Chapter 9

Question 1

incumbent

Answer 1

the person already holding an elective office

Question 2

coattails

Answer 2

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 3

malapportionment

Answer 3

drawing the boundaries of legislative district 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 the reelection

Question 6

general election

Answer 6

an election held to choose which candidate will hold office

Question 7

runoff primary

Answer 7

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

Question 8

prospective voting

Answer 8

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

Question 9

retrospective voting

Answer 9

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

Question 10

nomination

Answer 10

The parties official endorsement of a candidate for Office

Question 11

campaign strategy

Answer 11

The master game plan candidates layout to guide their electoral campaigns 

Question 12

national party convention

Answer 12

The supreme power within each party that meets every four years to nominate the parties, presidential ticket and write the parties platform 

Question 13

McGovern-Fraser Commission

Answer 13

A commission formed at the 1968 Democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups, and other others, who sought better representation 

Question 14

superdelegates

Answer 14

National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the national party convention 

Question 15

invisible primary

Answer 15

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 

Question 16

caucus

Answer 16

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 

Question 17

presidential primaries

Answer 17

election in which a states voters go to the polls to express their preference for a parties nominee for president 

Question 18

frontloading

Answer 18

The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention 

Question 19

party platform

Answer 19

A political party statement of its goals and policies for the next four years 

Question 20

direct mail

Answer 20

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 

Question 21

campaign contributions

Answer 21

donations that are made directly to the candidate or the party, and must be reported to the FEC 

Question 22

independent expenditures

Answer 22

expenses on behalf of a political message that are made by groups that are uncoordinated with any candidates campaign 

Question 23

federal election campaign act

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

political action committees (PAC)

Answer 24

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. 

Question 25

federal election commission (FEC)

Answer 25

A six member bipartisan agency created to administer and enforce campaign finance laws 

Question 26

soft money

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

527 groups

Answer 27

independent, political groups that are not subject to contribution restrictions, because they do not directly seek the election of particular candidates 

Question 28

citizens united v. federal election commission

Answer 28

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 

Question 29

501(c) groups

Answer 29

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.)

Question 30

super PACs

Answer 30

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. 

Question 31

selective perception

Answer 31

The phenomenon that peoples beliefs often guide, what they pay the most attention to and how they interpret events 

Question 32

suffrage

Answer 32

The legal right to vote 

Question 33

political efficacy

Answer 33

The belief that one person‘s participation and/or vote makes a difference 

Question 34

civic duty

Answer 34

The belief that in order to support a democratic government, a citizen should vote 

Question 35

voter registration

Answer 35

System adopted by the states that requires voters to register prior to voting 

Question 36

motor voter act

Answer 36

A 1993 law that requires states to permit people to register to vote when they apply for a drivers license 

Question 37

mandate theory of elections

Answer 37

The idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his/her platforms in politics

Question 38

policy voting

Answer 38

Electoral choices that are made on the basis of the voters policy preferences, and where candidates stand on policy issues

Question 39

electoral college

Answer 39

American institution created by the constitution, providing for the selection of the president by electors, chosen by the state parties or legislatures 

Question 40

battleground states

Answer 40

The key states that the presidential campaigns focus on because they are most likely to decide the outcome of the electoral college vote