Unit V - Political Participation (Elections)

incumbent advantage

Person in office more likely to win (name recognition, free mailing, media coverage)

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

Largely banned party soft money, restored a long-standing prohibition on corporations and labor unions for using funds for electoral purposes, and narrowed the definition of issue advocacy.

First Amendment

5 freedoms: speech, press, religion, assembly, petition

open primary

A primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place

closed primary

A primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote

partisan

Devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause

Electoral College

a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

Single Member Districts

electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office

proportional representation

an electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them.

nominating convention

An official public meeting of a party to choose candidates for office

horse race journalism

news coverage that focuses on who is ahead rather than on the issues

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations

winner-take-all system

an election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins

Plurality

Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election, not necessarily more than half.

majority

The candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election.

credibility (in the media)

the act quality of trusting and believing a news source

consumer-driven (media)

influenced by the actions and needs of consumers

Media Bias

real or imagined prejudice that is thought to affect what stories journalists cover and how they report those stories

political commentary

Offers opinions on political issues, building arguments on evidence and assumptions

investigative journalism

the use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals or complex political issues at times putting reporters in adversarial relationships with political leaders

Citizens United v. FEC

Money is an expression of free speech, corporations have the right to free speech and can spend large amounts of money to influence elections (2010)

hard money

campaign contributions donated directly to candidates

soft money

Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.

general election

An election held to choose which candidate will hold office

Caucuses

meetings where political parties chose their candidates

Congressional Elections

held every two years on the first Tuesday in November

Presidential Elections

Elections held in years when the president is on the ballot.

professional consultants

Campaigns hire managers and experienced professionals to assist in every aspect of the campaign

campaign finance

Money that political candidates use for funding their expensive campaigns.

campaign management

guides candidates through political campaigns by performing such tasks as fundraising, planning events, and writing speeches

investigative journalism

the use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams, and schemes, at times putting reporters in adversarial relationships with political leaders

horse race journalism

news coverage that focuses on who is ahead rather than on the issues

social media

websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking.