AP Gov. Vocab 220-250 (pg 512 vocab)

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

Set more limits on campaigns donations and made candidates endorse ads

Blanket primary

Allows voters to cast votes for candidates in multiple parties

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Upheld the law limiting donation limits on individuals and PACs claiming it was not a violation of first amendment rights. A candidate’s donations to their own campaign could not be limited

Caucuses

Meetings of supporters or members of a specific political party

Closed primary

Voters declare party affiliation when registering to vote to vote in a primary

Coattail effect

A president that wins by a large margin often helps congressional candidates to use the popularity of the president to win their elections

Electoral College

System to temper public opinion and allow informed statesmen to select a consensus president, electors cast electoral votes

Electors

Number of these people equal a state’s members in Congress but can’t be actual numbers of Congress and cast electoral votes

Federal Election Campaign Act

Tightened reporting requirements and limited candidates’ expenditures

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

Created to monitor and enforce the regulations of the Federal Election Campaign Act

Front-loading

States schedule their primaries/caucuses earlier to boost their political clout and enhance tourism

General election

Candidates fly around the country to key locations and deliver speeches while different groups and people endorse candidates

Incumbent

Someone who already hold the office and is seeking reelection

Incumbent advantage phenomenon

Ability to use all of the tools of the presidency to support candidacy for a second term

Initiative

Citizens/groups formulate a law in writing, gather voters’ signatures on a petition and place the proposal on a ballot for approval in election

Invisible primary

Time period where presidential hopefuls start testing the water before announcing candidacy where polls are conducted and fundraising started

Iowa caucuses

Two hour meeting to listen to speeches, publicly discuss candidates and vote to endorse candidates

Matching money

Federal program to receive federal funds to support presidential candidates in their elections

Midterm elections

Federal elections that take place halfway through a president’s term where all House seats and 1/3 of Senate seats are up for election

New Hampshire primary

Candidates travel to the state and hold town hall forums and give speeches where voters actively engage and question candidates

Open primary

Voters declare party affiliation on Election Day and poll works give the indicates party’s ballot to vote on

Plurality

Most of the vote, even if not a majority

Polling place

Assigned voting center, often a school or community center

Precincts

Small geographic area of about 500-1,000 voters

Primary election

Voters cast votes for delegates to attend a party’s national convention with the goal of narrowing the field of candidates

Recall

Allows citizens to fire elected officials in the middle of their elected term by ballot

Referendum

Procedure to repeal unpopular laws

Split ticket

Voting for Republicans in some races and Democrats in some races

Super Tuseday

When several states coincidentally hold primaries

War chest

Bank account for campaigning

Wards

For the purposes of voting, the division of counties, cities and towns