Untitled Flashcards Set

Candidate centered campaign: A political campaign that focuses on the individual candidate rather than the party platform or the party's overall message.
Coalitions: Alliances formed between different political parties or groups to achieve a common objective, often seen in the context of legislative votes or elections.
Critical elections: Elections that signal a significant shift in the political landscape and often lead to changes in party alignment.
Realignments: Periods during which the political balance of power shifts between parties, often influenced by critical elections.
Third party: A political party that is not one of the two major parties (Democratic or Republican) and typically represents a broader range of interests.
Proportional government: A system in which parties gain seats in the legislature in proportion to the number of votes they receive in an election.
Winner-take-all system: An electoral system in which the candidate who receives the most votes wins all the delegates or electoral votes.
Lobbying: The act of attempting to influence government officials in their decision-making process, often by special interest groups.
“Free rider” problem: A challenge that arises when individuals can benefit from a resource or service without contributing to its cost, leading to underprovision of the good.
Single issue group: An organization that focuses on one specific area of policy, often leading to advocacy for that specific cause.
Incumbency advantage: The inherent advantages that current officeholders have when seeking reelection, such as greater visibility and access to campaign resources.
Open primary: A primary election in which voters are not required to be affiliated with a political party to participate.
Closed primary: A primary election where only registered party members can vote to choose their party's candidate.
Caucus: A meeting of party members to select candidates or decide party policy.
Party convention: A formal gathering of party delegates for the purpose of nominating candidates and discussing party platforms and strategies.
Electoral College: A group of representatives from each state who formally elect the president and vice president of the United States.
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002: Legislation aimed at regulating campaign financing and reducing the role of soft money in political campaigns.
Citizens United v FEC: A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that corporations and unions can spend unlimited sums on political campaigns, viewing such spending as protected speech under the First Amendment.
Protected speech: Speech that is safeguarded by the Constitution, including political speech that influences government or election processes.
Political Action Committees (PACs): Organizations that collect and distribute funds to candidates who align with their interests, often to influence legislation or regulation.
Investigative journalism: A form of journalism that seeks to uncover the truth behind complex issues, often involving investigation into political corruption or wrongdoing.
“Horse race” journalism: A style of reporting that focuses on the competitive aspects of the election process rather than substantive issues or policies.