Chapter 10

Question 1

Coattails

Answer 1

The alleged tendency of the candidates to win more votes in an election because of the presence of the top of the ticket of the better-known candidate such as the president

Question 2

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Answer 2

The committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations

Question 3

Malapportionment

Answer 3

Drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population

Question 4

Gerrymandering

Answer 4

Drawing the boundaries of legislative districts in bizarre or unusual shapes to favor one party

Question 5

Sophomore surge

Answer 5

An increase in the votes congressional candidates usually get when they first run for reelection

Question 6

Clothespin vote

Answer 6

The votes cast by a person who does not like either candidate and so votes for the less objectionable of the two, putting a clothespin over his or her nose to keep out the unpleasant stench

Question 7

Position issue

Answer 7

Issue about which the public is divided and rival candidates or political parties adopt different policy positions

Question 8

Valence issue

Answer 8

An issue about which the public is united and rival candidates or political parties adopt similar positions in hopes that each will be thought to best represent those widely shared beliefs

Question 9

General election

Answer 9

An election held to choose which candidate will hold office

Question 10

Primary election

Answer 10

An election held to choose candidates for office

Question 11

Closed primary

Answer 11

A primary election in which voting is limited to already registered party members

Question 12

Open primary

Answer 12

A primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place

Question 13

Blanket primary

Answer 13

A primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties

Question 14

Runoff primary

Answer 14

A second primary election held when no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the first primary

Question 15

Independent expenditures

Answer 15

Spending by political action committees, corporations, or labor unions to help a party or candidate but done independently of them

Question 16

Soft money

Answer 16

Funds obtained by political parties that are spent on party activities, such as get-out-the-vote drives, but not on behalf of a specific candidate

Question 17

527 organizations

Answer 17

Organizations under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code that raise and spend money to advance political causes

Question 18

Prospective voting

Answer 18

Voting for a candidate because you favor his or her ideas for handling issues

Question 19

Retrospective voting

Answer 19

Voting for a candidate because you like his or her past actions in office

Question 20

Incumbent

Answer 20

The person already holding an elective office