Unit 5.5 - Campaigns & Elections 2018

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

Banned soft money donations to political parties (loophole from FECA); also imposed restrictions on 527 independent expenditures (issue ads only, not direct advocacy for a candidate). Declared unconstitutional by Citizens United case. Also known as McCain-Feingold Act.

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Establishes campaign money limits but also holds that contributions are a form of speech

Caucuses

meetings where political parties chose their candidates

Citizens United v. FEC

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. Leads to creation of SuperPACs & massive rise in amount of third party electioneering (Citizens for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow)

closed primary

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

coattail effect

The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot, especially the president.

Electoral College

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

Electors

people elected by the voters in a presidential election as members of the electoral college

Federal Election Campaign Act

A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The act created the Federal Election Commission (FEC), provided public financing for presidential primaries and general elections, limited presidential campaign spending, required disclosure, and attempted to limit contributions.

Federal Election Commission

A six-member bipartisan agency created by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974. The federal Election Commission administers and enforces campaign finance laws.

general election

An election held to choose which candidate will hold office

hard money

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed.

incumbent

the current officeholder

incumbency advantage

The electoral advantage a candidate enjoys by virtue of being an incumbent, over and above his or her other personal and political characteristics

Initiative

A procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.

Iowa Caucus

First state to hold a caucus or primary, therefore giving Iowa much attention during the campaign season.

midterm election

an election that takes place in the middle of a presidential term

New Hampshire Primary

First Presidential primary and its winner becomes the media's major attention

open primary

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

Plurality

Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election, not necessarily more than half.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations

polling place

the location where voting is carried out

Precincts

Local voting districts in a county, city, or ward

primary election

Nominating election held to choose party candidates who will run in the general election

recall election

a special election called by voters to remove an elected official before his/her term expires.

Referendum

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

soft money

Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.

split-ticket voting

voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election

Super Tuesday

A Tuesday in early March in which many presidential primaries, particularly in the South, are held.

23rd Amendment

Gives Washington DC electoral college votes as if it were a state (DC still has no representation in Congress)

voter registration

A system adopted by the states that requires voters to register well in advance of Election Day. A few states permit Election day registration.

war chest

funds collected by a candidate to spend on a political campaign

Wards

the special districts that a city under mayor-council government is divide into

winner-take-all system

An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies.