Chapter 10 - Elections And Campaigns

Question 1

Coattails

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Clothespin Vote

Answer 2

The vote 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 3

Position Issue

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Valence issue

Answer 4

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 5

General election

Answer 5

An election to choose which candidate will hold office

Question 6

Primary election

Answer 6

An election held to choose candidates for office

Question 7

Closed primary

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Open primary

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Blanket primary

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Runoff primary

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Independent Expenditures

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Soft money

Answer 12

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 13

527 Organizations

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Prospective voting

Answer 14

Voting for a candidate because you favor his or her ideas on the issue

Question 15

Retrospective voting

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Political Action Committee

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Malapportionment

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Gerrymandering

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Sophomore surge

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Incumbent

Answer 20

The person already holding an elective office