Unit 2 Vocab Flashcards
Sound bites
A short extract from a recorded interview, chosen for its pungency or appropriateness
Talking head
A commentator or reporter on television who addresses the camera and is viewed in close-up
Policy agenda
List of subjects or problems to which government officials as well as individuals outside of the government are paying serious attention at any given time
Policy entrepreneurs
An individual that takes advantage of opportunities to influence policy outcomes to increase their self-interests
Nomination
Part of the process for election to a public office
Campaign strategy
Thoughtful planning intended to guide a campaign
National Party Convention
Political convention held every four years in the United States by most of the political parties that will be fielding nominees in the upcoming US presidential election
Caucus
A meeting at which local members of a political party register their preference among candidates running for office or select delegates to attend a convention
Presidential primaries
Elections and caucuses held in the various states that form part of the nominating process of candidates for United States presidential elections
McGovern-Fraser Commission
Commission created by the Democratic National Committee in response to the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention
Superdelegates
An unelected delegate who is free to support any candidate for the presidential nomination at the party’s national convention
Invisible primary
The period between the first well-known presidential candidates with strong political support networks showing interest in running for president and demonstration of substantial public support by voters for them in primaries and caucuses
Frontloading
To distribute or allocate something unevenly, with the greater proportion at the beginning of the enterprise or process
high tech politics
A politics in which the behavior of citizens and policymakers and the political agenda itself are increasingly shaped by technology.
mass media
Television, radio, newpapers, magazines, the internet, and other means of popular communication.
media event
Events purposely staged for the media that nonetheless look spontaneous. In keeping with politics as theater, media events can be staged by individuals, groups, and government officials, especially presidents.
press conference
Meeting of public officials with reporters.
investigative journalism
The use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams, and schemes at times putting reporters in adversarial relationships with political leaders.
print media
Newspapers and magazines, as compared with broadcast media.
electronica media
Television and radio, as compared with print media
federal communications commissions
is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States
narrowcasting
Media programming on cable TV or the Internet that is focused on one topic and aimed at a particular audience.
chains
Newspapers published by massive media conglomerates that account for over four-fifths of the nation’s daily newspaper circulation. Often these chains control broadcast media as well.
beats
Specific location from which news frequently emanates, such as Congress or the White House. Most top reporters work a particular beat, thereby becoming specialists in what goes on at that location.
trial balloons
An international news leak for the purpose of assessing the politicial reaction.
selective exposures
is a theory within the practice of psychology, often used in media and communication research, that historically refers to individuals’ tendency to favor information which reinforces their pre-existing views while avoiding contradictory information
Party platform
A formal set of principal goals which are supported by a political party or candidate in order to garner the public’s support and votes.
Direct mail
A form of marketing that involves sending a piece of promotional material through a mail service to a home or business. Also commonly referred to as “junk mail.”
Selective perception
The process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages while ignoring differing viewpoints.
Electoral College
A body of electors established by the United States Constitution which forms every four years to elect the president and vice president of the United States.
Battleground states
Any state that can reasonably be won by the Democratic or Republican candidates by a swing in votes.
Campaign contributions
Any funds raised to promote candidates, political parties, or policy initiatives. It is the most common form of campaign support.
Federal Election Campaign Act
The primary United States federal law regulating political campaign spending and fundraising. Created the Federal Election Commission, limited presidential campaign spending, required them to disclose all donations.
Federal Election Campaign Act
The primary United States federal law regulating political campaign spending and fundraising. Created the Federal Election Commission, limited presidential campaign spending, required them to disclose all donations.
Political Action Committees (PACs)
An organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation, typically from very wealthy people.
Federal Election Commission
An independent regulatory agency of the United States whose purpose is to enforce the campaign finance law that was established in the Federal Election Campaign Act.
Soft money
Contributions made outside of the limits and prohibitions of federal law. Essentially contributions made indirectly to a candidate.
527 group
A U.S. tax-exempt organization that operates under Section 527 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. They are created primarily to influence the selection, nomination, and election of any public office.
501(c) groups
A nonprofit organization in the federal law of the United States. They are considered charity, so they have no limit on the amount of contributions the can recieve.
Super PACs
They can raise an unlimited amount of money for financing campaigns. This is because unlike normal PACs, there is no legal limit on the amount of money they can raise.
