Chapter 10 Flashcards
Coattails
Alleged tendency of candidates to win more votes in the election because of the presence at the top of the ticket of a better known candidate, such as the president
Political action committee (PAC)
Committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations
Malapportionment
Drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population
Gerrymandering
Drawing the boundaries of legislative districts in bizarre or unusual shapes to favor one party
Sophomore surge
Increase in the votes congressional candidates usually get when they first run for reelection
Clothespin vote
Vote cast by person who doesn’t like either candidate and so votes for the less objectionable of the two, putting a clothespin over his/her nose to keep out the unpleasant stench
Position issue
Issue about which the public is divided and rival candidates or pol parties adopt different policy positions
Valence issue
Issue about which the public is united and rival candidates or pol parties adopt similar positions in hopes that each will be thought to best represent those widely shared beliefs
General election
Election held to choose which candidate will hold office
Primary election
Election held to choose candidates for office
Closed primary
Primary election in which voting is limited to already registered party members
Open primary
Primary election in which voters may choose in which party of vote as they enter the polling place
Blanket primary
Primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties
Runoff primary
Second primary elections held when no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the first primary
Independent expenditures
Spending by pol action committees, corporations, or labor unions to help a party or candidate but done independently of them
