AP gov unit 4 and 5 vocab
Closed primaries
Elections where only registered party members can vote to select their party's candidate.
Coattail effect
The phenomenon where a popular candidate helps to attract votes for other candidates of the same party.
Conservative ideology
A political philosophy that emphasizes limited government, individual liberties, and free markets.
Core Values
Fundamental beliefs that guide political behavior, including rule of law, equality of opportunity, individualism, free enterprise, and limited government.
Critical elections
Elections that signal a significant change in the political landscape or party alignment.
Electorate
The body of people entitled to vote in an election.
Faithless elector
An elector who does not cast their vote for the candidate they pledged to support.
Front-loading
The practice of scheduling presidential primaries early in the election cycle.
Horserace journalism
Media coverage that focuses on the competitive aspects of elections rather than substantive issues.
Incumbency advantage
The electoral edge afforded to those already in office.
Incumbent
An individual currently holding a political office.
Initiative
A process that allows citizens to propose legislation or constitutional amendments.
Iron triangle
The stable, mutually beneficial relationships between government agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees.
Issue ads
Advertisements that focus on specific issues rather than on candidates.
Amicus curiae briefs
Documents submitted to a court by non-litigants with a strong interest in the subject matter.
Benchmark polls
Polls conducted to measure the initial level of support for a candidate or issue.
Caucus
A meeting of members of a political party to discuss and decide on candidates or policies.
Dealignment
A trend where voters are less attached to political parties and may identify as independents.
Democrat Party (DEM)
One of the two major political parties in the United States, traditionally associated with liberal policies.
Divided government
A situation in which one party controls the presidency while another party controls one or both houses of Congress.
Exit polls
Surveys conducted with voters immediately after they have exited polling stations.
"Free rider" problem
The issue that arises when individuals benefit from resources, goods, or services without paying for them.
Fixed terms
Set periods during which elected officials serve in office, after which they must seek re-election.
Focus group
A diverse group of people assembled to provide feedback on specific topics or issues.
Gatekeeper
An entity or individual that controls access to something, such as information or resources.
Hard money
Political contributions that are regulated by law through the Federal Election Commission.
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Liberal ideology
A political philosophy that advocates for social justice, civil rights, and government intervention in the economy.
Libertarian ideology
A political philosophy that emphasizes individual liberty, free markets, and minimal government intervention.
Linkage institutions
Structures within society that connect the government to its citizens, such as political parties, interest groups, and the media.
Litigation
The process of taking legal action.
Lobbying
The act of attempting to influence government decisions, typically by special interest groups.
Mass survey
A method of collecting data from a large number of respondents to gauge public opinion.
Open primaries
Elections where registered voters can participate in any party's primary election.
Party platforms
Formal sets of principal goals supported by a political party.
Party-line voting
Voting in which a majority of members of a political party vote the same way.
Patronage
The practice of giving government jobs and appointments to political supporters.
Pluralism
A political theory that emphasizes the role of diverse and competing interests in shaping policy.
Plurality
The number of votes cast for a candidate who receives more votes than any other candidate but does not receive an absolute majority.
Political Action Committees (PACs)
Organizations that raise money to elect or defeat political candidates.
Political efficacy
The belief that one's participation in politics makes a difference.
Political socialization
The process by which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values.
Proportional voting system
An electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes they receive.
Prospective voting
Voting based on the predicted future performance of a candidate or party.
Push polls
Surveys designed to influence opinions rather than measure them.
Random sample
A subset of individuals chosen from a larger set, where each individual has an equal chance of being selected.
Rational-choice voting
A theory that assumes voters act in their own best interest when making electoral decisions.
Realignment
A significant change in the political landscape, often involving a shift in party loyalty.
Referendum
A direct vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal.
Republican Party (GOP)
One of the two major political parties in the United States, traditionally associated with conservative policies.
Retrospective voting
Voting based on the past performance of a candidate or party.
Revolving door
The movement of individuals between positions in government and the private sector.
Safe seat
A district that is strongly favored to vote for a particular party.
Scorekeeper
The role of the media in tracking and reporting on political campaigns.
Single-member district
An electoral district that elects one representative.
Soft money
Unregulated contributions to political parties for party-building activities.
Sound bite
A short, catchy phrase or statement used in media coverage.
Suffrage
The right to vote in political elections.
Superdelegate
A delegate to the Democratic National Convention who is not bound to vote for a specific candidate.
Swing states
States where both major political parties have similar levels of support among voters.
Tracking polls
Polls that measure changes in public opinion over time.
Watchdog
An individual or group that monitors the actions of government or other organizations.
Winner-take-all voting system
An electoral system in which the candidate who receives the most votes wins all the electoral votes.