AP Gov Unit 5

Incumbent

The official who holds an office

Coattails

the alleged tendency of well known and popular candidates at the top of the ballot helping candidates of the same party for other offices win more votes

PAC (political action committee)

committee formed by a special-interest group to raise money for their favorite political candidates

Caucus

a private meeting or party leaders to choose candidates for office

Primary

a preliminary election to where delegates or nominees are chosen

Front Loaded campaign

the practice of moving presidential primary elections to the early part of the campaign to maximize the impact of certain states or regions in the nomination

General Election

Election to choose which candidate will hold office

Open Primary

A primary election where any registered voter can vote (must be for the candidates of only one party)

Closed Primary

A primary where only registered members of a certain party can vote

Blanket Primary

A primary where each voter can vote for candidates from both parties

Federal Election Commission

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

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

A case in which the supreme court of the united states upheld federal limits on campaign contributions and ruled that spending money to influence elections is a form of constitutionally protected free speech. The court also stated candidates can give unlimited amounts of money to their own campaigns

Hard Money

Money given directly to candidate, party, or interest group that is limited and fully disclosed

Soft Money

Money given to a political party or group rather than directly to a candidate to avoid rules and the FEC

Prospective Voting

Voting for a candidate because you favor his ideas for handling an issue (future look)

Retrospective Voting

Voting for a candidate because you like his past actions in office (past)

Split Ticket Voting

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

Straight Ticket Voting (Party Line voting)

Voting for candidates of only one party

Winner Take all primaries

an election in which the candidate who gets the most votes gets all the delegates

Super Tuesday

Day when several states hold their presidential primaries

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Supreme Court case that said corporations and unions can spend unlimited money on independent political ads because that spending is protected by the First Amendment

Linkage Institution

things that connect people to the government and help their voices are heard (voting, political parties, interest groups, media)

15th Amendment

Gave African American men the right to vote

19th Amendment

Gave women the right to vote

23rd Amendment

Gave residents of Washington DC the right to vote

24th Amendment

Abolishes poll taxes

26tg Amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

17th Amendment

Established the direct election of senators (instead of being chosen by state legislatures)

Rational Choice Voting

Voting based on what is in the individuals best interest (selfish)

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible citizens who actually vote in a given election

Structural Barriers

Things that keep people from voting (long lines, voter registration laws, voter ID laws, etc)

Political efficacy

The belief that one’s political participation makes a difference (belief in government, has gone down)

Political Apathy

Lack of interest in political participation, feels their vote doesn't matter

Political Party Platform

A document that outlines the beliefs, values, and plans of a political party

Party National Convention

nominating conventions to select the parties candidate and running mate for the general election

Party Dealignment

Gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties; moving to be more independent

Interest Groups

Private organizations whose members share certain views and work to shape public policy

Lobbying

doing activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators and the policies they enact

Iron triangles

A mutually dependent relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees. They dominate some areas of domestic policymaking

Free Rider Problem

the problem faced by interest groups when people get the benefits of interest group action without joining the interest group or participating/donating to it

Grassroots lobbying

indirect lobbying efforts that spring from public concern

Grasstops lobbying

using well known people to persuade lawmakers or the public to support an issue

Electoral College

The system the US uses to officially elect the president

Dark Ads

political ads on social media that are only shown to a target group that they are trying to persuade

Horse Race Journalism

News coverage that focuses on who is ahead in the election rather than on the issues

sound bite

A short catchy statement that is easy to remember and use in the news

score keeper

when the media keeps track of who’s winning or losing in politics

gate keeper

people who determine what news to spread and what news to keep hidden/give less attention to

watch dog

media watches the government and exposes corruption or wrongdoing