Elections in America Exam 3

McCain-Feingold

A 2002 law that reformed contribution to candidates, Banned soft money

Strategic Retirement

Choosing not to run for reelection usually due to an unfavorable reelection environment, Republicans do this more

Contract for America

Campaign platform by Republicans in 1994, would increase defense spending and lower taxes, first real effort to nationalize elections

The Big Mo

If you win in early states in primary, you get a lot of momentumn and money, explains why early states effect on who wins the election

Race to 270

Number of electoral votes to win a presidential eelection, Presidential candiadates really just focus on a handful of swing states and usually ignore the rest

Caucus

One of two primary contests, people come together in an informal meeting and declare a candidate to support, lower participation due to it being time consuming and tend to be more on the political extreme

Warchest

Money that incumbent has from previous campaigns, one source of incumbency advantage

FECA of 1971

First major campaign finance law, put limits on campaign expendatures and had reporting requirements, SCOTUS tosed out spending limits

Secretary of State

Position that exists in most states, in-charge of elections, 33 states have it elected

Presidential Coattails

When president is elected, members of his party win on his coattails, no evidence for it

Electoral Coalitions

Groups that support poiltical parties, we have broad coalitions in the United States

Duveger’s Law

Predicts number of viable parties by calculating members per district plus 1, this prediction mostly gets it wrong

Matching Funds

Add to amendments to FECA in 1974 that if you got a certain amount of donations, you get a certain amount in matching funds and these candidates promise to not take any more donations, both parties have stopped using them

Self-Starters

People who choose to run for office without anyone telling them to, women and minorities are less likely to be self-starters

Profession candidate

A candiddate that has held elected office before, more likely to win congressional elections

Party Bloc Ballot

Candidates on the ballot listed by party, increases straight ticket voting

Closed Primary

Primaries where only party registered people can vote in a primary, primary rules will effect the outcome

At the Polls Registration

Where voters can register to vote on elections day at the polling place, slightly increases voter turnout