Unit 2 - Linkage Institutions: Political Parties, Interest Groups and Mass Media

independent candidates

People who run for office without formal affiliation or endorsement from an organized political party

national convention

Major party meeting held every four years to nominate presidential and vice presidential candidates and adopt the party platform

party dealignment

A decline in voter attachment to political parties and an increase in independent identification

party realignment

A lasting shift in voter coalitions that changes the balance of political power between parties

party platform

A formal statement of a political party’s principles goals and policy positions

political parties

Organized groups that seek political power by nominating candidates and winning elections

single-issue parties

Minor parties focused almost entirely on one major policy issue

third parties

Political parties that offer alternatives to the two major parties

two-party system

An electoral system dominated by two major political parties

apportionment

The constitutional process of distributing the 435 House seats among the states based on the decennial census

coattails

The tendency of a popular candidate at the top of the ticket to attract votes for candidates from the same party

congressional campaign committee

A party organization that raises money recruits candidates and develops strategies for congressional elections

critical election

An election that produces a major and lasting shift in voter coalitions and political power

incumbent/incumbency

An elected official currently holding office and the advantages that come with holding that office

gerrymandering

The intentional manipulation of district boundaries to give a political party or group an electoral advantage

lame duck

An elected official whose successor has been chosen or who cannot seek reelection and is serving the remainder of the term

open seat

An office or district in which no incumbent is running for reelection

plurality election

An election in which the candidate with the most votes wins even without receiving a majority

redistricting

The process of redrawing legislative and congressional district boundaries after the census

safe seat

A district that is highly likely to be won by one political party

sophomore surge

An increase in a congressional candidate’s vote percentage when seeking reelection for the first time

primary

An election used to select a political party’s candidate for the general election

blanket primary

A primary in which all candidates appear on one ballot regardless of party affiliation and voters can choose among candidates from different parties

closed primary

A primary in which only voters registered with a political party can vote in that party’s primary

open primary

A primary in which voters can choose which party’s primary to participate in regardless of party registration

caucus

A local meeting of party members who discuss candidates and select delegates

delegates

Individuals chosen to represent their state at a national party convention and vote for a presidential candidate

front-loading

Moving presidential primaries and caucuses earlier in the election calendar to gain greater influence and attention

general election

An election in which voters choose among the nominees of different parties for public office

post-convention bounce

A temporary increase in a candidate’s poll numbers after a national party convention

split ticket voting

Voting for candidates from different political parties for different offices on the same ballot

party line voting

Voting for candidates from the same political party across different races

Rational choice voting

Voting for the candidate whose policies are expected to best serve the voter’s self-interest

Retrospective voting

Voting based on an evaluation of an incumbent’s past performance

Prospective voting

Voting based on expectations about a candidate’s future policies and performance

superdelegates

Democratic party leaders and elected officials who automatically attend the national convention and are free to support any candidate

media

Channels and organizations that communicate political information to the public

medium

A channel or format through which information is communicated

broadcast media

Traditional television and radio networks that transmit news and programming to large audiences

blue states

States that consistently vote for Democratic presidential candidates

electoral college

The constitutional system through which the President and Vice President are formally elected based on state electoral votes

red states

States that consistently vote for Republican presidential candidates

safe state

A state that reliably votes for one political party in presidential elections

swing state

A state where support for the major parties is closely balanced and either party has a strong chance of winning

winner-take-all system

An electoral system in which the candidate receiving the most votes receives all of the state’s electoral votes

divided government

A situation in which one political party controls the presidency while another controls one or both chambers of Congress

527 groups

Tax-exempt organizations that can raise unlimited funds for voter mobilization and issue advocacy but cannot directly endorse or oppose candidates

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)

A campaign finance law that banned national parties from raising soft money and restricted certain election-related advertising

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

A Supreme Court case ruling that mandatory limits on campaign spending violate the First Amendment while contribution limits can be upheld

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

A Supreme Court case ruling that corporations and labor unions can make unlimited independent political expenditures

class actions suits

Lawsuits brought by a small group on behalf of a larger group with similar legal claims

Federal Election Campaign Act (1971)

