Elections Study Guide

Critical Election

Major adjustments in the parties; new issues emerge which shift voter support from one party's advantage to another's.

Republican Party Realignment

1876/1896 - Controlled the executive and legislature; associated with Laissez-Faire.

Democratic Party Realignment

1932 - Controlled the executive and legislature; associated with Big Government (New Deal Coalition).

De-alignment

1968 - Era of Divided Government; Polarization; No Coalitions.

Mandate to Govern

Legitimacy derived from a landslide victory; coattail effect leads to party realignment.

Coattail Effect

When the top democrat/republican is so popular that others get into office because they are swept up from standing on their coattails.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Most important law arguably; guarantees rights for African Americans and women.

Federalism

Division of Power between federal government and states.

Voting Requirements

Original constitution is silent on voting requirements; left up to the states.

Jacksonian Democracy

End of property requirement to vote.

15th Amendment

Granted ex-slaves the right to vote.

19th Amendment

Granted women the right to vote.

24th Amendment

Prohibits poll taxes in federal elections.

26th Amendment

Lowered voting age to 18.

Motor Voter Act

Allows voter registration when applying for a driver's license.

Voter ID Laws

Considered voter suppression; can create barriers for certain groups.

Political Efficacy

Belief that one's vote can make a difference.

Random Sampling

Only need 1,500 people to get +/- 3% margin of error in polling.

Electoral College

Electors = number of representatives + senators.

Gerrymandering

Purposely drawing district lines to create party strongholds.

Linkage Institutions

Channels that connect the people with the government (media, elections, interest groups).

Closed Primary

Voting is only open to those affiliated with the political party.

Open Primary

Voting is open to all voters.

FECA

Federal Election Campaign Act; law that created rules on how campaigns can raise and spend money.

FEC

Federal Election Commission; government agency that enforces federal campaign laws.

Buckley v. Valeo

Supreme Court case that upheld limits on individual donations but struck down limits on personal campaign spending.

Hard Money

Money donated directly to a candidate; has strict limits.

Soft Money

Money given to political parties for 'party-building' activities; less regulated.

PACs

Political Action Committees; organizations that raise money to elect and defeat candidates.

Negative Ads/Mudslinging

Ads that attack someone's character and actions rather than promoting their own ideas.

Political Machine/Patronage

Strong local political organizations that control elections and government jobs by rewarding supporters.

Super PACs

Can take unlimited donations but cannot donate directly to candidates.

Citizens United v. FEC

Ruled that corporations and unions can spend unlimited money on independent political ads.

Amicus Curiae

Refers to briefs; a legal argument from someone interested in the outcome of a case but not a party to it.