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501( c)(3)

A tax-exempt nonprofit organization in the United States that is established for charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes, allowing contributions to be tax-deductible for donors.

501( c)(4)

A tax-exempt nonprofit organization that may engage in advocacy and lobbying activities to promote social welfare.

absentee ballot

A voting method that allows a registered voter to mail or submit their vote remotely rather than attending a polling place in person.

Australian ballot

A voting method in which voters mark their choices in privacy on uniform ballots printed by the government.

Benchmark poll

A type of poll conducted to measure public opinion on a particular issue or candidate at a specific time, often used to gauge changes over time.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

A law enacted in 2002 aimed at regulating the financing of political campaigns in the United States, which limited contributions and electioneering communications.

Bundling

The practice of combining multiple contributions from individuals to a single candidate or campaign, often to circumvent contribution limits.

Caucuses

Political meetings where party members gather to discuss and select candidates for an election.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

A landmark piece of legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and aimed to end segregation in schools and public places.

coattail effect

The coattail effect refers to the phenomenon where a strong candidate at the top of the ballot attracts votes for other candidates from the same political party down the ballot, enhancing their chances of election.

Compulsory Voting

A system where citizens are required by law to participate in elections, often resulting in higher voter turnout.

Conservatism

A political and social philosophy promoting traditional institutions and values, often advocating for limited government and free markets.

critical election

An election that leads to a significant and lasting shift in political power and party alignment.

dark money

Political spending by entities not disclosed to the public, often influencing elections without transparency.

Democratic Party

A major political party in the United States, generally supporting progressive policies and social equality.

Electoral College

A body of electors established by the United States Constitution, which formally elects the President and Vice President of the United States.

electorate

The body of people entitled to vote in an election, typically representing the voters in a specific area.

Equal opportunity

The principle that all individuals should have the same chances for advancement and success, without discrimination based on race, gender, or other characteristics.

Exit poll

A survey taken from voters immediately after they have exited the polling place, used to predict election outcomes.

Federal Election
Commission (FEC)

An independent regulatory agency that administers federal election laws in the United States.

Free enterprise

An economic system where private businesses operate competitively for profit with minimal government interference.

gatekeeper

a person who controls access to something or someone, often making decisions about who or what is allowed in.

Generational effects

The impact of a significant event on the attitudes and behaviors of a specific cohort, influencing their views and voting patterns throughout their life.

Globalization

the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale, affecting culture, economy, and politics.

grandfather clause

A law allowing individuals to bypass certain regulations based on their previous rights or status, often used to exempt those already in a position from newly imposed standards.

grassroots

a bottom-up political movement that seeks to mobilize the community to achieve social or political change.

hard money

campaign contributions regulated by law due to their traceability and limits.

horse-race journalism

reporting that focuses on polling data and public perception rather than policy issues

incumbent

an official currently holding a position in office, seeking re-election.

Individualism

A political and social philosophy emphasizing the moral worth of the individual, often advocating for personal freedom and self-reliance.

Liberalism

A political ideology advocating for civil liberties, democracy, and human rights, often promoting social justice and economic freedom.

Libertarianism

A political philosophy advocating for minimal government intervention in personal and economic lives, emphasizing individual liberty and free markets.

Life cycle effects

The ways in which a person's age and life stage affect their attitudes, behaviors, and circumstances, influencing their political views and preferences.

linkage institutions

Organizations that connect citizens to the government, such as political parties, interest groups, and the media.

midterm election

An election that occurs halfway through a president's four-year term, allowing voters to elect representatives for Congress.

general election

Opinion poll

A survey of public opinion to gauge the preferences or opinions of a specific group of people about various issues or candidates.

party convention

A gathering of party members to nominate candidates for president and outline party policies.

party platform

A formal set of principal goals supported by a political party, which outlines their stance on various issues and policies.

plurality

The candidate or option that receives more votes than any other, but not necessarily a majority.

political action committee
(PAC)

An organization that raises and spends money to elect candidates or influence legislation, often representing specific interest groups.

Super PACs

independent expenditure-only committees that can raise unlimited funds but cannot directly coordinate with candidates.

political efficacy

The belief that one's political participation can affect political outcomes, leading to increased engagement in civic activities.

