Unit 4 Vocab Flashcards
Political Party
An organized group trying to achieve a common interest by gaining and using power through the electoral process
Delegate
A representative that votes the way their constituents want, regardless of personal opinion
Superdelegate
Platform leaders that can be from any party but do not represent a state. (Vote is unpledged)
Party Identification
Citizen’s attachment to a political party based on issues, ideology, or upbringing, which can be a reliable indicator of likely voting choices
Proportional System
An election system where each running party gets a proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its porportion of the vote
Winner-Take-All System
Electoral system where the party with the most votes wins the election
General Election
Election where voters decide which candidate will actually be a part of public offices.
Primary Election (Primaries)
Elections that political parties use to decide what candidate will represent them in the general election
(State voters go to a poll to express their preference for a party’s nominee for president)
Closed Primary
A primary election where only the party’s registered voters can cast a ballot
Open Primary
A primary election where anyone can vote. (Party members, independents, sometimes members of other party)
Electorate
The citizens that are eligible to vote
Mandate
An authoritative command for elected officials to carry out a party platform
Electoral College
Consists of representatives of each state who cast the final ballots that actually elect a president.
Presidential Coattails
When successful presidential candidates carry into office congressional candidates of the same party in the year of their election
Mid-term Election
An election that takes place in the middle of a presidential term.
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Independent federal agency that regulates the campaign finance legislation in the United States
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)
United States federal law that regulates campaign ads and funding
Citizens United v. FEC
First Amendment prohibits limits on corporate funding of independent broadcasts in candidate elections
Super PAC (Political Action Committee)
Political action committees established to make independent expenditures
Independent Expenditures (NOT VOCAB)
(Spending for campaign activity that is not coordinated with a candidates campaign)
Candidate-Centered Politics
Politics that focuses on candidates, their particular issues, and character rather than party affiliation
Critical Election
Election when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty
Party Realignment
Change in voting behavior between voting groups
Party Platform
A list of actions which a political party, candidate or organization supports in oder to appeal to the general public
Party Convention
Party meeting held during year of a presidential election in order to nominate a new presidential candidate
Caucus
System to select convention delegates where voters attend a meeting to express presidential preference
Front-loading
When states hold primaries early in the calender (Importance: in order to capitalize on media attention)
Theory of elections
The winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out their platform and politics.
(Politicans like the theory better than political scientists)
Retrospective Voting
Voting for or against a candidate or party in office because of past actions.
Rational Choice Voting
Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen’s individual interest.
Prospective Voting
Voting based on predictions of how a party of candidate will perform in the future
Party-line Voting
Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices.
Political Action Committees (PAC)
Group of people taking action about something in politics
Incumbency Advantage
The advantage that the incumbent (individual currently holding office) candidate has over the challenger candidate.
Reapportionment
Reallocation of # of seats in the House after each decennial census
