AP Gov Chapter 9 (Elections)

GOTV

Efforts to increase voter turnout through canvassing, phone banking, messaging, and providing voter information.

Primary election

Determines a party's candidate for the general election.

General election

Voters choose from candidates representing different parties to fill public offices.

Open Primary

Voters can participate regardless of party affiliation.

Closed Primary

Only registered party members can vote in their party's primary.

Super Tuesday

A major day during the presidential primary season when many states vote simultaneously.

Runoff elections

Held when no candidate wins a required majority in an election. The top two finishers face off in a second round to determine the winner.

Referendum

A public vote on a law or policy.

Initiative

Citizens propose a law or amendment by collecting signatures.

Recall

A process that allows voters to remove elected officials from office before their term ends.

Australian Ballot

A voting method in which voters mark their choices in privacy, often using a standardized ballot.

Party-column ballot

A type of ballot that lists all candidates of a political party in a single column, allowing voters to select a party's entire slate at once.

Office Block ballot

A voting method that organizes candidates by office rather than by party, allowing voters to select candidates from different parties for each office.

Bush v Gore

The Supreme Court's decision stopped Florida's recount in the 2000 presidential election, effectively awarding George W. Bush the presidency.

HAVA (2002)

Mandated improvements in voting systems, voter registration databases, and accessibility to enhance election security and integrity.

Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act

A law passed in 2002 to regulate campaign financing by banning soft money contributions and increasing the limits on individual contributions to candidates.

Federal Election Commission (FEC) 1974

An independent regulatory agency established to enforce federal election laws, oversee campaign finance, and ensure transparency in the electoral process.

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Upheld contribution limits but struck down spending limits for candidates.

Citizens United v Federal Election Commission (2010)

The Supreme Court ruled that corporations and unions can spend unlimited amounts on political advocacy, citing free speech rights.

Prospective voting

Voters choose candidates based on future promises.

Retrospective voting

Voters base their decisions on past performance.

Rational Abstention thesis

The idea that some people choose not to vote because they believe the costs (time, effort) outweigh the perceived benefits.

Caucus

A meeting of party members to select candidates or decide policy.

Coattail Effect

The phenomenon where a strong candidate at the top of the ballot helps to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in lower races.

Butterfly Ballot

A type of ballot used in some elections where candidates' names are listed on a ballot that folds out in a butterfly shape, which can lead to voter confusion.

Absentee Voting

Voting by mail or in advance by those unable to attend the polls on Election Day.

Campaign Manager

The individual responsible for planning and executing a candidate's campaign strategy, managing staff, and coordinating various aspects of the election process.

Campaign Strategy

A comprehensive plan developed by a candidate's campaign to outline how to win an election, including messaging, targeting voters, and resource allocation.

Fund-raising conslutant

A professional who helps candidates raise money for their campaigns by developing fundraising strategies, identifying potential donors, and organizing fundraising events.

Super PACs

Political action committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections, often supporting specific candidates or issues.

Independent Expenditures

Spending by individuals or groups on political campaigns that is not coordinated with a candidate's campaign.

Motor Voter Act

A law that requires states to offer voter registration opportunities when individuals apply for or renew their driver's licenses and certain social services. This act aims to increase voter registration and participation.

1968 Democratic National Convention

political gathering held in Chicago, Illinois, from August 26 to August 29, 1968, to select the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee for the upcoming election. The convention became infamous for its chaotic and violent protests, both inside the convention hall and on the streets of Chicago.