Political Campaigns and Elections Vocabulary

These flashcards cover key terms related to political campaigns and elections.

Political Efficacy

The belief that citizens can understand and influence government and political affairs.

501(c) Group

Interest groups whose primary purpose is not electoral politics.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

A law passed in 2002 aimed at amending the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to end the use of nonfederal, or 'soft money', in federal elections.

Campaign Consultant

A private-sector professional who sells the technologies, services, and strategies required to get a candidate elected.

Citizens United v. FEC

The 2010 U.S. Supreme Court case that enabled corporations and unions to have the same political speech rights as individuals under the First Amendment.

Closed Primary

A primary election in which only registered voters of a party can cast a ballot.

Crossover Voting

Participation in the primary election of a party with which the voter is not affiliated.

Electorate

The citizens eligible to vote.

Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

A primary law passed in 1971 that regulates political campaign spending and fundraising.

Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV)

A push at the end of a political campaign to encourage supporters to vote.

Help America Vote Act (HAVA)

A federal law passed in 2002 that addresses voting systems and voter access issues identified after the 2000 election.

Incumbency

Already holding an office.

Initiative

An election that allows citizens to propose legislation or state constitutional amendments by submitting them to a popular vote.

Mandate

A command, indicated by an electorate’s votes, for elected officials to carry out a party platform or policy agenda.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Officially recognized fund-raising organizations that represent interest groups and can make contributions directly to candidates' campaigns.

Referendum

An election in which the state legislature submits proposed legislation or constitutional amendments to voters for approval.

Retrospective Judgement

A voter’s evaluation of a candidate based on past performance on a particular issue.

Super PAC

Political action committees established to make independent expenditures.

Turnout

The proportion of the voting-age public that casts a ballot.

Unconventional Political Participation

Activism that attempts to influence politics through unusual or extreme measures such as protests or boycotts.

Yellow Journalism

A form of newspaper publishing in vogue in the late nineteenth century that featured sensationalized news coverage.