American Government And Politics Chapter 8 Vocabulary

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Presidential Primary

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A statewide primary election of delegates to a political party's national convention, held to determine a party's presidential nominee.

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Political Consultant

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A paid professional hired to devise a campaign strategy and manage a campaign.

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Tracking Poll

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A poll taken for the candidate on a nearly daily basis as Election Day approaches.

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Focus Group

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A small group of individuals who are led in discussion by a professional consultant to gather opinions on, and responses to, candidates and issues.

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Corrupt Practices Acts

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A series of acts passed by Congress in an attempt to limit and regulate the size and sources of contributions and expenditures in political campaigns.

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Hatch Act

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An act passed in 1939 that restricted the political activities of government employees. It also prohibited a political group from spending more than $3 million in any campaign and limited individual contributions to a campaign committee to $5,000.

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Political Action Committee (PAC)

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A committee set up by and representing a corporation, labor union, or special interest group. PACs raise campaign donations.

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Soft Money

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Campaign Contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.

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Independent Expenditures

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Unregulated political expenditures by PACs organizations, and individuals that are not coordinated with candidate campaigns or political parties.

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Issue Advocacy Advertising

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Advertising paid for by interest groups that support or oppose a candidate or a candidate's position on an issue without mentioning voting or elections.

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"Beauty Contest"

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A presidential primary in which contending candidates compete for popular votes but the results do not control the selection of delegates to the national convention.

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Caucus

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A meeting of party members designed to select candidates and propose policies.

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Superdelegate

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A party leader or elected official who is given the right to vote at the party's national convention. Superdelegates are not elected at the state level.

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Closed Primary

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A type of primary in which the voter is limited to choosing candidates of the party of which he or she is a member.

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Open Primary

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A primary in which any registered voter can vote (but must vote for candidates of only one party).

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Front-Runner

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Th presidential candidate who appears to be ahead at a given time in the primary season.

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Front-Loading

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The practice of moving presidential primary elections to the early part of the campaign to maximize the impact of these primaries on the nomination.

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Credential Committee

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A committee used by political parties at their national conventions to determine which delegates may participate.

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Elector

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A member of the electoral college, which selects the president and vice president.

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Australian Ballot

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A secret ballot prepared, distributed, and tabulated by government officials at public expense.

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Office-Block or Massachusetts Ballot

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A form of general election ballot in which candidates for elective office are grouped together under the title of each office. It emphasizes voting for the office and the individual candidate, rather than for the party.

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Party-Column or Indiana Ballot

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A form of general election ballot in which all of a party's candidates for elective office are arranged in one column under the party's label and symbol. Emphasizes voting for the party.

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Coattail Effect

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The influence of a popular candidate on the electoral success of other candidates on the same party ticket.

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Voter Turnout

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The % of citizens taking part in the election process.

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Franchise

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The right to vote.

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Registration

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The entry of a person's name onto the list of registered voters for elections.

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Socioeconomic Status

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The value assigned to a person due to occupation or income.