Unit 2 Review: Elections, Campaigns, and Mass Media

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering Unit 2 lecture notes on election systems, primaries, caucuses, the Electoral College, reapportionment, gerrymandering, voter turnout trends, and the functions of the mass media.

Primaries

Elections where a state's voters go to the polls to express their preference for a candidate, where low voter turnout can lead to extreme candidates.

Frontloading

The practice where states push their primaries earlier in the political season in order to matter more.

New Hampshire Primary

The first primary of the political season, which can often predict the final candidates for the presidential election.

Momentum

A political dynamic following early election success that brings money, media exposure, invitations, and a general public perception that a candidate is the winner.

Caucuses

Gatherings designed to select convention delegates, mostly held in rural states, where voters must show up at an assigned place and time to physically and verbally express candidate preferences.

Iowa Caucus

The first and main caucus to take place during the political season.

Electors

Individuals selected by political parties at the state level to vote on behalf of the popular vote for their state; chosen for party dedication and not required to vote with the popular vote.

Electoral College

The system established by the Founding Fathers for electing the President via political elites rather than directly by the people, totaling $538$ votes with $270$ needed to win.

Political Efficacy

A citizen's belief that their vote and political actions matter, which can decrease if electors deviate from the popular vote or if voting systems feel non-representative.

Apportionment

The reallocation of the $435$ seats in the House of Representatives among the states every $10$ years based on national population counts from the Census.

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional district boundaries every $10$ years after the Census, subject to federal rules requiring districts to be contiguous, equal in population, and racially non-discriminatory.

Gerrymandering

The drawing of legislative boundaries by political parties to maximize their political power and win as many districts as possible; named after Elbridge Gerry.

Packing

A gerrymandering method that concentrates members of the opposing party into a single district to help the drawing party win surrounding districts.

Cracking

A gerrymandering method that divides members of the opposing party across multiple districts to dilute their influence and give the drawing party an advantage.

Non-partisan Commissions

Independent bodies created by some states to draw neutral or fair legislative district lines as a remedy to gerrymandering.

Investigative Reporting

A standard of journalism that uses detective-like methods to collect and uncover information.

Gatekeeper

The media role that patrols what news is deemed important and participates in setting the public policy agenda.

Scorekeeper

The media role responsible for tracking political races and candidate standing throughout an election cycle.

Watchdog

The media role that investigates government officials and institutions to expose political scandals and misconduct.

Agenda Setter

The media role whereby television and news reports influence the criteria and standards by which the government, presidents, policies, and candidates are judged.

Sound Bytes

Short video or audio clips lasting approximately $10$ seconds that are broadcast on television, internet, radio, and other digital platforms.