APGovCh.12.Jimmy.Dimas Flashcards
501(c) group
Interest groups whose primary purpose is not electoral politics
527 political committees
Organizations created with the primary purpose of influencing electoral outcomes; the term is typically applied only to freestanding interest groups that do not explicitly advocate for the election of a candidate
Barack Obama
The first African American president of the United States, a democrat, who served as 44th president from 2009 to 2017. Senator from Illinois from 2005 to 2008; member of the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004
Bernie Sanders
Longest serving independent in the United States Congress. Ran against Hilary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary; senator from Vermont since 2007; first elected to the House of Representatives in 1991
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)
Passed in 2002, this act amended the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 with several provisions designed to end the use of non federal, or “soft money” (money raised outside the limits and prohibitions of federal campaign finance law) for activity affecting federal elections
campaign consultant
A private sector professional who sells to a candidate the technologies, services, and strategies required to get the candidate elected
campaign manager
The individual who travels with the candidate and coordinates the campaign
Citizens United v. FEC
The 2010 Supreme Court case that enabled corporations and unions have the same political speech rights as individuals under the first amendment. As part of the ruling, the Supreme Court found that the government may not prohibit corporations or unions from using their general treasury funds to support or denounce political candidates in elections
closed primary
A primary election in which only a party’s registered voters are eligible to cast a ballot
communications director
The person who develops the overall media strategy for the candidate
Contrast ad
Ad that compares the records and proposals of the candidates, with a bias toward the Candidates sponsoring ad
conventional political participation
Activism that attempts to influence the political process through commonly accepted forms of persuasion such as voting or letter writing
crossover voting
Participation in the primary election of a party with which the voter is not affiliated
Donald J. Trump
The 45th president, a Republican, elected in 2016; first president elected without prior political or military experience; an experienced business man
elector
Member of the Electoral College
electorate
The citizens eligible to vote
Electorate College
Representatives of each state who cast the final ballots that actually elect a president
Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)
Passed in 1971, this is the primary law that regulates political campaign spending and fundraising. The law originally focused on increased disclosure of contributions for federal campaigns
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
An independent regulatory agency founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States
finance chair
The individual who coordinates the financial business of the campaign
front-loading
The tendency of states to choose an early date on the nomination calendar
general election
Election in which voters decide which candidates will actually fill elective public offices
get-out-the-vote (GOTV)
A push at the end of a political campaign to encourage supporters to go to the polls
Help America Vote Act (HAVA)
A federal law passed in 2002 that addresses issues of voting systems and voter access that were identified following the 200 election. It established minimum election administration standards for states and units of local government with responsibility for the administration of federal elections and for other purposes related to the bill
Hillary R. Clinton
First female major party candidate for president of the United States, a Democrat, who ran against Donald J. Trump in 2016. Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013; New York Senator from 2001 to 2009; former first lady
independent expenditures
Spending for campaign activity that is not coordinated with a candidate’s campaign
initiative
An election that allows citizens to propose legislation or state constitutional amendments by submitting them to electorate for popular vote
inoculation ad
Advertising that attempts to counteract an anticipated stock from the opposition before the attack is launched
mandate
A command, indicated by an electorates votes, for the elected officials to carry out a party platform or policy agenda
matching funds
Donations to presidential campaigns whereby every dollar raised from individuals in amount less than $251 is matched by the federal treasury
McCutcheon v. FEC
The 2014 Supreme Court ruling that declared Section 441 of the Federal Election Campaign Act unconstitutional. Section 441 imposed limits on any individual’s total political contributions (to federal candidates, parties, or political action committees) in a two-year period
mid-term election
An election that takes place in the middle of a presidential term
Negative ad
Advertising on behalf of a candidate that attacks the opponent’s character or platform
open primary
A primary election in which party members, independents, and sometimes members of the other party are allowed to participate
political action committee (PAC)
Officially recognized Fund-raising organizations that represent interest groups and are allowed by federal law to make contributions directly to candidates, campaigns
Pollster
A campaign consultant who conducts public opinion surveys
Positive ad
Advertising on behalf of a candidate that stresses the candidate’s qualifications, family, and issue positions, With no direct reference to the opponent
presidential coattails
When successful presidential candidates carry into office congressional candidates of the same party in the year of their election
press secretary
The individual charged with interacting and communicating with journalists on a daily basis
primary election
Election in which voters decide which of the candidates within a party will represent the party in the general election
prospective judgment
A voter’s evaluation of a candidate based on what he or she pledges to do about an issue if elected
public funds
Donations from general tax revenues to the campaigns of qualifying presidential candidates
reapportionment
The reallocation of the number of seats in the House of Representatives after each decennial census
recall
An election in which voters can remove an incumbent from office prior to the next scheduled election
referendum
An election whereby the state legislature submits proposed legislation or state constitutional amendments to the voters for approval
retrospective judgment
A voter’s evaluation of a candidate based on past performance on a particular issue
runoff primary
A second primary election between the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes in the first primary
super PAC
Political action committees established to make independent expenditures
turnout
The proportion of the voting-age public that casts a ballot
Thomas Jefferson
Principle drafter of the Declaration of Independence; second vice president of the United States; third president of the Unites States from 1801-1809. Co founder of the Democratic-Republican Party
unconventional political participation
Activism that attempts to influence the political process through unusual or extreme measures, such as protests, boycotts, and picketing
voter canvass
The process by which a campaign reaches individual voters, either by door-to-door solicitation or by telephone
incumbency
Already holding an office
