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Attentive public

Those who follow politics and public affairs carefully

Independent

One is not registered with a political party. Independent leaners tend to vote for candidates of one particular party, whereas pure independent have no consistent pattern of party voting.

Realigning (critical) election

An election in which there is a long term change in party alignment

Suffrage

Right to vote

Superdelegate

a delegate to the Democratic national convention who is there by virtue of holding an office

Horse race coverage

the tendency of the media to report on an election campaign as if it were a horse race

Nonpartisan elections

elections in which candidates are not identified by party membership on the ballot

party identification

a sense of affiliation that a person has with a particular political party.

straight ticket voting

casting votes only for candidates of one's party

general election

election in which the officeholders are chosen. Contrast with a primary election, in which only the candidates are chosen.

caucus

local party meeting

demographics

characteristics of populations, e.g., race, sex, income.

issue advocacy ads

ads that focus on issues and do not explicitly encourage citizens to vote for a certain candidate.

direct election

election of an official directly by the people rather than by an intermediary group such as the Electoral College.

party platform

a list of positions and programs that the party adopts at the national convention. Each position is called a plank.

ideology

set of beliefs about political values and the role of government.

closed primary

party election to choose candidates that is closed to independents. Voters may not cross party lines.

front loading

scheduling presidential primary elections early (e.g., February or March) in an election year.

single member district system

system in which the people elect one representative per district. With a winner-take-all rule, this system strengthens the two major parties and weakens minor parties. (we have this in USA)

political efficacy

capacity to understand and influence political events

independent

one who is not registered with a political party.

incumbent

an officeholder who is seeking reelection.

political culture

the widely shared beliefs, values, and norms that citizens share about their government.

schenck v united states

Supreme Court case that established that the first amendment could be denied if it presented a "clear and present danger"

safe seat

an office that is extremely likely to be won by a particular candidate or political party.

barron v baltimore

Supreme Court case that said the Bill of Rights didn't apply to the states (guy who's dock got messed up tried to sue the state government via the 5th amendment)

open primary

election to choose candidates that is open to independents, and in which voters may choose candidates from any one party.

political socialization

process in which one acquires his/her political beliefs.

solid south

historically, the South voted solidly Democratic. However, the South is now strongly Republican: Bush carried every Southern state in 2000

split ticket voting

casting votes for candidates of one's own party and for candidates of opposing parties, e.g., voting for a Republican presidential candidate and a Democratic congressional candidate.

marbury v madison

Supreme Court case that established the power of judicial review.

gitlow v new york

Supreme Court case that said that the 1st amendment would be incorporated via the 14th amendment to apply to the states.

plessy v ferguson

Supreme Court case that established the doctrine of "separate but equal."

balancing the ticket

occurs when a presidential nominee chooses a vice presidential running mate who has different qualities in order to attract more votes for the ticket.

super tuesday

a Tuesday in early March in which many presidential primaries, particularly in the South, are held.

coattail effect

the influence of a popular presidential candidate on the election of congressional candidates of the same party.

fixed terms

terms of office that have a definite length of time, e.g., two years for a member of the House.

swing state

a state that does not consistently vote either Democratic or Republican in presidential elections.

gender gap

difference in voting patterns for men and women, particularly in the greater tendency of the latter to vote for Democratic presidential candidates.

hard money

campaign contributions donated directly to candidates.

soft money

campaign contributions that are not donated directly to candidates, but are instead donated to parties.

plurality

more votes than anyone else, but less than half