Elections And Campaign Flashcards
Coat tails
Tendency of candidates to win more votes because of the presence at the top, such as president
PAC
Political action committee, committee set up by labor corporations, labor union or specific interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations
Malapportionment
Drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population
Gerrymandering
Drawing the boundaries of legislative districts in bizarre shapes to favor a party
Sophomore surge
An increase in the votes congressional candidates usually get when they first run for reelection
Clothespin vote
A vote cast by a person who does not like either candidate and so votes for the less questionable of the two putting a clothespin over his or her nose to keep out the unpleasant stench
Position issue
In issue about which the public is divided into rival candidates or political parties adopt a different policy positions
Valence issue
An issue about which the public is United and rival candidates or political parties adopt their own positions in hopes that it will be thawed to best represent the widely shared beliefs
General election
An election held to choose which candidate will hold office
Primary election.
An election held to choose candidates for office
Closed primary
A primary election in which voting is limited to already registered party members
Open primary
A primary election in which voters may choose in which party to go as they enter the polling place
Blanket primary
A primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties
Runoff primary
A second primary election held when no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the first primary
Soft money
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
