Unit 5 Review Campaigns/Elections

absentee voting

The casting of a ballot in advance by mail in situations where illness, travel, or other circumstances prevent voters from voting in their precinct.

Australian ballot

A government printed ballot of uniform size and shape to be cast in secret that was adopted by many states around 1890 in order to reduce the voting fraud associated with party printed ballots cast in public.

Buckley v. Valeo

A case in which the Supreme Court of the United States upheld federal limits on campaign contributions and ruled that spending money to influence elections is a form of constitutionally protected free speech. The court also stated candidates can give unlimited amounts of money to their own campaigns.

Caucus

meeting of party members held to select delegates to the national convention

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

corporations have 1st amendment right to support political candidates with donations

closed primary

a type of primary in which voting in a party's primary is limited to members of that party

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

banned soft money contributions to national political parties from corporations and unions; independent expenditures by corporations, labor unions, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations are sharply restricted

coattail effect

the phenomenon by which candidates running for lower-level offices such as city council benefit in an election from the popularity of a top-of-ticket nominee

general election

an election that determines which candidates win the offices being sought

Federal Election Commission

A six-member bipartisan agency created by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974. The federal Election Commission administers and enforces campaign finance laws.

grassroots organizing

tasks that involve direct contact with voters or potential voters

Incumbency

the situation of already holding the office that is up for reelection

incumbent advanatage phenomenon

the ability to use all the tools available to an incumbent candidate for a second term.

Initiative

a citizen-sponsored proposal that can result in new or amended legislation or a state constitutional amendment

midterm election

The congressional election that occurs midway through the president's term of office

open primary

A type of primary in which both parties' ballots are available in the voting booth, and the voters simply select one on which to register their preferences.

party-column ballot

a ballot that organizes the candidates by political party

plurality

Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election, not necessarily more than half.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

formal groups formed from interest groups, who donate heavily to incumbents.

proposition

a proposed measure placed on the ballot in an initiative election

polling place

the place where the voters who live in a certain precinct go to vote

Precinct

A voting district

prospective voting

A method of evaluating candidates in which voters focus on candidates' positions on issues important to them and vote for the candidates who best represent their views.

Rational Choice Theory

the idea that when deciding to vote, individuals will consider both how much they care about the outcome of an election and the likelihood that their vote will be important in influencing its outcome.

Recall

a special election in which citizens can vote to remove a public official from office

primary election

election in which voters decide which of the candidates within a party will represent the party in the general election

Referundum

an election in which voters in a state can vote for or against a measure proposed by the state legislature

retrospective voting

a method of evaluating candidates in which voters evaluate incumbent candidates and decide whether to support them based on their past performance

soft money

Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.

runoff election

a "second round" election in which voters choose between the top two candidates from the first round

split ticket

voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election

Super PACs

political organizations that use contributions from individuals, corporations, and labor unions to spend unlimited sums independent from the campaigns, yet influencing the outcomes of elections

salient

most noticeable or important

Super Tuesday

A Tuesday in early March in which many presidential primaries, particularly in the South, are held.

turnout rate

the proportion of eligible voters who actually voted

voter fatigue

the result when voters grow tired of voting and stay home from the polls

Reasons why people don't vote

lack of efficacy, voter fatigue, negative campaigns, election structure, and rational choice theory.