Unit Five Quiz Terms

Article 1, Section 4

Directs and empowers states to administer congressional elections, subject to Congress' authority to "make or alter" state regulations

Ballot measures

A direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal.

Casework

Assistance given to constituents by congressional members, answering questions/doing favors

Caucus

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.

Coattail effect

the influence of a popular presidential candidate on the election of congressional candidates of the same party

Delegates

A person who is chosen or elected to represent a person or group

Electoral College

a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

Faithless elector

Elector who does not vote for the candidate they promised to vote for. These have never determined outcome of presidential election but is a major problem with electoral college system

Franking privilege

Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free

General election

a regular election of candidates for office, as opposed to a primary election.

Get out the vote (GOTV)

This phrase describes the multiple efforts expended by campaigns to get voters out to the polls on election day.

Incumbent

An officeholder who is seeking reelection.

Incumbency advantage

the electoral edge afforded to those already in office

Invisible primary

The period before any votes are cast when candidates compete to win early support from the elite of the party and to create a positive first impression of their leadership skills.

Midterm election

Elections held midway between presidential elections.

rational choice voting

Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen's individual interest

retrospective voting

voting for a candidate because you like his or her past actions in office

prospective voting

voting based on the imagined future performance of a candidate

party-line voting

process in which voters select candidates by their party affiliation

National conventions

A meeting held every four years by each of the major political parties to nominate a presidential candidate.

Preclearance

mandated by the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the prior approval by the Justice Department of changes to or new election laws by certain States

Open primaries

primary elections in which eligible voters do not need to be registered party members

Closed primaries

Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party's candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty.

Shelby County v Holder

2013 (5-4 decision) States and localities do not need federal approval to change voting laws. (got rid of Sect 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965)

Voting Rights Act of 1965

a policy designed to reduce the barriers to voting for those suffering discrimination (ex. literacy tests).

15th Amendment

Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color , or precious condition of servitude

17th Amendment

Direct election of senators

19th Amendment

Gave women the right to vote

24th Amendment

Abolishes poll taxes (1964)

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 during Vietnam War

501(c)(4)s

Active nonprofits; under federal law, these nonprofits can spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns and not disclose their donors as long as their activities are not coordinated with the candidate campaigns and political activities are not their primary purpose.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain Feingold Act)

banned soft money contributions to national political parties from corporations and unions; independent expenditures by corporations, labor unions, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations are sharply restricted

Buckley v. Valeo

A case in which the Supreme Court of the United States upheld federal limits on campaign contributions and ruled that spending money to influence elections is a form of constitutionally protected free speech. The court also stated candidates can give unlimited amounts of money to their own campaigns.

Citizens United v. FEC

A 2010 decision by the United States Supreme Court holding that independent expenditures are free speech protected by the 1st Amendment and so cannot be limited by federal law. Leads to creation of SuperPACs & massive rise in amount of third party electioneering (Citizens for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow)

Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974

Created the Federal Election Commission. Tightened reporting requirements for campaign contributions. Provided full public financing for major party candidates in the general election.

Hard money

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed.

PACs

Type of political committee that is not directly coordinated with a candidate. Limited individual contributions but unlimited spending. Prohibited from accepting union or corporate treasury funds.  Disclose donors. 

Super PAC

A type of independent political action committee which may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and individuals but is not permitted to contribute to or coordinate directly with parties or candidates. Disclose donors.

Soft money

Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.