Campaigns and Voting Behavior

Nomination

The official selection of a candidate to represent a political party in an election.

National Party Convention

A large gathering held every four years by political parties to formally nominate their presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

McGovern–Fraser Commission

A Democratic Party commission established after the 1968 election to reform the nomination process.

Superdelegates

Party leaders and elected officials who automatically receive a vote at the Democratic National Convention.

Invisible Primary

The period before actual voting begins in which candidates seek to gain support from party elites, donors, and the media.

Caucus

A local gathering of party members who discuss and vote on their preferred candidate.

Presidential Primary

A state-level election in which voters select their preferred candidate for a party’s nomination.

Frontloading

The tendency of states to move their primaries or caucuses earlier to gain greater influence.

Campaign Contributions

Money given directly to a candidate’s campaign that is subject to legal limits and reporting requirements.

Independent Expenditures

Money spent by individuals or groups to support or oppose a candidate without coordinating with the campaign.

Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

A 1971 law that regulates campaign financing and requires disclosure of contributions.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Organizations that raise and donate money to political campaigns, subject to contribution limits.

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

The independent agency responsible for enforcing federal campaign finance laws.

Soft Money

Unregulated contributions to political parties used for party-building activities.

Dark Money

Political spending by nonprofit organizations that do not have to disclose their donors.

527 Groups

Tax-exempt organizations that can raise unlimited funds for political activities.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

A Supreme Court case ruling that corporations and unions can spend unlimited money on independent expenditures.

501(c) Groups

Nonprofit organizations that can engage in political activities without disclosing their donors.

Super PACs

Political action committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts for independent political expenditures.

Political Efficacy

The belief that one’s political participation can make a difference.

Civic Duty

The belief that citizens have a responsibility to participate in democratic processes.

Voter Registration

The process by which eligible citizens sign up to vote before an election.

Motor Voter Act (1993)

A law that allows voter registration when applying for or renewing a driver’s license.

Policy Voting

When voters make decisions based on how candidates align with their own policy preferences.

Electoral College

The system used to elect the U.S. president based on state-based electors.

Battleground States

States that are highly competitive in presidential elections and can be won by either party.