic National Convention regardless of primary election outcomes.

Super Tuesday

A day in the United States when several states hold primary elections simultaneously.

swing states, battleground states

States where both major political parties have similar levels of support among voters, making them critical in elections.

winner-take-all allocations

Electoral system where the candidate receiving the most votes wins all electoral votes or delegates.

incumbency advantage

The electoral edge afforded to those already in office.

mid-terms

Examinations that occur halfway through an academic term to assess students' understanding.

the “constant campaign”

The ongoing effort by politicians to maintain public support and prepare for future elections.

501c groups, 527 groups

501c groups are tax-exempt organizations that engage in social welfare activities, while 527 groups are tax-exempt organizations primarily focused on political activities and advocacy.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 2002 (McCain-Feingold)

Legislation aimed at regulating campaign financing and reducing the influence of soft money in elections.

campaign contests

Elections where candidates compete for political office.

canvassing, phone banking, internet canvassing

Campaign strategies used to gather support and voter information through direct outreach.

dark money

Political spending by organizations that are not required to disclose their donors.

Hard money, Soft money

Hard money refers to regulated contributions directly to candidates, while soft money refers to unregulated donations to political parties for party-building activities.

matching funds

Government funds provided to candidates to match private contributions during elections.

PACs

Political Action Committees that raise and spend money to elect candidates or influence legislation.

professional consultants

Experts hired to provide specialized advice and services in a specific field.

social media influences

Platforms that shape public opinion and political behavior through information dissemination.

Stand by your Ad provision of the BCRA

A requirement that sponsors of political ads must disclose their identity and funding sources.

Super PACs

Political action committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections, but cannot coordinate directly with candidates.

24-hour news cycle

Continuous news coverage that updates frequently throughout the day.

agenda setting

The process by which certain issues are prioritized and highlighted for public attention and policy action.

blogs and tweets

Forms of social media used for sharing opinions and information quickly.

investigative journalism

Journalism that seeks to uncover and report on issues of public interest, often involving in-depth research.

media bias, “fake” news

Media bias refers to the perceived or real partiality of journalists and news producers in their reporting, while 'fake' news denotes misinformation or hoaxes presented as legitimate news.

media ownership

Control of media outlets by individuals or corporations, influencing content and perspectives.

narrowcasting

Targeting media programming at specific populations.