Unit 2 Vocab

Question 1

Sound bites

Answer 1

A short extract from a recorded interview, chosen for its pungency or appropriateness

Question 2

Talking head

Answer 2

A commentator or reporter on television who addresses the camera and is viewed in close-up

Question 3

Policy agenda

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Policy entrepreneurs

Answer 4

An individual that takes advantage of opportunities to influence policy outcomes to increase their self-interests

Question 5

Nomination

Answer 5

Part of the process for election to a public office

Question 6

Campaign strategy

Answer 6

Thoughtful planning intended to guide a campaign

Question 7

National Party Convention

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Caucus

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Presidential primaries

Answer 9

Elections and caucuses held in the various states that form part of the nominating process of candidates for United States presidential elections

Question 10

McGovern-Fraser Commission

Answer 10

Commission created by the Democratic National Committee in response to the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention

Question 11

Superdelegates

Answer 11

An unelected delegate who is free to support any candidate for the presidential nomination at the party’s national convention

Question 12

Invisible primary

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Frontloading

Answer 13

To distribute or allocate something unevenly, with the greater proportion at the beginning of the enterprise or process

Question 14

high tech politics

Answer 14

A politics in which the behavior of citizens and policymakers and the political agenda itself are increasingly shaped by technology.

Question 15

mass media

Answer 15

Television, radio, newpapers, magazines, the internet, and other means of popular communication.

Question 16

media event

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

press conference

Answer 17

Meeting of public officials with reporters.

Question 18

investigative journalism

Answer 18

The use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams, and schemes at times putting reporters in adversarial relationships with political leaders.

Question 19

print media

Answer 19

Newspapers and magazines, as compared with broadcast media.

Question 20

electronica media

Answer 20

Television and radio, as compared with print media

Question 21

federal communications commissions

Answer 21

is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States

Question 22

narrowcasting

Answer 22

Media programming on cable TV or the Internet that is focused on one topic and aimed at a particular audience.

Question 23

chains

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

beats

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

trial balloons

Answer 25

An international news leak for the purpose of assessing the politicial reaction.

Question 26

selective exposures

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Party platform

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

Direct mail

Answer 28

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.”

Question 29

Selective perception

Answer 29

The process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages while ignoring differing viewpoints.

Question 30

Electoral College

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

Battleground states

Answer 31

Any state that can reasonably be won by the Democratic or Republican candidates by a swing in votes.

Question 32

Campaign contributions

Answer 32

Any funds raised to promote candidates, political parties, or policy initiatives. It is the most common form of campaign support.

Question 33

Federal Election Campaign Act

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

Federal Election Campaign Act

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Answer 35

An organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation, typically from very wealthy people.

Question 36

Federal Election Commission

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

Soft money

Answer 37

Contributions made outside of the limits and prohibitions of federal law. Essentially contributions made indirectly to a candidate.

Question 38

527 group

Answer 38

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.

Question 39

501(c) groups

Answer 39

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.

Question 40

Super PACs

Answer 40

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.