Unit 4-5 (Political Beliefs and Participation) Vocabulary

Free rider problem

When people benefit from a public good or service without paying for it, making it harder to fund (common in interest groups).

Spoiler role

When a third-party candidate takes votes away from a major candidate, affecting the election outcome.

Stand by Your Ad provision

Law requiring candidates to state their approval of campaign ads ("I approve this message").

501(c)(3)s

Nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt and cannot engage in political campaigning.

501(c)(4)s

Nonprofits that can engage in political activities but are not required to disclose donors.

527 groups / 527s

Tax-exempt groups that raise money for political activities, often issue advocacy.

Adversarial press

Media that actively investigates and challenges government actions.

Agenda setting

Media's ability to influence what issues the public considers important.

Amicus curiae briefs

"Friend of the court" briefs submitted by non-parties to influence court decisions.

Attack ads

Campaign ads that criticize an opponent.

Battleground states / Swing states

States where either party has a strong chance of winning.

Beats

Specific topics reporters are assigned to cover regularly.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)

Law that limited soft money and regulated political advertising.

Broadcasting

Media sent to a broad audience (TV, radio).

Buckley v. Valeo

Supreme Court case allowing unlimited personal spending but limiting campaign contributions.

Campaign management

Organization and strategy behind a candidate's campaign.

Candidate recruitment

Process of encouraging people to run for office.

Case law

Law established by court decisions.

Caucus

Meeting of party members to select candidates or discuss policies.

Centrism

Moderate political position between liberal and conservative.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Allowed unlimited independent political spending by corporations and unions.

Civic engagement

Participation in activities that improve community or influence government.

Closed primary

Only registered party members can vote.

Coattail effect

When a popular candidate helps others in their party win.

Congressional primary

Election to choose party nominees for Congress.

Consensus

General agreement among a group.

Conservatism

Ideology favoring limited government, free markets, and tradition.

Consumer-driven media outlets

Media shaped by audience preferences and demand.

Contemporary political issues

Current events affecting politics.

Critical elections

Elections that cause major shifts in party alignment.

Dark money

Political spending by groups that don't disclose donors.

Dealignment

Decline in party loyalty.

Delegate

Party representative at a convention.

Democratic Party

One of the two major U.S. parties, generally more liberal.

Divided government

When different parties control different branches.

Drafting of legislation

Process of writing laws.

Election cycle

Period from one election to the next.

Electoral College

System used to elect the president.

Electorate

All eligible voters.

Electors

Individuals who cast electoral votes.

Elitism

Belief that a small, educated elite should lead.

Faithless elector

Elector who votes against their state's popular vote.

Federal Election Campaign Act (1971)

Regulated campaign finance and required disclosure.

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

Agency that enforces campaign finance laws.

Fifteenth Amendment

Prohibits denying vote based on race.

Focus group

Small group used to gauge opinions.

Framing

How media presents an issue to shape perception.

Front-loading

States holding primaries early in the election season.

Gatekeeper

Media deciding which stories to publish.

Gender gap

Difference in political views between men and women.

GOTV (Get Out The Vote)

Efforts to increase voter turnout.

Grandfather clause

Law allowing exemptions from restrictions based on ancestry.

Grassroots lobbying

Mobilizing the public to influence policy.

Hard money

Regulated donations directly to candidates.

Hatch Act

Limits political activity of federal employees.

Horse race journalism

Media focusing on who's winning rather than issues.

Hyper-pluralism

Too many competing groups causing government gridlock.

Ideologically oriented programming

Media with clear political bias.

Incumbency advantage

Benefits current officeholders have in elections.

Independent

Voter not affiliated with a party.

Independent candidate

Candidate not affiliated with a party.

Independent expenditures

Spending for political communication not coordinated with campaigns.

Indirect lobbying

Influencing public opinion to pressure officials.

Initiative

Citizens propose laws via petition.

Interest group

Organization that seeks to influence policy.

Investigative journalism

In-depth reporting to uncover wrongdoing.

Invisible primary

Early fundraising and support before primaries.

Iowa Caucuses

First major presidential nominating contest.

Issue ads

Ads focusing on political issues, not candidates.

Issue advocacy advertising

Promoting issues without explicitly supporting a candidate.

Liberalism

Ideology favoring government action for equality and welfare.

Libertarianism

Ideology favoring minimal government in both economy and personal life.

Linkage institution

Structures connecting people to government (e.g., parties, media).

Literacy test

Test used to restrict voting rights.

Lobbying

Attempting to influence government decisions.

Lobbyist

Person who advocates for an interest group.

Majority

More than 50%.

Mass media

Means of communication reaching large audiences.

Media bias

Perceived or real favoritism in reporting.

Media strategy

Planned use of media in campaigns.

Media

Communication outlets.

Midterm elections

Elections held between presidential elections.

Mobilization of membership

Encouraging group members to participate politically.

Moderate

Middle political position.

Muckraking

Investigative journalism exposing corruption.

Narrowcasting

Targeting specific audiences.

National Convention

Party meeting to select presidential nominee.

National popular vote

Total votes cast nationwide.

New Hampshire Primary

First primary election in presidential races.

News source & information credibility

Reliability of media information.

Nineteenth Amendment

Granted women the right to vote.

Open primary

Voters can choose any party's primary.

Party chairperson

Leader of a party organization.

Party conventions

Meetings to nominate candidates and set platforms.

Party organization

Structure of political parties.

Party platform

Official party positions on issues.

Party-in-government

Party members holding office.

Party-in-the-electorate

Party supporters among voters.

Party-line voting

Voting consistently with one's party.

Patronage

Giving jobs for political support.