Chapter 9 - Dual Credit National Govt

presidential primary

A statewide primary election of delegates

to a political party’s national convention,

held to determine a party’s presidential

nominee.

primary election

An election in which political parties choose their candidates for the general election.

general election

An election open to all eligible voters, normally held on the first Tuesday in November, that determines who will fill various elected positions

political consultant

A paid professional hired to devise a campaign strategy and manage a campaign.

focus group

A small group of individuals who are led in discussion by a professional consultant in order to gather opinions on and responses to candidates and issues.

political action committee (PAC)

A committee set up by and representing a corporation, labor union, or interest group. PACs raise and give campaign donations

Hatch Act

An act passed in 1939 that restricted the political activities of government employees. it also prohibited a political group from spending more than $3 million in any campaign and limited individual contributions to a campaign committee to $5,000.

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

The federal regulatory agency with the task of enforcing federal campaign laws. As a practical matter, the FEC’s role is largely limited to collecting data on campaign contributions.

issue advocacy

Advertising paid for by interest groups that may support or oppose a candidate’s position on an issue without mentioning voting or elections.

soft money

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

independent expenditures

Nonregulated contributions from PACs, organizations, and individuals. The funds may be spent on advertising or other campaign activities, so long as those expenditures are not coordinated with those of a candidate.

super PAC

A political organization that aggregates unlimited contributions by individuals and organizations to be spent independently of candidate committees.

superdelegate

A party leader or elected official who is given the right to vote at the party’s national convention. Superdelegates are not selected at the state level

invisible primary

The pre primary campaign to win supporters among elected officials, fundraisers, interest groups, and opinion leaders.

direct primary

A primary election in which voters decide party nominations by voting directly for candidates

indirect primary

A primary election in which voters choose convention delegates, and the delegates determine the party’s candidate in the general election.

closed primary

A type of primary in which the voter is limited to choosing candidates of the party of which he or she is a member.

open primary

A primary in which any registered voter can vote (but must vote for candidates of only one party).

caucuses

A meeting of party members to select candidates and propose policies.

front-runner

The presidential candidate who appears to be ahead at a given time in the primary season

front-loading

The practice of moving presidential primary elections to the early part of the campaign to maximize the impact of these primaries on the nomination.

credentials committee

A committee used by political parties at their national conventions to determine which delegates may participate.

elector

A member of the electoral college. The college selects the president and vice president. Each state’s electors are chosen in each presidential election year according to state laws.

Australian ballot

A secret ballot prepared, distributed, and tabulated by government officials at public expense. Since 1888, all states have used the Australian ballot rather than an open, public ballot.

office-block ballot or Massachusetts ballot

A form of general election ballot in which candidates for elective office are grouped together under the title of each office. it emphasizes voting for the office and the individual candidate, rather than for the party.

party-column ballot or Indiana ballot

A form of general election ballot in which all of a party’s candidates for elective office are arranged in one column under the party’s label and symbol. it emphasizes voting for the party, rather than for the office or individual.

coattail effect

The influence of a popular candidate on the success of other candidates on the same party ticket.

voter turnout

The percentage of citizens taking part in the election process; the number of eligible voters that actually “turn out” on Election Day to cast their ballots.

midterm elections

National elections in which candidates for president are not on the ballot. in midterm elections, voters choose all members of the U.S. House of Representatives and one third of the members of the U.S. Senate.

voting-age population

The number of people of voting age living in the country at a given time, regardless of whether they have the right to vote.

vote-eligible population

The number of people who, at a given time, enjoy the right to vote in national elections.

registration

The entry of a person’s name onto the list of registered voters for elections. To register, a person must meet certain legal requirements of age, citizenship, and residency.

Presidential Qualifications

1. 35 years of age

2. a natural born citizen (cannot have been naturalized)

3. have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years

Vice - Presidential Qualifications

NONE. no requirements for vice president.

Senator qualifications

1. 9 years as a U.S. citizen

2. 30 yrs old at least

3. inhabitant of the state

House of Representatives Qualifications

1. 25 yrs of age

2. citizen of U.S. for at least 7 yrs

3. must be an inhabitant of the State from which they are elected.

Illinois Governor

1. U.S. citizen

2. at least 25 yrs old

3. a resident of this state for 3 years preceding his election

Member of the General Assembly

1. a U.S. citizen

2. at least 21 yrs old

3. for 2 years preceding his election or appointment a resident of the district which he is to represent.

Federal Judges Qualifications

NONE. no formal qualifications, exams. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!

Illinois State Judges Qualifications

1. U.S. citizen

2. a licensed attorney at law of this state

3. a resident of the unit which selects him

How many senators are there?

100 Senators, 2 from every state

How many in the House of Representatives?

435

Requirements to run a good campaign

1. expertise in political polling and marketing

2. professional assistance fundraising accounting and marketing

3. technological capabilities

Hard money

refers to direct, federally regulated financial contributions made to specific political candidates, parties, or traditional political action committees (PACs) that are subject to strict legal dollar limits and public disclosure requirements.

Soft money

refers to unregulated financial contributions given to political parties or outside groups for general "party-building" activities rather than directly to a specific candidate's campaign.

Hatch Act 1939

a federal law that restricts the partisan political activities of most executive branch civilian employees and certain state and local workers to ensure a neutral, nonpartisan government.

The Federal Election Campaign Act 1974

an independent U.S. government agency established in the 1970s following the Watergate scandal to oversee federal campaign finance laws for presidential and congressional races

Political action committees

are tax-exempt organizations that pool campaign contributions from members and donate those funds to campaigns for or against political candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation.