Chapter 10 & 11 Quiz Review

Presidential Primaries

Presidential Primaries

A statewide primary election of delegates to a political party’s national convention, held to determine a party’s presidential nominee

Superdelegate

A party leader or elected official who is given the right to vote at the party’s national convention

Why do people run?

To further their careers, carry out political programs, or in response to specific issues or events. Self interests and personal goals > issues.

Eligibility for the President

Must be natural born citizen, 35 y/o, and resident of the country for at least 14 years

Eligibility for the Vice President

Must be a natural born citizen, 35 y/o and must not be a resident of the same state as the president

Eligibility for Senators

Must be a citizen for at least 9 years, 30 y/o, and resident of the state they’re elected in

Eligibility for Representatives

Must be a citizen for at least 7 years, 25 y/o, and resident of the state they’re elected in

Political Consultant

A paid professional hired to devise a campaign strategy and manage a campaign

Finance Chairperson

Campaign professional who directs fundraising, campaign spending and compliance with campaign finance laws and reporting

Pollster

The person or firm who conducts public opinion polls for the campaign

Communications Director

The specialist who plans the communication strategy and advertising campaign for the candidate

Press Secretary

Person who interacts with journalists covering the campaign

Tracking Polls

A poll taken for the candidate on a nearly daily basis as election day approaches

Focus Group

A small group led in a discussion by a professional consultant in order to gather opinions on and responses to the candidates and issues

Spin

An interpretation of a campaign events or election results that is favorable to the candidates campaign strategy

Spin Doctors

Political campaign advisers who try to convince journalists of the truth of an interpretation of events

Corrupt Practices Act (1925)

A series of acts passed by Congress in an attempt to limit and regulate the size and sources of contributions

Hatch Act (1939)

Act restricting political activities of government employees

Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

No limit on overall spending but restricted spending on advertising if it came from public money

Hard Money

Political contributes and campaign spending that is recorded

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A committee set up by and representing a corporation, labor union or special interest group. PAC’s raise and give campaign donations

Soft Money

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

Issue Advocacy Advertising

Advertising paid for by interest groups that support or oppose a candidate or a candidates position on an issue

Super PAC

A political committee that can accept unlimited contributions to spend supporting a candidate as long as its efforts are not coordinated with the candidates own campaign

Independent Expenditures

Non regulated contributions from PACs, organizations, and individuals

“Beauty Contest”

A presidential primary in which contending compete for popular votes but the results do not control the selection of delegates to the national convention

Front-Runner

The presidential candidate who appears to be ahead at a given time in the primary season

Front-Loading

The practice of moving presidential primary elections to the early part of the campaign to maximize the impact of those primaries on the nomination

Credentials Committee

Used by political parties at their national conventions to determine which delegates may participate

Battleground State

A state likely to be so closely fought that the campaigns devote exceptional effort to winning the popular and electoral vote there

Constituents

One of the persons represented by a legislator or other elected or appointed official

Homestyle

The actions and behaviors of a member of Congress aimed at the constituents and intended to win the support and trust of the voters at home

Hillstyle

The actions and behaviors of a member of Congress intended to promote policies and the member’s own career aspirations

Bicameralism

The division of a legislature into two separate assemblies

Logrolling

An arrangement in which two or more members of Congress agree in advance to support each other’s bills

Representation

The function of members of Congress as elected officials representing the views of their constituents

Trustee

A legislator who acts according to her or his conscience and the broad interests of the entire society

Instructed Delegate

A legislator who is an agent of the voters who elected him or her and who votes according to the views of constituents regardless of personal beliefs

Casework

Personal work for constituents by members of Congress

Ombudsperson

A person who hears and investigates complaints by private individuals against public officials or agencies

Oversight

The process by which Congress follows up on laws it has enacted to ensure that they are being enforced and administrated in the way Congress intended

Enumerated Power

A power specifically granted to the national government by the constitution

Rules Committee

A standing committee of the House that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended and considered by the House

Unanimous Consent Agreement

An agreement on the rules of debate for proposed legislation in the Senate that is approved by all the members

Filibuster

The use of the Senate’s tradition of unlimited debate as a delaying tactic to block a bill

Unorthodox Law Making

The use of out-of-the-ordinary parliamentary tactics to pass legislation

Direct Primary

An intraparty election in which the voters select the candidates who will run on a party’s ticket in the subsequent general election

Party Identifier

Someone who identifies with a political party

Reapportionment

The allocation of seats in the House of Representatives to each state after each census

Redistricting

The redrawing of the boundaries of the congressional districts within each state

Justiciable Question

A question that may be raised and reviewed in court

Gerrymandering

The drawing of legislative district boundary lines to obtain an advantage over your opponents.

Franking

A policy that enables members of Congress to send material through the mail by substituting their facsimile signature (Frank) for postage.

Discharge Petition

A procedure by which a bill in the House may be forced (discharged) out of a committee that has refused to report it for consideration. The petition must be signed by an absolute majority (218) of reps and is used only on rare occasions.

Standing Committee

A permanent committee in the House or Senate that considers bills within a certain subject area

Select Committee

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose

Joint Committee

A legislative committee composed of members from both chambers of Congress

Conference Committee

A special joint committee is appointed to reconcile differences when bills pass the two chambers of Congress in different forms.

Seniority System

A custom followed in both chambers of Congress specifying that the member of the majority party with the longest term of continuous service will be given preference when a committee chairperson is selected

Safe Seat

A district that returns a legislator with 55% of the vote or more

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer in the House of Reps. The speaker is always a member of the majority party and is the most powerful and influential member of the house.

Majority Leader of the House

A legislative position held by an important party member in the House of Reps. The majority leader is selected by the majority party in caucus or conference to foster cohesion among party members and to act as spokesperson for the majority party.

Minority Leader of the House

The party leader elected by the minority party in the House.

Whip

A member of Congress who aids the majority or minority leader of the House or the Senate

President Pro Tempore

The temporary presiding officer of the Senate in the absence of the vice president.

Senate Majority Leader

The chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate, who directs the legislative program and party strategy.

Senate Minority Leader

The party officer in the Senate who leads the minority party’s opposition to the policies of the majority party and directs the legislative program and strategy of their party

Conservative Coalition

An alliance of Republicans and Southern Democrats that can Form in the House or Senate to oppose liberal legislation and support conservative legislation

Blue Dog Democrats

Members of Congress from more moderate states or districts who sometimes “cross over” to vote with Republicans on legislation

Earmarks (Pork)

Funding appropriations that are specifically designated for a named project in a member’s state or districts

Executive Budget

The budget prepared and submitted by the president to Congress

Fiscal Year

A 12-month period that is used for accounting purposes. Federal fiscal year is from October 1st to September 30th.

Spring Review

The annual process in which the Office of Management and Budget requires federal agencies to review their programs, activities, and goals and submit their requests for funding for the next fiscal year

Fall Review

The annual process in which the Office of Management and Budget reviews the Spring Review requests, makes changes and submits its recommendations to the president.

Authorization

A formal deceleration by a legislative committee that a certain amount of funding may be available to an agency.

Appropriation

The passage, by Congress, of a spending bill specifying the amount of authorized funds that actually will be allocated for an agency’s use.

First Budget Resolution

A resolution passed by Congress in May that sets overall revenue and spending goals for the following fiscal year