Ch 10 Flashcards
Cottails
Tendency for candidates to win because of their higher physical position on the ballot
Political action committee (PAC)
Committee set up by a corporation, union, or interest group to raise money from voluntary donations
Malapportionment
Drawing boundaries of legislative districts to make uneven populations
Gerrymandering
Drawing boundaries of districts weirdly to favor a party
Sophomore surge
Increase in votes that congressional candidates get when they run
Position issue
Issue about which the public is divided and candidates or parties adopt different policy positions
Valence issue
Issue about which the public is united and candidates adopt similar positions
General election
Election held to choose who becomes president
Primary election
Election held to choose candidates for the general election
Closed primary
Primary where voting is limited to already registered party members
Blanket primary
Primary election where each voter can vote for both parties
Runoff primary
Second primary held when there is no majority
Independent expenditures
Spending by political action committees corporations, or union that is done to help a party or candidate that is held independently
Soft money
Funds obtained by political parties that are spent on party activities
537 organization
Organization under section 537 of internal revenue code for advancing a political clause
