Campaigns and Elections Review

These flashcards cover key concepts related to campaigns and elections, including administration, election processes, finance regulations, and significant court cases.

State and Local Administration of Elections

States run elections, including ballot formats, voter registration rules, and congressional district lines.

Electoral College

A body that formally elects the President and Vice President of the United States based on the results of state elections.

Incumbent Advantage Phenomenon

The tendency for current officeholders to have an advantage over challengers in elections.

Primaries and Caucuses

Processes by which political parties select their candidates for the general election, including the invisible primary, open, and closed primaries.

Front-loading

The practice of scheduling primaries early in the election season to gain media attention and influence.

General Election

The election held to choose among candidates nominated by political parties as well as any independent candidates.

Swing States

States where both Democratic and Republican candidates have similar levels of support among voters, critical in determining electoral outcomes.

Third-Party Candidates

Candidates representing political parties other than the two major parties (Democratic and Republican) during elections.

Campaign Finance

The funding of political campaigns and the regulations governing the raising and spending of money for these campaigns.

Hard Money

Political contributions that are regulated by law through the Federal Election Commission.

Soft Money

Unregulated money that can be spent by parties on activities like party building and issue advocacy.

Dark Money

Political spending by nonprofit organizations that are not required to disclose their donors.

Buckley v. Valeo

A landmark Supreme Court case that struck down limits on individual contributions to political campaigns.

Citizens United v. FEC

A Supreme Court decision that allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited money on political campaigns.