Chapter 9: Campaigns, Elections, and Voting Flashcards
absentee voting
The casting of a ballot in advance by mail in situations where illness, travel, or other circumstances prevent voters from voting in their precincts.
australian ballot
a secret ballot prepared by the government, distributed to all eligible voters, and, when balloting is completed, counted by government officials in an unbiased fashion, without corruption or regard to individual preferences
Buckley v. valeo
1976
campaign consultant
a paid professional who specialized in the overall management of political campaigns or an aspect of campaigns
campaign manager
a professional whose duties comprise a variety of strategic and managerial tasks, from fund-raising to staffing a campaign
campaign strategy
the blueprint for the campaign, including a budget and fund-raising plan, an advertising strategy, and a staffing plan
caucus
a meeting of part members held to select delegates to the national convention
chad
a ready-made perforation on a punch card ballot
citizens united v. federal election commission
→ corporations and labor unions are entitled to the same 1st amendment protections that individuals enjoy, resulting in drastically increased spending through super PACs by corporations and labor organizations
closed primary
ppl in said party can only vote in this election
coattail effect
the phenomenon by which candidates running for lower-level offices such as city council benefit in an election from the popularity of top-of-ticket nominee
→ confuses dumb ppl deliberately
contested convention
an open convention in which no candidate has won the required number of delegates to within the nomination on the first ballot
501(c)4s
nonprofit organizations operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare, including lobbying or engaging in political campaigning
527
a tax-exempt group that raises money for political activities, much like those allowed under the soft money loophole
fundraising consultant
a professional who works with candidates in identifying likely contributors to the campaign and arrange events and meetings with donors
general election
an election that determines witch candidates win the offices being sought
gotv
get out the vote
incumbency
the situation already holding office that is up for reelection
independent expenditures
Outlays by PACs and others, typically for advertising for or against a candidate, but uncoordinated with a candidate’s campaign.
initiative
a citizen-sponsored proposal that can result in new or amended legislation or a state constitutional amendment
instant runoff election
a special runoff election in which the computerized voting machine simulates the emulation of last-place vote getters
media consultant
a professional who brings the campaign message to voters by creating handouts and all forms of media ads
office-block ballot
a type of ballot that arranges all the candidates for a particular office under the name of that office
proposition
a proposed measure placed on the ballot in an initiative election
prospective voting
a method of evaluating candidates in which voters focus on candidates’ positions on issues important to them and vote for the candidates who best represent their views
rational abstention thesis
a theory that some individuals decide the costs of voting are not worth the effort when compared to the benefits
recall
a special election in which voters can remove an officeholder before his or her term is over
referendum
an election in which voters in a state can vote for or against a measure proposed by the state legislature
retrospective voting
a method of evaluating candidates in which voters evaluate incumbent candidates and decide whether to support them based on their past performance
