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Gatekeeper (Agenda-Setter)
The media's role in highlighting certain issues and determining what is important for the public.
Scorekeeper
The media's function in tracking and reporting on political reputations, successes, and failures.
Watchdog
The media's responsibility to investigate and expose political scandals or wrongdoing.
Investigative Journalism
In-depth reporting aimed at uncovering scandals, often leading to greater public skepticism toward politics.
Print Media
Includes newspapers and magazines, forms of media that have historically influenced political communication.
Broadcast Media
Encompasses television, radio, and the Internet, each of which has reshaped political communication over time.
Narrowcasting
Media targeting specific audiences, typically associated with certain cable channels (e.g., FOX, MSNBC).
Trial Balloons
Information leaked intentionally to gauge public reaction before a policy is formally announced.
Sound Bites
Short video clips (around 15 seconds) used to convey a point quickly in news coverage.
Policy Agenda
Issues that draw the focus of public officials and other political actors.
Policy Entrepreneurs
Individuals who invest their political influence in a specific issue (e.g., Al Gore with climate change).
Referendum
A process where people vote directly on a specific law, policy, or decision, instead of having elected officials decide for them. It’s a way for citizens to have a say on important issues.
Initiative Petition
A process allowing citizens to propose legislation or amendments, often requiring a specific number of signatures.
Primary Elections
Elections to select a party's nominee.
General Elections
A regular election where voters choose who will hold public office, such as the president, members of Congress, governors, or local officials.
Policy Elections
Elections where voters make or approve legislation.
Caucus
Local meetings of party members to select delegates to a national convention.
Presidential Primaries
Elections where people from each political party vote to choose who they want to run for president
Closed Primaries
Only registered party members can vote, promoting party loyalty.
Open Primaries
Voters can decide on Election Day which party primary to participate in.
Blanket Primaries
Voters can pick candidates from multiple parties on the same ballot.
McGovern-Fraser Commission
Established procedures and quotas for delegate selection in the Democratic National Convention.
Delegates
Representatives chosen to represent the will of their constituents at a convention.
Superdelegates
Democratic Party leaders and elected officials given a portion of delegate slots.
Frontloading
The trend of states holding primaries early to gain media attention.
National Convention
A meeting held every four years to write a party's platform and nominate presidential candidates.
Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) 1974
Legislation that tightened reporting requirements and limited campaign spending.
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Agency created to enforce campaign finance laws.
Soft Money
Political contributions to parties for general purposes (like voter registration drives), not directly tied to a candidate.
Hard Money
Direct contributions to a candidate's campaign.
Buckley v. Valeo
A Supreme Court case ruling that political contributions are a form of free speech.
McCain-Feingold Act (2002)
Banned soft money contributions to national parties.
527 Groups
Tax-exempt groups that influence political outcomes without directly endorsing candidates.
Political Action Committees (PACs)
Organizations that collect contributions to support candidates who align with their goals.
Super PACs
Groups allowed to raise and spend unlimited funds for political advocacy, not directly tied to a candidate.
Citizens United v. FEC
Supreme Court ruling allowing unlimited independent spending by corporations and unions.
Voter Turnout
The percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election.
Political Efficacy
The belief that one's participation can influence the government.
Motor Voter Act
Legislation allowing voters to register when renewing their driver's licenses.
Electoral College
The body that formally elects the U.S. president, with each state having electors based on its congressional representation. (disproportionately favors less populated states)
Gerrymandering
Manipulating electoral boundaries to favor a specific party or group.
Incumbency Advantage
The benefit held by politicians already in office, which helps them in reelection.
Presidential Coattails
When congressional candidates of the same party benefit from a popular presidential candidate's success.
Midterm Elections
Congressional elections held midway through a presidential term, often challenging the incumbent president's party.
Ticket-Splitting
When a voter chooses candidates from different political parties for different offices in the same election.
Interest Group
An organization with shared policy goals that seeks to influence the political process.
Pluralist Theory
Theory suggesting that interest groups allow for representation as groups compete and counterbalance each other.
Elite Theory
Theory suggesting that power is concentrated among a few wealthy and influential groups.
Hyper-pluralist Theory
Theory arguing that too many interest group influence leads to contradictory government policies, chaos and ineffective decision-making.
Interest Group Liberalism
A situation where the government caters to interest groups, leading to policy gridlock.
Iron Triangles (Sub-governments)
Close relationships between interest groups, government agencies, and congressional committees, often resulting in policy advantages. (refer to diagram)
Collective Good
A benefit available to all members of a group, such as clean air or higher wages.
Free-Rider Problem
When individuals benefit from a group's efforts without actively contributing.
Lobbying
The act of influencing policymakers on behalf of an interest group.
Electioneering
activities done to influence the outcome of an election, such as campaigning, promoting candidates, or trying to persuade voters to support a particular party / candidate.
Litigation
Legal action taken by interest groups to achieve their goals when legislative efforts fail.
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