Political Science Vocabulary 2 Flashcards
incumbent
a person already holding office
coattails
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
political action committee (PAC)
a committee set up[ by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations
malapportionament
drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population
gerrymandering
drawing the boundaries of legislative districts in a bizarre or unusual shapes to favor one party
sophomore surge
an increase in the votes congressional candidates usually get when they first run for reelection
position issues
an issue about which the public is divided and rival candidates or political parties adopt different policy positions
valence issue
an issue about which the public is united and rival candidates or political parties adopt similar positions in hopes that each will be thought to best represent those widely shared beliefs
general election
an election held to choose which candidate will hold office
primary election
an election held to chose 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 vote 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
independent expenditures
spending by political action committees, corporations, or labor unions that is done to help a party or candidate but is done independently of them
soft money
funds obtained by political parties that are spent on party activities, but not on behalf of a specific candidate
527 organizations
organizations that, under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, raise and spend money to advance political causes
prospective voting
voting for a candidate because you favor his or her ideas for handling issues
retrospective voting
voting for a candidate because you like his or her past actions in office
the person already holding an elective office
incumbent
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
coattails
a committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations
political action committee (PAC)
drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population
malapportionment
drawing the boundaries of legislative districts in bizarre or unusual shapes to favor one party
gerrymandering
an increase in the votes congressional candidates usually get when they first run for reelection
sophomore surge
an issue about which the public is divided and rival candidates or political parties adopt different policy positions
position issue
an issue about which the public is united and rival candidates or political parties adopt similar positions in hopes that each will be thought to best represent those widely shared beliefs
valence issue
an election held to choose which candidate will hold office
general election
an election held to choose candidates for office
primary election
a primary election in which voting is limited to already registered party members
closed primary
a primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place
open primary
a primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties
blanket primary
a second primary election held when no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the first primary
runoff primary
spending by political action committees, corporations, or labor unions that is done to help party or candidate but is done independently of them
independent expenditures
funds obtained by political parties that are spent on party activities, but not on behalf of a specific candidate
soft money
organizations that, under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, raise and spend money to advance political causes
527 organizations
voting for a candidate because you favor his or her ideas for handling issues
prospective voting
voting for a candidate because you like his or her past actions in office
retrospective voting
interest groups
an organizations of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy
incentive
something of value one cannot get without joining the organization
solidary incentives
the social rewards (sense of pleasure, status, or companionship) that lead people to join political organizations
material incentives
money or things valued in monetary terms
purposive incentive
a benefit that comes from serving a cause or principle
ideological interest groups
political organizations that attract members by appealing to their political convictions or principles
public-interest lobby
a political organization whose goals will principally benefit nonmenbers
social movement
a widely shared demand for change in some aspect of the social or political order
political cue
a signal telling a legislator what values are at stake in a vote, and how that issue fits into his or her own political views on party agenda
