AP Government Unit 5: Key Terms on Media, Parties, and Interest Groups

Mass Media

TV, radio, newspapers, and internet that communicate information to large audience

Media Event

Event staged mainly for media coverage and public attention

Press Conference

Meeting where officials answer questions from journalists

Investigative Journalism

In-depth reporting that uncovers hidden information or wrongdoing

Narrowcasting

Targeting media messages to a specific audience

Selective Exposure

Choosing media that supports existing beliefs

Chains

Groups of newspapers or media outlets owned by the same company

Trial Balloons

Testing public reaction to a possible policy before officially proposing it

Sound Bites

Short memorable quotes used in news coverage

Talking Head

TV shot of someone speaking directly to the camera

Policy Agenda

Issues policymakers focus on and prioritize

Policy Entrepreneurs

People who promote ideas to influence policy decisions

Political Party

Organized group seeking to elect members to office and influence government

Linkage Institution

Structure connecting people to government (parties, media, interest groups)

Rational-Choice Theory

Idea that people make decisions based on costs and benefits

Ticket Splitting

Voting for candidates from different parties in the same election

Patronage

Giving government jobs to political supporters

Closed Primary

Primary where only registered party members can vote

Open Primary

Primary where voters choose which party primary to vote in

National Convention

Party meeting where a presidential candidate is officially nominated

Coalition

Temporary alliance of groups working toward a common goal

Party Eras

Long periods where one political party dominates politics

Critical Elections

Elections that cause major shifts in party support

Party Realignment

Lasting shift in voter loyalty from one party to another

Third Parties

Political parties other than the two major parties

Winner-Take-All System

Candidate with the most votes wins all representation

Proportional Representation

Seats given based on each party's percentage of votes

Coalition Government

Government formed by multiple parties working together

Blue Dog Democrat

Moderate or conservative member of the Democratic Party

Nomination

Process of selecting a party's candidate for an election

McGovern-Fraser Commission

Reforms that made presidential nominations more democratic through primaries

Superdelegates

Party leaders who automatically attend conventions and vote freely

Caucus

Local party meeting where members select candidates or delegates

Party Platform

Official statement of a party's beliefs and policy positions

Campaign Contribution

Money donated to support a political campaign

Federal Election Campaign Act

Law regulating campaign finance and requiring disclosure of donations

Soft Money

Political donations to parties for general support, not specific candidates

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Group that raises and spends money to influence elections

527 Groups

Organizations raising unlimited money for political activities but not candidates

Citizens United v. FEC

Supreme Court case allowing unlimited independent political spending

501 Groups

Nonprofit groups allowed limited political activity

Super PACs

Groups that raise unlimited money for independent political advertising

Political Efficacy

Belief that one's participation can influence government

Voter Registration

Process of signing up to be eligible to vote

Motor Voter Act

Law allowing voter registration when applying for a driver's license

Electoral College

System used to formally elect the U.S. president through electors

Battleground States

States where both parties have similar support and campaigns focus heavily

Interest Group

Organization that tries to influence government policy

Pluralism

Theory that political power is spread among many groups

Elitism

Theory that a small group holds most political power

Hyperpluralism

Idea that too many competing groups weaken government effectiveness

Iron Triangle

Alliance among interest groups, congressional committees, and bureaucracies

Potential Group

People who share interests but are not organized

Actual Group

Organized group actively working to influence policy

Free-Rider Problem

People benefiting from a group without contributing

Collective Good

Benefit shared by everyone regardless of participation

Selective Benefits

Special incentives offered to encourage membership

Single-Issue Group

Interest group focused on one specific policy issue

Lobbying

Attempting to influence government officials' decisions

Electioneering

Actively campaigning for a candidate or political cause

Union Shop

Workplace where employees must join a union after being hired

Right-to-Work Law

Law allowing workers to choose whether to join a union

Public Interest Groups

Groups promoting policies that benefit society as a whole