Studied by 3 people
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
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Flashcard (46)