apgov unit 5

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

banned the use of soft money in campaigns

blanket primary

voters may vote for candidates of either party

candidate centered campaign

Election campaigns and other political processes in which candidates, not political parties, have most of the initiative and influence

caucus

Locally held meeting in a state to select delegates who, in turn, will nominate candidates to political offices

Citizens United v. FEC

Supreme Court ruled that limiting the ability of businesses, unions, and other groups to fund their own efforts to elect or defeat candidates for office is unconstitutional

closed primary

only registered party members may vote

coattail effect

weaker or lesser-known candidates from the president's party profit from the president's popularity by winning votes

critical election

sharp changes in the existing patterns of party loyalty due to changing social and economic conditions

dealignment

When a significant number of voters choose to no longer support a particular political party

deviating election

minority party is able to win the support of majority party members

direct primary

party members vote to nominate their candidate for the general election

electoral college

representatives from each state who formally cast ballots for the president and vice president

electorate

the people eligible to vote

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

created under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 to administer and enforce campaign finance laws

Fifteenth Amendment

guarantees citizens' right to vote regardless of race

freedom of expression

freedom of speech or right to petition the government for redress as a First Amendment right

front-loading

Choosing an early date to hold the primary election

gatekeeper

media executives, news editors, and prominent reporters who decide what news to present and how it will be presented

general election

voters choose office holders from among all the candidates nominated by political parties or running as independents

grassroots

average voter at the local level

gridlock

when opposing parties and interests block each other's proposals

initiative

Allows voters to petition to propose legislation and then submit it for a vote by qualified voters

interest group

A group of private citizens whose goal is to influence and shape public policy

iron triangle

alliances that develop between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees

issue network

individuals in Washington who regularly discuss and advocate public policy

lobbying

Attempting to influence policymakers though a variety of methods

maintaining election

traditional majority power maintains power based on voters' party loyalty

mass media

All forms of communication that reach a large portion of the public

media event

A speech or photo opportunity staged to give a politician's view on an issue

mid-term election

congressional elections that take place in years when no presidential election is occuring

national chairperson

appointed by a committee as head of the party

New Deal coalition

alliance of the southern conservatives, religious, and ethnic minorities who supported the Democratic Party for 40 years

Nineteenth Amendment

establishes women's suffrage

off-year election

an election taking place in a year when no presidential elections are occurring; midterm election

open primary

voters may choose the candidates of either party

party in government

all of the appointed and elected officials at the national, state, and local levels who represent the party as members; office holders

party in organization

all of the people at the various levels of the party organization who work to maintain the strength of the party between elections, help raise money, and organize the conventions and party functions

party in the electorate

all of the people who associate themselves with one of the political parties

party-line voting

voting for candidates based upon the party to which they belong

Political Action Committee (PAC)

extension of an interest group that contributes money to political campaigns

political efficacy

Belief that a person can influence politics and public policymaking-vote makes a difference

political party

Voluntary association of people who seek to control the government through common principles

presidential preference primary

Voters select delegates to the presidential nominating convention

primary election

nominating election held to choose party candidates who will run in the general election

prospective voting

voting based on how the voter believes the candidate will perform in office

rational-choice voting

voting based on what voters perceive to be in their own best interest

realigning election

when a minority party wins by building a new coalition of voters that continues over successive elections

realignment

A shift of voting patterns to form new coaltions of party support

referendum

procedure whereby the state submits legislation to its voters for approval

retrospective voting

voting based on the past performance of a candidate

runoff primary

When no candidate receives a majority of votes

Seventeenth Amendment

established direct election of U.S. senators

single-member district

Only one representative is chosen from each district

soft money

money distributed from a national political party organization that was not regulated by law

split-ticket voting

voting for candidates from different parties in the same election

straight ticket voting

voting exclusively for the candidates of one party

Super Tuesday

day when most southern states hold presidential primaries

superdelegate

Party officials in the Democratic Party who attend the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses

trial balloon

Tests the public reaction to policy or appointments by releasing information to the media and gaugin public reaction

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

abolishes poll taxes as a requirement for voting

Twenty-Sixth Amendment

lowered the voting age to 18

two-party system

Several political parties exist