Ch 9

Question 1

Nomination

Answer 1

a party’s official endorsement of a candidate for office

Question 1

Campaign strategy

Answer 1

the master game plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign, and to raise money, garner media attention, and to gain supporters

Question 2

Superdelegates

Answer 2

people who are automatically delegates because of an official position they hold–i.e. Congress members, members of a national party’s committee

Question 3

Frontloading

Answer 3

recent tendency of states to hold primaries earlier in the calendar year to gain more media attention; reached its high point in 2008. Two potential problems
- This rush creates a rush in judgment for voters to quickly choose candidates
- States who hold primaries much later than most will be largely irrelevant since their primaries were held after presidential nominees were actually secured

Question 4

Independent expenditures

Answer 4

money spent to help a candidate or a party, made by corporations, PACs, nonprofits unassociated with a candidate

Question 5

527 groups

Answer 5

independent tax-exempt political groups that aren’t subject to restrictions on their contributions. According to section 527 of the tax code, though, they must report contributions to the IRS, and must publicly report their donors. They can coordinate with a candidate/party, but cannot explicitly oppose/support a candidate

Question 6

501(c) groups

Answer 6

Groups that are exempted from reporting their contributions and can receive unlimited contributions. Section 501c of the tax code specifies that such groups cannot spend more than half their funds on political activities

Question 7

Federal Election Campaign Act (1974)

Answer 7

law passed to reform campaign financing. Created the Federal Election Commission (FEC), provided limits on campaign donations and required disclosures for presidential candidates (source of donation and how it was spent). Publicized the world of campaign financing.

Question 8

Political Action Committee

Answer 8

groups who raise money and contribute to candidates the group supports. Must register with the FEC, report their donations and contributions.
Individuals can donate up to $5000 to a PAC, and a PAC can give that same amount to a candidate in each election

Question 9

Joint-fundraising committees

Answer 9

legal entities created by 2+ candidates or party committees to fundraise together and split proceeds. Allows donors to write bigger checks

Question 9

Motor Voter Act (1993)

Answer 9

made voter registration easier by allowing adults to check a box on their drivers’ license renewal form

Question 10

Invisible primary

Answer 10

prior to primaries and caucuses, presidential candidates compete to garner support from political elite (governors, Congress members) and political aides from their party, so they can endorse the candidate and give them a crucial boost

Question 11

Political efficacy

Answer 11

the belief that ordinary people can influence the government

Question 12

Civic duty

Answer 12

the belief that voting contributes to preserving a democracy. People who don’t believe in political efficacy will instead vote due to this principle

Question 13

SuperPACs

Answer 13

political-action committee that only makes independent expenditures and is allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions, individuals and associations. Can also receive unlimited contributions to make independent expenditures