Political ideology

a set of beliefs about the role of government and policies in society.

Political
socialization

the process by which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values, influenced by family, education, and social contexts.

Polling methodology

The various techniques and processes used to conduct polls and surveys to gauge public opinion, including sampling methods, question design, and data analysis.

polling place

A designated location where voters go to cast their ballots during elections.

Blanket primaries

A type of primary election where voters can choose candidates from any party regardless of their own party affiliation.

closed primaries

A type of primary election where only registered party members can vote to select their party's candidates for the general election.

open primaries

A type of primary election that allows any registered voter to participate in the selection of candidates, regardless of their party affiliation.

direct primaries

A type of primary election where voters directly select candidates for the general election, rather than through party leadership.

invisible primaries

A phase in the election process where candidates seek support from party leaders and influential party members before official voting begins.

white primaries

A race-based primary election system where only white voters were allowed to participate, effectively disenfranchising non-white voters.

prospective voting

A voting method where voters base their decisions on the anticipated future performance of a candidate or party, rather than past actions.

rational-choice voting

a voting theory where individuals make electoral choices based on their perceived self-interest and the expected outcomes of policies.

Republican Party

A major political party in the United States, founded in the 1850s, that traditionally advocates for conservative policies and limited government.

retrospective voting

A voting method where voters base their decisions on a candidate's or party's past actions and performance in office.

revolving door

The practice where politicians leave public service for lobbyist positions or private sector jobs, and vice versa. This can lead to conflicts of interest and influence peddling.

Rule of law

The principle that all individuals and institutions are subject to and accountable to the law, ensuring fairness and equality in the legal system.

Scientific poll

A survey conducted to measure public opinion on various issues or candidates, utilizing statistically representative samples.

soft money

Political donations not subject to federal limits, often used for party-building activities.

third parties

Political groups that challenge the two major parties, often advocating for specific issues or reforms.

Tracking poll

A type of poll that measures changes in public opinion over time by repeatedly surveying the same group of respondents.

voter apathy

a lack of interest or concern among voters regarding elections and political participation.

voter turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election.

Voting Rights Act 1965

A landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that aimed to eliminate barriers to voting for African Americans and ensure their right to vote.

watchdog

an organization or group that monitors the activities of government or other institutions to ensure accountability and transparency.

winner-take-all

An electoral system where the candidate receiving the most votes wins all of the electoral votes or delegates.

Baby Boomers

the demographic cohort born between 1946 and 1964 following World War II, characterized by a significant increase in birth rates.

Generation X

the demographic cohort born between 1965 and 1980, marked by a decline in birth rates and an increase in divorce rates compared to previous generations.

Millennial

the demographic cohort born between 1981 and 1996, known for their familiarity with digital technology and social media.

push polling

a polling technique that attempts to influence or alter the view of respondents under the guise of conducting a survey.

random sample

a subset of individuals selected from a larger population where every member has an equal chance of being chosen, commonly used in surveys to ensure unbiased results.

saliency

the importance or relevance of an issue to an individual or group.

wedge issues

issues that polarize voters and create divisions between groups, often used in political campaigns to rally support.

war chest

a collection of funds accumulated by a political candidate or party for campaign purposes.

bandwagon effect

the phenomenon where individuals adopt certain behaviors, styles, or attitudes because they perceive that others are doing the same.

margin of error

the range of uncertainty in survey results that reflects the potential discrepancy between the sample and the overall population.

moderate

the range of possible error in survey results that reflects sampling variability.

party realignments

significant and lasting shifts in the party structure and voter affiliations, often resulting in the dominance of one party over another.

random-digit-dialing

a method of selecting survey participants by generating random phone numbers to ensure a representative sample.

sampling error

the difference between the results from a sample and the actual population value. It accounts for variability due to the random selection process.

entrance polls

surveys conducted with voters as they enter polling places to predict election outcomes and gauge voter sentiment.

means test

a requirement that applicants demonstrate their financial need to qualify for certain benefits or assistance programs.

party identification

The self-identified affiliation of an individual with a political party, often influencing voting behavior and political attitudes.

split ticket

voting for candidates from different parties in the same election.

straight ticket

voting for candidates from the same political party in an election.