Chapter 9: Campaigns and Voting Behavior Flashcards
What is a nomination?
A party’s official endorsement of a candidate
What is campaign strategy?
This is the master game plan. Includes the platforms you believe in and the image that you convey
What is the national convention?
This is when delegates decide through voting who they endorse
What is the invisible primary?
This is the period of time before any votes are cast, in which candidates gain support from elected officials (congressional members), fundraisers, and gain a positive political image
In what two ways can you get nominated?
Through a caucus or a primary
What is a primary versus a caucus?
A primary is when registered voters go to a polling place and cast a vote for one party. A caucus is when registered voters meet as a group, support a candidate, and choose a delegate
Where does the first caucus and primary take place?
The first caucus is in Iowa, and the first primary is in New Hampshire
What is frontloading?
These are the caucuses and primaries that are in the beginning of election season. Frontloading brings a lot of media to your state, which brings money, and it often shows the top contenders
What are some criticisms of primary/caucus frontloading?
- disproportionate amount of attention to Iowa and New Hampshire
- politicians must run “two campaigns”
- money plays too large of a role
- turnout at primaries and caucuses are low (25%)
- media controls the agenda
- late primaries are already decided before you vote
- people aren’t knowledgable on all the candidates
What are some components of high tech campaigning?
- direct mail (computer generated advertising sent to registered voters)
- TV ads
- news media
- internet
What do you need to run a campaign?
- invisible primary
- money
- campaign manager
- pollster
- website
What did the Federal Election Campaign Act, FECA establish in 1974?
They said that you report how the money was raised and what you spend the money on
What department overseas FECA?
The Federal Elections Commission, FEC
What act did the FEC pass?
-McCain-Feingold Act, which limited soft money. Individuals were not allowed to donate $1000 to a candidate/year, and corporations can only donate $10,000 to a candidate/year
What supreme court case said that the McCain-Feingold act was unconstitutional?
Citizens United vs. FEC, 2010. Citizens United said that the McCain-Feingold Act violated 1st amendment freedom of speech
How can you donate through the IRS?
- donate $3 to campaign
- IRS will match your funds up to $250
What is a 527 group?
It is an independent political group that is not subject to IRS restrictions, but they do not seek the election of any one candidate or specific party
What is a 501(c)?
This is a group that cannot spend more than half of their funds on a party, but they don’t have to report their contributions
What is a PAC and who donates to PACs the most often?
A PAC is a Political Action Committee. Interest groups are the largest contributors. Unlimited amounts of money can be spent from PACs
What is selective perception?
People pay attention to news, elections, and events that affect them personally. Also based on predispositions
What amendments have to do with voting and what do they say?
- 15th: You cannot be denied the right to vote based on race
- 19th: Women’s suffrage
- 24th: no poll tax
- 26th: lowered voting age from 21 to 18
What is the motor voter act of 1993?
You can register to vote at the DMV
What are the positions on a National Voter ID Card?
Republicans are generally for it, Democrats generally against it
How do people vote?
- political efficacy
- civic duty
- mandate theory of elections
- policy voting
- party identification
- evaluation of the candidate
- retrospective voting
What is political efficacy?
The belief that your vote actually matters
What is the Mandate Theory of Elections?
The idea that winning candidates have a mandate from the people to carry out their platform
What is policy voting?
Electoral choices based on the candidate’s policies
What is retrospective voting?
This is primarily done with re-elections. The people what the candidate has done and make a decision based on that
What are the two different forms of state ballots?
Referendum and Initiative
What is a referendum?
Where voters are given the chance to approve of disapprove of a legislative act or bond issue
What is an initiative?
A petition with signatures of 10% of registered voters from previous election
You are more likely to vote if…
- higher education
- worst turnout 18-25 year olds
- whites vote more frequently
- woman
- married
- living longer at a residence
- union member or government employee
Explain the electoral college
- Article II in the Constitution
- Winner takes all
- 2000 Bush-Gore Election, Bush won the electoral college and Gore won the popular vote. Went to the supreme court, and Bush ended up winning
Why do other countries have a higher voting turnout?
- only vote once a year
- have the whole weekend to vote
- automatic registration
- parties are not as drastic
How is Nebraska different from other states?
They are unicameral and have a proportional voting system
How are Ohio and Florida different from other states?
- swing states
- money goes into TV ads here more than other states
- staged media events
- candidates spend more time in these states
