chapter 9 flashcards

ap gov

incumbent

incumbent

A politician running for reelection to the office he or she currently holds

open primary

A primary election in which any registered voter can participate in the contest, regardless of party affiliation

A primary election in which any registered voter can participate in the contest, regardless of party affiliation

primary where anyone who is a registered member of the party or registered as an Independent can vote.

closed primary

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

general election

The election in which voters cast ballots for House members, senators, and (every four years) a president and vice president.

plurality voting

A voting system in which the candidate who receives the most votes within a geographic area wins the election, regardless of whether that candidate wins a majority (more than half) of the votes.

majority voting

A voting system in which a candidate must win more than 50 percent of votes to win the election. If no candidate wins enough votes to take office, a runoff election is held between the top two vote-getters

runoff election

Under a majority voting system, a second election held only if no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the first general election. Only the top two vote-getters in the first election compete in the runoff.

primary

A ballot vote in which citizens select a party's nominee for the general election

caucus

A local meeting in which party members select a party's nominee for the general election.

proportional allocation

During the presidential primaries, the practice of determining the number of convention delegates allotted to each candidate based on the percentage of the popular vote cast for each candidate. All Democratic primaries and caucuses use this system, as do some states' Republican primaries and caucuses.

winner-take-all

During the presidential primaries, the practice of assigning all of a given state's delegates to the candidate who receives the most popular votes. Some states' Republican primaries and caucuses use this system.

electoral college

The body that votes to select America's president and vice president based on the popular vote in each state. Each candidate nominates a slate of electors who are selected to attend the meeting of the college if their candidate wins the most votes in a state or district.

popular vote

The votes cast by citizens in an election.

electoral votes

Votes cast by members of the electoral college; after a presidential candidate wins the popular vote in a given state, that candidate's slate of electors casts electoral votes for the candidate on behalf of that state.

election cycle

The two-year period between general elections.

open seat

An elected position for which there is no incumbent.

GOTV/the ground game

A campaign's efforts to "get out the vote" or make sure their supporters vote on Election Day.

Federal Election Commission

The government agency that enforces and regulates election laws; made up of six presidential appointees, of whom no more than three can be members of the same party.

hard money

Donations that are used to help elect or defeat a specific candidate.

soft money

Contributions that can be used for voter mobilization or to promote a policy proposal or point of view as long as these efforts are not tied to supporting or opposing a particular candidate.

paradox of voting

The question of why citizens vote even though their individual votes stand little chance of changing the election outcome

issue voters

People who are well informed about their own policy preferences and knowledgeable about the candidates, and who use all of this information when they decide how to vote.

voting cues

Pieces of information about a candidate that are readily available, easy to interpret, and lead a citizen to decide to vote for a particular candidate.

coattails

The idea that a popular president can generate additional support for candidates affiliated with his or her party. are weak or nonexistent in most American elections.

split ticket

A ballot on which a voter selects candidates from more than one political party.

straight ticket

A ballot on which a voter selects candidates from only one political party