AP GOV parties+campaigns

Party platform

Formal statement of a party's beliefs, goals, and policy positions adopted at the national convention.

Realignment / Critical election

A major long-term shift in party coalitions, usually triggered by a significant election (e.g., 1932, 1980).

Party coalition

Groups of voters who consistently support a political party (ex: women, unions, evangelicals).

Pledged delegates

Delegates who MUST vote according to primary/caucus results.

Unpledged delegates (superdelegates)

Party leaders who can vote for any candidate at the national convention.

Nominating convention

Meeting every 4 years where parties officially nominate their presidential candidate and adopt the platform.

National/state/local party committees

Party organizations at each level that fundraise, recruit candidates, strategize, and run elections.

Majority party

The party that holds the most seats in a legislature.

Minority party

The party with fewer seats; acts as opposition.

Super Tuesday

A major day in presidential primaries when many states vote at once.

Party polarization

When Democrats and Republicans become more ideologically divided with fewer moderates.

Speaker of the House

Leader of the House majority.

Majority/Minority Leaders

Lead their party.

Whips

Enforce party discipline.

President Pro Tempore

Senior senator of majority party, ceremonial role.

Independent voter

A voter who is not registered with any party.

Third (minor) party

Any political party outside the Democratic or Republican parties.

Divided government

One party controls presidency, other controls Congress.

United government

Same party controls presidency + both houses of Congress.

Electorate

All eligible voters.

Political efficacy

Belief that your participation/vote matters.

Primary election

Election where parties choose their nominees.

Closed primary

Only registered party members may vote.

Open primary

Any registered voter may choose a party's primary.

Caucus

In-person meeting where party members discuss and select delegates/candidates.

Hybrid primary

Independents can vote, but party members stay in their party primary.

Top-two primary

All candidates run together; top two advance to general election (even if same party).

Blanket primary

Voters may choose one candidate per office across all parties.

Midterm election

Elections halfway through a president's term (Congress + governors).

General election

Election to determine who wins the office.

Runoff election

Held when no candidate gets 50% in general election; top two compete.

Presidential preference primary

Selects presidential delegates for each party.

Voter turnout

Percentage of eligible voters who cast ballots.

Mail-in ballot

Ballot mailed to voters who return it by mail or drop box.

Provisional ballot

Temporary ballot used when registration or ID issues appear; counted after eligibility confirmed.

Write-in candidate

A candidate whose name is written on the ballot by voters.

Precinct

Small local voting district with one polling location.

Electoral College

System where electors chosen by states formally vote for president.

Electoral system

Overall rules for how elections are conducted.

Presidential elector

Member of the Electoral College who casts an official vote for president.

Winner-take-all

Candidate with most votes gets ALL electoral votes/seats (most states use this for EC).

Proportional representation

Seats awarded based on percentage of votes (common outside U.S.).

Majority vote

Winner must receive over 50% of votes.

Plurality vote

Winner only needs the most votes, not a majority.

Majority rule

Democratic principle that majority decisions prevail.

Critical election

Election that triggers party realignment.

Coattails effect

Popular presidential candidate boosts down-ballot candidates of same party.

Incumbent

Candidate currently holding office seeking reelection.

Prospective judgment

Voting based on expectations for a candidate's future policies.

Retrospective judgment

Voting based on candidate's past performance.

Mandate

Strong election result signaling public support for a candidate or party's agenda.

Ticket-splitting

Voting for different parties for different offices.

Straight-ticket voting

Voting only for one party's candidates.

Early voting

Voting in person before Election Day.

Same-day registration

Registering and voting on the same day.

Gerrymandering

Drawing voting districts to favor a party or group.

Reapportionment

Reassigning House seats based on Census population counts.

Redistricting

Drawing new district boundaries after reapportionment.

US Census

Official population count every 10 years used for apportionment.

Voting district

Geographic unit represented by a legislator.

Single-member district

One representative per district; promotes two-party system.

Majority-minority district

District where a racial minority group makes up the majority of voters.

Poll tax

Fee to vote (banned by 24th Amendment).

Literacy test

Test used to suppress voters; banned by VRA 1965.

FEC (Federal Election Commission)

Enforces campaign finance laws and monitors donations.

Micro-targeting

Using data to tailor political ads to specific groups.

Grassroots activity

Volunteer-based campaigning like canvassing, phone banks.

Independent expenditures

Political spending NOT coordinated with a candidate (SuperPACs do this).

Disclaimer (ads)

Required statement showing who funded a political ad.

Soft money

Unregulated donations to parties for 'party-building.'

Hard money

Direct, regulated contributions to candidates.

Dark money

Political spending by groups that do not disclose donors (e.g., 501(c)(4)s).

Express advocacy

Ads that explicitly support or oppose a candidate ('vote for…').

Issue advocacy

Ads discussing issues without directly saying to vote for/against someone.

501(c) organizations

Nonprofits; 501(c)(4)s can engage in political activity with anonymous donors.

PAC (Political Action Committee)

Raises money to donate to candidates. Types: federal PACs, leadership PACs, SuperPACs.

Campaign manager

Runs day-to-day operations of campaign.

Media consultant / Communications director / Political advisor

Manage ads, messaging, press strategy.

Public funding

Government money for presidential campaigns (rarely used now).

GOTV (Get Out the Vote)

Efforts to increase voter turnout.

Recounts

Rechecking ballots in close elections.

Swing state

State that could be won by either party.

unpledged delegates / superdelegates

Party leaders/elected officials who can vote for anyone at the convention.

Congressional leadership positions

Speaker of the House - Leader of House majority party; most powerful person in the House.

third or minor party

Parties outside the two major ones (Green, Libertarian, Constitution, Reform).

divided vs. united government

Divided - Different parties control Presidency and Congress. United - One party controls both branches.

Political Party Concepts

A group seeking to win elections to control government.

Washington's view of parties

He warned parties would divide the nation and make people loyal to party over country.

realignment

A major, lasting shift in groups who support each party (ex: 1932, 1980).

Critical Elections - Why 1932 & 1980?

1932 - FDR → creation of Democratic New Deal coalition. 1980 - Reagan → conservative shift, rise of Republican coalition.

national conventions

Select nominee, approve platform, rally the party, introduce VP candidate.

presidential primaries

Voters pick delegates to the convention; delegates support a candidate.

polarization today

Gerrymandering, ideologically sorted parties, social media echo chambers, closed primaries, nationalized politics.

two-party system

Winner-take-all elections, single-member districts, ballot access laws, debate/media barriers, voter perception: 'wasted vote' idea.

barriers to third parties

Winner-take-all, ballot access laws, electoral college, media exclusion, major parties absorb their issues, not enough funding.

successful abroad

Proportional representation, multi-member districts, lower barriers.

third parties purpose and roles

Introduce new issues, act as 'spoilers', pressure major parties to adopt ideas.

Libertarian ideology

Minimal government, max privacy, low taxes.

Green ideology

Environment, progressive causes.

Constitution Party ideology

Strict constitutionalism, very conservative.