AP GOV VOCAB

Primary season

The time when parties pick their candidates.

Horse race journalism

Media focuses on polls and 'who’s winning,' not issues.

Frontloading

States move primaries earlier to get more influence.

Super Tuesday

A big day when many states hold primaries at once.

Campaign manager

Person who runs and organizes a campaign.

National Convention

Party meeting to officially pick the presidential nominee.

Delegate

A person chosen to vote for a candidate at the convention.

Swing state

A state that could vote either party; not predictable.

Party platform

The official beliefs and goals of a party.

Plurality

Most votes (not necessarily majority).

Electoral College

System that elects the president using state electors.

Inauguration

Ceremony when the president officially takes office.

Campaign finance

Money raised and spent on elections.

Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974

Law that set rules on campaign money.

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

Enforces campaign finance laws.

Hard money

Regulated, limited donations directly to a candidate.

Soft money

Unregulated money given to parties, not candidates.

Buckley v. Valeo

Candidates can spend unlimited money on their own campaign.

Independent expenditures

Money spent by outside groups, not coordinated with candidates.

Issue ads

Ads that talk about issues, not directly telling you how to vote.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Group that raises money to support candidates.

McCain-Feingold (BCRA 2002)

Limited soft money and issue ads close to elections.

Super PAC

Can raise/spend unlimited money but cannot coordinate with candidates.

Citizens United v. FEC

Corporations/unions can spend unlimited money on elections (free speech).

Two-party system

Only two major parties dominate.

Third party

A smaller party outside the big two.

Critical election

A major shift in party loyalty.

Realignment

When voting groups permanently switch party support.

Dealignment

People stop identifying with either party.

Redistricting

Redrawing House district boundaries.

Reapportionment

Reassigning how many House seats each state gets after the census.

Single-member district

One representative per district.

Party machine

Local political organization that controls votes and jobs.

Gerrymandering

Drawing districts to favor one party.

Independent redistricting commissions

Non-partisan groups that draw fair districts.

Baker v. Carr

Allowed federal courts to review redistricting ('one person, one vote').

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Protected minority voting rights; banned discriminatory voting laws.

Reno v. Shaw (Shaw v. Reno)

Race cannot be the main factor in drawing districts.

Franking privilege

Congress members can mail for free to voters.

Incumbency

Already holding office; gives big election advantages.

17th Amendment

Senators are elected directly by voters, not state legislatures.

Advise and consent

Senate approves presidential appointments/treaties.

Senatorial courtesy

President asks home-state senators before picking local judges.

Confirmation hearing

Senate questioning of nominees before approval.

Open primary

Anyone can vote in either party’s primary.

Closed primary

Only registered party members can vote.

Blanket primary

Voters can pick candidates from any party on one ballot.

Caucus

Local party meeting to choose candidates.

Bureaucrat

Government worker who carries out laws.

G/S Scale (GS Scale)

Pay scale for federal employees.

Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)

Ended patronage; hires based on merit.