Unit 5 (Political Participation)

Free rider problem

When individuals benefit from a public good without contributing to its cost.

ex: listening to NPR without donating

Spoiler role

A minor candidate who changes an election outcome by taking votes from a major candidate.

Stand by Your Ad provision

Rule requiring candidates to personally approve and appear in campaign ads.

501(c)(3)s

Tax-exempt nonprofit organizations focused on education, charity, or religion; limited political activity.

ex: Make-a-Wish Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, ect.

501(c)(4)s

Social welfare nonprofits that can engage in some political activity.

ex: National Rifle Association (NRA)

527 groups

Political organizations that raise unlimited funds for issue advocacy but cannot coordinate directly with candidates.

ex: Democratic Governors Association (DGA) and Republican Governors Association (RGA)

Adversarial press

Media that actively investigates and challenges government officials and institutions.

Agenda setting

The media's ability to influence which issues the public thinks are important.

Amicus curiae briefs

"Friend of the court" documents submitted by non-parties to influence a court decision.

Attack ads

Campaign ads that criticize an opponent rather than promote a candidate.

Battleground states

States where elections are closely contested and heavily targeted by campaigns.

Beats

Specific topics or areas that journalists regularly cover.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)

Law limiting soft money and regulating campaign advertising (McCain-Feingold).

Broadcasting

Distributing media content widely through TV or radio.

Buckley v. Valeo

Supreme Court case ruling that spending money on campaigns is a form of free speech.

Campaign management

Organizing and directing a political campaign.

Candidate recruitment

The process of encouraging people to run for political office.

Case law

Law established by court decisions rather than statutes (formal written laws).

Caucus

A meeting of party members to select candidates or decide policy.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Supreme Court case allowing unlimited independent political spending by corporations and unions.

Closed primary

Primary election where only registered party members can vote.

Coattail effect

When a strong candidate helps other candidates from the same party win.

Congressional primary

Election within a party to choose its nominee for Congress.

Consumer-driven media outlets

Media shaped by audience preferences and demand.

Contemporary political issues

Current topics being debated in politics.

Critical elections

Elections that cause major shifts in political party support.

Dark money

Political spending where the donor is not disclosed.

Dealignment

Weakening of voter loyalty to political parties.

Delegate

A representative chosen to vote at a party convention.

Divided government

When different parties control the presidency and Congress.

Drafting of legislation

Writing proposed laws.

Election cycle

The recurring process of elections and campaigning.

Electoral College

System used to elect the U.S. president through electors.

Electorate

All eligible voters in an election.

Electors

Individuals who formally vote for president in the Electoral College.

Faithless elector

An elector who votes against their pledged candidate.

Federal Election Campaign Act (1971)

Law regulating campaign finance and disclosure.

Federal Election Commission

Agency enforcing campaign finance laws.

Fifteenth Amendment

Guarantees voting rights regardless of race.

Framing

Presenting information in a way that influences perception.

Front-loading

States scheduling primaries early in the election season.

Gatekeeper

Media role in deciding which news gets coverage.

GOTV (Get Out The Vote)

Efforts to increase voter turnout.

Grandfather clause

Law allowing some people to bypass new restrictions based on past status.

Grassroots lobbying

Mobilizing the public to influence government.

Hard money

Regulated political donations given directly to candidates.

Hatch Act

Law restricting political activity by federal employees.

Horse race journalism

Media coverage focusing on who is winning rather than issues.

Hyper-pluralism

Excessive influence of many competing interest groups.

Ideologically oriented programming

Media content shaped by political ideology.

Incumbency advantage

Electoral advantage held by current officeholders.

Independent candidate

Candidate running without party affiliation.

Independent expenditures

Political spending not coordinated with a candidate.

Indirect lobbying

Efforts to influence policy by persuading the public.

Initiative

Process allowing citizens to propose laws directly.

Interest group

Organization that seeks to influence public policy.

Investigative journalism

In-depth reporting that uncovers hidden information.

Invisible primary

The period before official primaries when candidates raise money and gain support.

Iowa Caucuses

First major caucus in the presidential nomination process.

Issue ads

Ads that focus on political issues without explicitly supporting a candidate.

Issue advocacy advertising

Political messaging that promotes an issue while avoiding direct electioneering.

Linkage institution

Structures that connect citizens to government.

Literacy test

Discriminatory voting requirement used to restrict voting rights.

Lobbying

Efforts to influence government officials' decisions.

Lobbyist

A person who attempts to influence government decisions.

Majority

More than half of votes or support.

Mass media

Communication channels that reach large audiences.

Media bias

Tendency of media to favor certain viewpoints.

Media strategy

Planned use of media to shape public perception.

Media

Systems used to distribute information to the public.

Mid-term elections

Congressional elections held halfway through a presidential term.

Mobilization of membership

Efforts to activate group members to participate politically.

Muckraking

Journalism that exposes corruption or wrongdoing.

Narrowcasting

Media targeting specific audiences.

National Convention

Party meeting to nominate presidential candidates and set platforms.

National popular vote

Total votes cast nationwide in an election.

New Hampshire Primary

First official presidential primary in the U.S.

News source and information credibility

Reliability and trustworthiness of news outlets.

Nineteenth Amendment

Constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote.

Open primary

Primary where any registered voter can participate regardless of party.

Party chairperson

Leader responsible for party organization and strategy.

Party conventions

Meetings where parties nominate candidates and set platforms.

Party organization

Structure that manages party activities and elections.

Party platform

Formal set of party principles and policy goals.

Party-in-government

Elected officials representing a political party.

Party-in-the-electorate

Voters who identify with a political party.

Party-line voting

Voting according to party affiliation rather than issue positions.

Patronage

Appointing loyal party members to positions.

Plurality

Winning more votes than any other candidate, not necessarily a majority.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Organization that raises and spends money to support candidates.

Political actors

Individuals or groups involved in politics.

Political parties

Organized groups seeking to win elections and control government.

Poll tax

Fee required to vote, used to restrict voting rights.

Precinct

Smallest voting district.

Presidential elections

Elections to choose the U.S. president.

Presidential primary

Elections where parties choose presidential nominees.

Print media

Newspapers and magazines.

Professional campaign consultants

Experts hired to manage campaigns.

Professional organizations

Groups representing people in a profession.

Proportional voting system

System where seats are allocated based on vote share.