A campaign finance law that established disclosure requirements contribution limits and federal campaign finance regulation

free riders

People who benefit from the work of an interest group without contributing to its efforts

McConnell v. Federal Election Commission (2003)

A Supreme Court case that upheld major parts of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

political action committees (PACs)

Organizations that collect contributions and donate limited amounts directly to political candidates

soft money

Previously unregulated money given to political parties for party-building and voter turnout activities

hard money

Federally regulated contributions given directly to candidates and subject to legal limits

super PACs

Committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money independently of political campaigns

Hatch Act

Federal Employees & companies doing business under federal contract were forbidden from contributing to elections

blog

A regularly updated online platform for commentary or information

blogosphere

The collection of blogs and online political commentary communities

horse-race journalism

Election coverage that focuses on polls momentum and which candidate is ahead

linkage institution

A mechanism such as political parties elections interest groups or media that connects citizens to government

mass media

Communication platforms and organizations that transmit information to large and diverse audiences

new media

Digital and interactive forms of media such as social media podcasts and streaming platforms

print media

Paper-based publications such as newspapers magazines and journals

public agenda

The issues and problems receiving the most attention from the public and political leaders

sound bite

A short memorable excerpt from a speech or interview selected for news coverage

Libel

A published false statement that damages a person’s reputation

Wikileaks

An organization that publishes leaked confidential or classified documents

Slander

A spoken false statement that damages a person’s reputation

Federal Communication Commission (FCC)

An independent federal agency that regulates interstate communications including television radio cable and satellite services

Trial Balloon

An intentional leak of a proposed policy or appointment used to measure public reaction

Adversarial Press

A journalistic approach characterized by aggressive questioning skepticism and suspicion toward government officials

NYT v. Sullivan

A Supreme Court case requiring public officials to prove actual malice in successful libel claims

Equal Time Rule

An FCC rule requiring broadcasters to provide equivalent opportunities to legally qualified political candidates

New York Times Company v. United States (1971)

A Supreme Court case that strongly protected newspapers from government prior restraint when publishing the Pentagon Papers

Gatekeeper

A media role involving the selection of which events issues and viewpoints receive news coverage

Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act

A law requiring certain paid lobbyists influencing Congress to register and disclose financial information

CNN

The first 24-hour cable news network launched in 1980

Tinker v. Des Moines

A Supreme Court case protecting students’ First Amendment rights to symbolic speech in public schools

C-Span

A nonprofit cable network providing continuous coverage of government proceedings

Near v. Minnesota

A Supreme Court case establishing strong First Amendment protection against government prior restraint of the press

Scorekeeper

A media role that tracks political reputations winners and losers and changes in political momentum

Watchdog

A media role involving investigation and scrutiny of government officials and institutions

Interest Groups

Organized groups that share policy goals and attempt to influence government without directly seeking to control government

Investigative Journalism

In-depth reporting that investigates corruption wrongdoing and abuses of power

Pentagon Papers

A secret Department of Defense study about U.S. involvement in Vietnam that was leaked to the press

Networks

Large media organizations that produce and distribute scheduled programming through local affiliates

Bob Woodward

A Washington Post investigative journalist who worked with Carl Bernstein to uncover the Watergate scandal

Julian Assange

The founder of WikiLeaks who became known for publishing leaked classified government documents

Muckrakers

Progressive Era investigative journalists who exposed corruption monopolies and poor working conditions

Carl Bernstein

A Washington Post investigative journalist who worked with Bob Woodward to expose the Watergate scandal

Sensationalism

The use of shocking emotional or exaggerated reporting to attract attention

Feeding Frenzy

Intense competitive news coverage focused on a scandal controversy or political mistake

Political gaffes

Public mistakes or poorly worded remarks by political candidates that attract media attention

Revolving Door

The movement of people between government positions and private lobbying or corporate positions

Amicus Curiae

A legal brief submitted by an outside party to provide additional arguments or perspectives in a court case

Lobbyist

A professional advocate hired to influence government officials on behalf of a client

earmarks

Congressional provisions directing federal funds toward specific local projects or programs