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Australian ballot
A secret ballot prepared by the government, distributed to all eligible voters, and, when balloting is completed, counted by government officials in an unbiased fashion, without corruption or regard to individual preferences
Open primary
A type of primary in which both parties' ballots are available in the voting booth, and the voters simply select one on which to register their preferences; any registered voter can vote in any party's primary, as can independent voters not registered with a party
Closed primary
A type of primary in which voting in a party's primary is limited to members of that party
Semi-closed primary
Primary for registered party members and unaffiliated voters.
Caucus
A meeting of party members held to select delegates to the national convention
Unpledged PLEOS
Delegates not bound to vote for a specific candidate.
Frontloading
Scheduling primaries early to gain influence in nominations.
Swing states
States with no predictable voting outcome in elections.
Swing voters
Voters who can change their party preference in elections.
Electoral College
Body electing the President based on state votes.
Reapportionment
Redistribution of congressional seats based on population changes.
Redistricting
Redrawing district boundaries after reapportionment.
Open seats
Electoral positions without an incumbent running.
Incumbency
The situation of already holding the office that is up for reelection.
Coattail effect
The phenomenon by which candidates running for lower-level offices such as city council benefit in an election from the popularity of a top-of-ticket nominee.
Safe seat
Legislative seat likely to be retained by a party.
Permanent campaign
Continuous campaigning to maintain political support.
Party images
Party images: a set of widely held associations between a party and particular issues and values
Delegates
Individuals chosen to represent voters at conventions.
Invisible primary
Early campaigning and fundraising before official primaries.
Information costs
Expenses incurred to gather information for voting.
Voting age population
All the people in the U.S. over the age of 18, including those who may not be legally eligible to vote.
Voter eligible population
Total population eligible to register and vote.
Retrospective voting
Voting based on past performance of candidates.
Prospective voting
Voting based on expected future performance of candidates.
Suffrage
The right to vote in political elections.
Franchise
Legal right to vote in elections.
Compulsory voting
Mandatory requirement to participate in elections.
Voter malaise
The condition in which voters grow tired of all candidates by the time Election Day arrives, and may thus be less likely to vote; lengthiness of campaigns can cause it
Voter registration
Process of signing up to be eligible to vote.
Voter mobilization
Efforts to encourage voter participation in elections.
Civic duty
Responsibility of citizens to participate in governance.
Social connectedness
the many ways in which our lives are improved by social connections; people with a greater number of social ties live longer, happier, and healthier lives; it stimulates individuals to communicate and interact with their governments; efficacy increases
Rational voting
Voting based on informed and logical decision-making.
Motor Voter Law
Law facilitating voter registration at motor vehicle agencies. (Must have license to vote)
Dark money
Political spending by undisclosed donors.
Political party
Group seeking to influence government policy and elections.
National convention
Event where parties nominate presidential candidates.
Party platform
Set of principles and policies adopted by a party.
Patronage
The system in which a party leader rewarded political supporters with jobs or government contracts in exchange for their support of the party; a device party leaders used to reward political supporters.
Buckley v Valeo
1976 Supreme Court case which took out rules which limited money individuals could contribute to their own campaign
Party ID
Individual's identification with a political party.
Doctrinal third parties
Parties based on specific ideological beliefs.
Transient third parties
Parties that emerge for short-lived issues.
Single-member simple plurality
electoral system in which the country is divided into geographic districts, and the candidates who win the most votes within their districts are elected.
Proportional representation
electoral system in which parties receive a share of seats in parliament that is proportional to the popular vote they receive
Party in government
The partisan identifications of elected leaders in local, county, state, and federal government
Party as organization
Formal structure and operations of a political party.
Party in the electorate
Voters identifying with a political party.
Party coalitions
Alliances between parties to achieve common goals.
Responsible parties
developed by E. E. Schattschneider, posits that a party tries to give voters a clear choice by establishing priorities or policy stances different from those of the rival party or parties
Party alignment
existence of social and economic groups that consistently support each party
Realignment
occurs when the pattern of group support for political parties shifts in a significant and lasting way
Dealignment
Decline in party loyalty among the electorate.
Critical election
Electoral earthquake where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. Party realignment is the displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period.
Populism
A philosophy supporting the rights and empowerment of the masses as opposed to elites; Jacksonian Democrats
Interest groups
An organization that seeks to achieve goals by influencing government decision making
Social Movements
Collective efforts to promote social change.
Pluralist theory
A theory that holds that policy making is a competition among diverse interest groups that ensure the representation of individual interests; emphasize the importance for a democracy to have large numbers of diverse interest groups representing a wide variety of views so that not one group dominates
Elite theory
Theory suggesting power held by a small elite.
Political Action Committees
An entity whose specific goal is to raise and spend money to influence the outcome of elections
Super PACs
Independent expenditure-only committees for political spending.
Solidary incentives
the feeling of belonging, companionship, friendship, and the satisfaction derived from socializing with others; has to do with social value; brings some sense of fulfillment; closely related with social capital (related to the psychological satisfaction derived from civic participation)Ex. joining Sierra Club
Purposive incentives
Motivation to join an interest group based on the belief in the group's cause from an ideological or a moral standpoint; related to the groups purpose/existenceEx. joining PETA
Material/Economic incentives
Motivation to join an interest group because the group works for policies that will provide members with material benefits; you can touch/hold the benefit; tangible, concrete items; often something fiscal; directly related to free-rider issueEx. joining AARP
Lobbying
Interest group activities intended to influence directly the decisions that public officials make
Grassroots lobbying
engaging in tasks that involve direct contact with potential voters, including volunteering on and contributing to party-run campaigns, volunteering in party headquarters, and running for office
Economic interest groups
Groups representing economic interests and industries.
Trade and professional interest groups
Organizations advocating for specific professions or trades.
Free rider problem
arises when people can enjoy the benefits of group activity without bearing any of the costs
Issue networks
The fluid web of connections among those concerned about a policy and those who create and administer the policy
Iron triangle
The interaction of mutual interests among members of Congress, executive agencies, and organized interests during policy making
Direct action
Immediate, confrontational tactics to achieve goals.
Involves everything from peaceful sit-in and demonstrations to riots and even rebellion
Litigation
Involves carrying out a legal strategy to utilize court decisions to support the interest group's goals
Amicus curiae brief
Legal document offering information to a court, intended to influence litigation outcome)
Speechnow.org v FEC
Case ruling that donations to a PAC that make only independent expenditures can't be limited. Allowed SuperPACs to be made.
Citizens United v FEC
represented a turning point on campaign finance, allowing unlimited election spending by corporations and labor unions
15th Amendment
extended the voting franchise to black males, but many could not exercise this vote in parts of the South
19th Amendment
Gave women the right to vote in every state
23rd Amendment
Granted residents of Washington, D.C. the right to vote for presidential electors
24th Amendment
Eliminated poll taxes
26th Amendment
Guaranteed right to vote for those under the age of 21, changed voting age to 18
