Key Concepts in Political Science and Elections

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