us democracy and participation

campaign finance

all funds raised to promote candidates, political parties, or policy initiatives and their agendas during an election

factions

• groups which make up political parties

• e.g. ideological wings, particular age and occupation groups, citizens concerned about particular issues

invisible primary

• period when candidates announce their bids for public office and when the actual primaries take place

• also called the money primary → candidates spend most of their time in this period raising money to show political strength

political action committee (PACs)

raises and spends money to elect/defeat electoral candidates with a donation limit of $5000 per candidate per election

party system

number of parties that have a realistic chance of forming government within a political system

policy group

a group that attempts to influence a whole policy area, e.g- American Israeli PAC (AIPAC)

professional group

group that represents the economic interests of its members, e.g. American Medical Association (AMA)

single interest group

a group that advocates policy surrounding a small, specific issue, e.g. NRA

hard money

when cash is contributed directly to a political candidate → may come only from an individual or a political action committee

soft money

when cash is contributed to a political party with no limits attached to the amount that can be received

super PACs

• super political action committee

• raises and spends unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose political candidates witjout directly donating or coordinating with them

religious right

• movement generally gives support to the Republican party

• ultra conservative religious response to the sexual revolution and an attempt to translate this into public policy

• e.g. opposing same-sex marriage, abortion and promoting family values