Key Terms in U.S. Politics and Elections

Political Party

An organized group of people who share similar political beliefs and work to elect candidates to influence government.

Coalition

An alliance of different groups or individuals who unite to achieve a common political goal.

Caucus

A meeting of party members to choose candidates or decide policies and strategies.

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

A government agency that enforces campaign finance laws and oversees federal elections.

Super PAC

A group that can raise and spend unlimited money to support or oppose candidates, but cannot coordinate with campaigns.

Political Spectrum

A system that classifies political beliefs along a range, such as liberal to conservative.

Partisanship

Strong support for a specific political party, often leading to bias.

Swing Voters

Voters who do not consistently support one party and may switch between elections.

Soft Money

Donations to political parties for general activities, not directly for a candidate.

Battleground States

States where both parties have similar support, making them highly competitive in elections.

Bipartisanship

Cooperation between two major political parties.

Precinct

The smallest voting district where people cast their ballots.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

An organization that raises and donates money to support or oppose candidates within legal limits.

Hard Money

Donations given directly to a candidate's campaign that are regulated by law.

Presidential Elections

The election process where voters choose the President and Vice President every four years through the Electoral College.