AP GOV CHAPTER 10 Flashcards
What is an incumbent?
A candidate running for re-election to a position they already hold.
What is the coattail effect?
When a winning candidate attracts votes for other candidates in their party, often seen in U.S. presidential elections where members of Congress are elected “on the coattails” of the president.
What is malapportionment?
The uneven distribution of the population among legislative districts.
What is gerrymandering?
The apportionment of voters in districts to give unfair advantage to one racial or ethnic group or political party.
What are position issues?
Issues where the public is divided and rival candidates or political parties take different policy positions.
What are valence issues?
Issues where the public is united, and candidates adopt similar positions to reflect widely shared beliefs.
What is the Electoral College?
A group of presidential electors from each state who cast ballots for president and vice president after the general election. Originally created with the purpose of making sure Washington got elected.
What are midterm elections?
Congressional elections that do not coincide with a presidential election, also called off-year elections.
What are primary elections?
Elections held to select a party’s candidate for the general election.
What is a general election?
A regularly scheduled election where voters select officeholders, held in November in even-numbered years.
What is a closed primary?
A primary election where voters can only participate if they are registered with a specific party beforehand.
What is an open primary?
A primary election where voters can choose on the day of the primary which party’s candidates to vote for.
What is a majority system?
An electoral system where a candidate must receive more than half of the votes to win.
What is a runoff election?
A second-round election where voters choose between the top two contenders from the first round.
What is a plurality system?
An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes wins, even if it’s not a majority.
What is proportional representation?
A system where parties gain seats in proportion to the percentage of votes they receive.
What is straight-ticket voting?
Selecting candidates from the same political party for all offices on the ballot.
What is redistricting?
Redrawing election districts and redistributing representatives to reflect population shifts, typically every 10 years.
What is partisan gerrymandering?
Manipulating legislative district boundaries to disadvantage one political party and benefit another.
What is a majority-minority district?
An electoral district where the majority of constituents are racial or ethnic minorities.
What is retail politics?
A campaign style where candidates connect with voters at small gatherings or local events.
Who are delegates?
Representatives who vote according to their constituents’ preferences.
What is a party platform?
A document outlining a party’s philosophy, principles, and policy positions, written during a national convention
What is a ballot initiative?
A proposed law or policy change placed on the ballot by citizens or interest groups for a popular vote.
What is a referendum?
A vote by the electorate to approve or reject a law passed by the legislature.
What is a recall?
A procedure allowing voters to remove state officials from office before their terms expire.
What are grassroots campaigns?
Local campaigns that rely on face-to-face communication to build momentum and support.
Q: What is a town hall meeting?
An informal public meeting where candidates meet with citizens without journalists or commentators.
What is a Political Action Committee (PAC)?
A private group that raises and distributes funds for campaigns.
What is a 527 committee (Super PAC)?
A nonprofit political action group that can raise unlimited funds but cannot coordinate with candidates or parties.
What is a 501(c)(4) committee or “dark money”?
Politically active nonprofits that can spend unlimited money on campaigns without disclosing donors, as long as political activity isn’t their primary purpose.
What is prospective voting?
Voting based on a candidate’s or party’s potential future performance.
What is retrospective voting?
Voting based on a candidate’s or party’s past performance.
What are the four types of minor parties?
Ideological parties, single-issue parties, economic protest parties, and splinter/factional parties.
