Elections and Voting (Definitions) Flashcards
Invisible Primary
Period between person announcing candidacy and the first contests of the primary season. Time to fund-raise and gain media interest
Primary
State-based election (using a secret ballot) where the electorate votes for their preferred candidate of their affiliated party
Caucus
Series of meetings in states where people publicly show their support for a candidate. Held in large states that are thinly populated.
Delegates
People tasked with voting for a candidate at the Party’s National Convention, based on results in their state primary
Front Loading
Where more states decide to hold contests close to the start of the primary season in order to increase the significance of their primary
Closed primary
Only registered Democrats can vote in their party’s primary and only registered Republicans can vote in their party’s
Open Primary
Any registered voter can vote in either party’s primary
Winner-takes-all primary
The person with the plurality of votes wins all that state’s delegates (Republican only)
Proportional Primary
Delegates are allocated proportionally to a candidate’s vote share (40% of vote = 40% of delegates)
Strengths of primary process
Participation, more choice, reduces power of party bosses, demanding test for demanding job
Weaknesses of primary process
Too long, apathy, unrepresentative, expensive, media-controlled, doesn’t test skills of governing
Balanced Ticket
A tactic to increase voter appeal by selecting a VP Candidate with a different background or ideology
National Party Conventions
Meeting where the party’s candidate for President is formally chosen
Party Platform
Speech made by a party’s candidate at the end of the convention to set out their legislative agenda
Super PACs
Fundraising committees which are permitted to receive unlimited contributions and make unlimited expenditures. Advertise in order to elect or defeat a certain candidate
Gender Gap
Difference in the way men and women vote
Factors affecting voting behaviour
Gender, race, religion, age, wealth, party affiliation, geography, population area, policies
October Surprise
Unexpected late development in the campaign that gives opponent no time to respond
The Electoral College
Institution established to elect the President and Vice-President. Delegates vote for the candidate who won the popular vote in their state
Congressional elections
Held every 2 years (all of House, 1/3 of Senate). Mid-terms are held halfway through the President’s tenure
Congressional District
Geographic sub-division of a state, where representatives have ‘their seat’
Locality Rule
Representatives must be residents of the district they represent, not just the state
Split-ticket voting
Choosing one party’s candidate for President and another party’s for Congress
Proposition (or initiative)
Vote on an issue by citizens of a state that is proposed by the citizens of that state
