Chapter 9 Flashcards
incumbent
the person already holding an elective office
coattails
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
malapportionment
drawing the boundaries of legislative district 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
an increase in the votes congressional candidates usually get when they first run for the reelection
general election
an election held to choose which candidate will hold office
runoff primary
A second primary election held, when no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the first primary
prospective voting
voting for a candidate because you favor his or her ideas for handling issues
retrospective voting
voting for a candidate because you like his or her past actions in office
nomination
The parties official endorsement of a candidate for Office
campaign strategy
The master game plan candidates layout to guide their electoral campaigns 
national party convention
The supreme power within each party that meets every four years to nominate the parties, presidential ticket and write the parties platform 
McGovern-Fraser Commission
A commission formed at the 1968 Democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups, and other others, who sought better representation 
superdelegates
National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the national party convention 
invisible primary
The period before any votes are cast when candidates compete to win early support from the elite of the party, and create a positive first impression of their leadership skills 
caucus
A system for selecting convention, delegates used in about a dozen states in which voters must attend an open meeting to express their presidential preference 
presidential primaries
election in which a states voters go to the polls to express their preference for a parties nominee for president 
frontloading
The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention 
party platform
A political party statement of its goals and policies for the next four years 
direct mail
A method of raising money for a political cause, or candidate, in which information and requests for money, are sent to people whose names appear on lists of those who have supported similar views or candidates in the past 
campaign contributions
donations that are made directly to the candidate or the party, and must be reported to the FEC 
independent expenditures
expenses on behalf of a political message that are made by groups that are uncoordinated with any candidates campaign 
federal election campaign act
A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The act created the federal election commission and provided limits on and disclosure of campaign contributions.
political action committees (PAC)
groups that raise money from individuals, and then distributed in the form of contributions to candidates that the group supports. PACs must register with the FEC and report their donation/contributions. 
federal election commission (FEC)
A six member bipartisan agency created to administer and enforce campaign finance laws 
soft money
political contributions earmarked for party building expenses at the grassroots level or for generic party advertising. These were unlimited until they were banned by the McCain-Feingold act.
527 groups
independent, political groups that are not subject to contribution restrictions, because they do not directly seek the election of particular candidates 
citizens united v. federal election commission
A 2010 landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that individuals, corporations, and unions could donate unlimited amounts of money to groups that make independent political expenditures 
501(c) groups
groups that are exempt from reporting their contributions and can receive unlimited contributions. They cannot spend more than half of their money on political activities.(section 501 – C of US tax code.)
super PACs
independent expenditure, only PACs are known as this because they may accept donations of any size and can endorse candidates. They must periodically report expenditures to the FEC. 
selective perception
The phenomenon that peoples beliefs often guide, what they pay the most attention to and how they interpret events 
suffrage
The legal right to vote 
political efficacy
The belief that one person‘s participation and/or vote makes a difference 
civic duty
The belief that in order to support a democratic government, a citizen should vote 
voter registration
System adopted by the states that requires voters to register prior to voting 
motor voter act
A 1993 law that requires states to permit people to register to vote when they apply for a drivers license 
mandate theory of elections
The idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his/her platforms in politics
policy voting
Electoral choices that are made on the basis of the voters policy preferences, and where candidates stand on policy issues
electoral college
American institution created by the constitution, providing for the selection of the president by electors, chosen by the state parties or legislatures 
battleground states
The key states that the presidential campaigns focus on because they are most likely to decide the outcome of the electoral college vote 
