Lecture 9: Congressional Districts, Senate Rules & Campaigning Tactics

Political term for drawing district boundaries to give one party an advantage

Gerrymandering

Typical interval at which congressional districts are redrawn following a census

Every 10 years

Key qualities that districts should ideally possess when being drawn

Compactness and continuity

Amendment that mandated the popular election of U.S. Senators

17th Amendment

Length of the term of office for a U.S. Senator

6 years

Primary purpose of campaign signs mentioned in the text

To increase name recognition

Former South Carolina governor who won an election after a personal scandal

Mark Sanford

Concept of 'spin' in political campaigning

Taking something negative and portraying it as a positive

Famous Tip O'Neill quote describing the importance of personal connection with voters

All politics is local.

Definition of 'internal polls' in the context of a campaign

Polls run by the campaign workers to assess the landscape

Federal legal restriction mentioned regarding campaign literature

It cannot be placed inside a mailbox.

Reason a candidate might run for office even if they have no chance of winning

To maintain a presence and get a message out

Major advantage for an incumbent running for re-election

Automatic name recognition and press coverage

Primary source for phone bank lists

Public voter rolls

Reason congressional approval ratings are low while incumbents are frequently re-elected

Voters dislike Congress but generally like their own representative.

Term for a candidate currently holding the office for which they are running

Incumbent

Demographic factor cited as contributing to a gerrymandering case in North Carolina

Racial composition

Outcome if a U.S. Senator resigns before their term ends

The governor appoints a replacement.

Characteristic of a 'stump meeting' in campaigning

Multiple candidates giving speeches to an audience

Method by which U.S. Senators are elected

At large within their sta