AP GOPO TERMS APR 11TH

Candidate centered campaign – A campaign that focuses on the individual candidate rather than the party affiliation or platform.

Coalitions – Alliances formed between different political groups or parties to achieve a common goal.

Critical elections – Elections that signal a significant change in the political landscape, often resulting in a realignment of party support.

Realignments – A lasting shift in party allegiance or political coalitions.

Third-party – A political party other than the two major parties (Democratic and Republican) that can influence elections and policies.

Proportional government – A political system where seats in the legislature are allocated based on the percentage of votes each party receives.

Winner-take-all system – Election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins.

Lobbying – Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact.

“Free rider” problem – A situation where individuals benefit from resources, goods, or services without paying for them, often leading to under-provision of those goods.

Single issue group – An interest group that focuses exclusively on one major issue.

Incumbency advantage – The electoral edge afforded to those already in office, often due to name recognition, funding, and established networks.

Open primary – Primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote.

Closed primary – Primary election in which only persons registered in the party holding the primary may vote.

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

Party convention – A meeting of party delegates to vote on matters of policy and in some cases to select party candidates for public office.

Electoral college – Electoral system used in electing the president and vice president, in which voters vote for electors pledged to cast their ballots for particular party’s candidates.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) – Largely banned party soft money, restored a long-standing prohibition on corporations and labor unions for using general treasury funds for electoral purposes, and narrowed the definition of issue advocacy.

Citizens United v FEC – A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that corporations and unions could spend unlimited money on political campaigns under the First Amendment.

Protected speech – Speech that is safeguarded from government restriction by the First Amendment.

Political Action Committees – Organizations that raise and distribute funds for political candidates, typically aiming to support candidates aligned with their interests.

Investigative journalism – The practice of in-depth reporting to uncover hidden information, especially related to corruption or wrongdoing.

“Horse race” journalism – A type of journalism that focuses on the competitive aspects of elections rather than the issues at stake, often covering who is winning or losing instead of what candidates believe and propose.