Unit 5 - Linkage Institutions AP Gov Vocab

Incumbent

A politician running for reelection to the office he or she currently holds

Open Primary

A primary election in which any registered voter can participate in the contest, regardless of party affiliation

closed primary

a primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote

general election

the election in which voters cast ballots for house members, senators and (every 4 years) a president and vice president

runoff election

under a majority voting system, a second election held only if no candidate wins a majority of the voters in the first general election. Only the top two vote-getters in the first election compete in the runoff

primary

a ballot vote in which citizens select a party’s nominee for the general election

caucus

a local meeting in which party members select a party’s nominee for the general election

delegate

an individual who is selected in a presidential primary or caucus to attend the party’s nomination convention to vote on the party’s platform and select the party’s presidential and vice-presidential nominees.

winner take all

during the presidential primaries, the practice of assigning all of a given state’s delegates to the candidate who receives the most popular votes. Some states’ Republican primaries and caucuses use this system.

electoral votes

votes cast by members of the electoral college; after a presidential candidate wins the popular vote in a given state, that candidate’s slate of electors casts electoral votes for the candidate on behalf of that state

federal election commission

the government agency that enforces and regulates election laws; made up of 6 presidential appointees, of whom no more than three can be members of the same party

hard money

donations that are used to help elect or defeat a specific candidate

soft money

Contributions that can be used for voter mobilization or to promote a policy proposal or point of view as long as these efforts are not tied to supporting or opposing a particular candidate

buckley v. valeo

a 1976 supreme court decision that allows candidates to contribute unlimited amounts to their own campaigns. This decision gives wealthy candidates a significant advantage, particularly in local elections, where overall spending levels are typically low

split ticket

a ballot on which a voter selects candidates from more than one political party

interest group

an organization of people who share common political interests and aim to influence public policy by electioneering and lobbying

lobbying

efforts to influence public policy through contact with public officials on behalf of an interest group

revolving door

the movement of individuals from government positions to jobs with interest groups or lobbying firms, and vice versa

iron triangle

informal alliance of elected officials, bureaucrats, and interest groups, designed to let these groups and individuals dominate the policy-making process in a particular area

free riding

the result of relying on others to contribute to a collective effort while failing to participate on one’s own behalf, yet still benefiting from the group’s successes

issue network

an informal organization of interest groups and individuals who work together to lobby government for policy change. These collaborations are usually short-term efforts focused on specific proposals, issues, or regulations.

Grassroots lobbying

a lobbying strategy that relies on participation by group members, such as a protest or a letter-writing campaign

mass media

sources that provide information to the average citizen, such as newspapers, television networks, radio stations, podcasts, and websites

watchdog

the media’s role as a provider of information on the activities of government and elected officials, including their policy successes and failures as well as scandals

federal communications commission

a government agency created in 1934 to regulate American radio stations and later expanded to regulate television, wireless communications technologies, and other broadcast media.

equal time provision

an fcc regulation requiring broadcast media to provide equal air time on any non-news programming to all candidates running for an office

leaking

the practice of someone in government providing nonpublic information to a reporter, with the aim of generating press coverage favorable to the leaker’s aims

agenda setting/gatekeeping

the influence on public opinion that results from journalists’ and editors’ decisions about which of many potential news stories to report

horse race

a description of the type of election coverage that focuses more on poll results and speculation about a likely winner than on substantive differences between the candidates

soft news

media coverage that aims to entertain or shock, often through sensationalized reporting or by focusing on a candidate or politician’s personality

hard news

media coverage focused on facts and important issues surrounding a campaign