Ap Gov Terms Chapter 10

Front 1

blanket primary

Back 1

a primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties

Front 2

caucus

Back 2

a meeting of party members to select delegates backing one or another primary candidate

Front 3

closed primary

Back 3

a primary election in which voting is limited to already registered party members

Front 4

coattails

Back 4

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

Front 5

527 organizations

Back 5

organizations that, under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, raise and spend money to advance political causes

Front 6

general election

Back 6

an election held to choose which candidate will hold office

Front 7

gerrymandering

Back 7

drawing the boundaries of legislative districts in bizarre or unusual shapes to favor one party

Front 8

incumbent

Back 8

the person already holding an elective office

Front 9

independent expenditures

Back 9

spending by political action committees, corporations, or labor unions that is done to help a party or candidate but is done independently of them

Front 10

malapportionment

Back 10

drawing the boundaries of legislative districts to that they are unequal in population

Front 11

open primary

Back 11

a primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place

Front 12

political action committee (PAC)

Back 12

a committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations

Front 13

position issues

Back 13

an issue about which the public is divided and rival candidates or political parties adopt different policy positions

Front 14

primary election

Back 14

an election held to choose candidates for office

Front 15

prospective voting

Back 15

voting for a candidate because you favor his or her ideas for handling issues

Front 16

retrospective voting

Back 16

voting for a candidate because you like his or her past actions in office

Front 17

runoff primary

Back 17

a second primary election held when no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the first primary

Front 18

soft money

Back 18

funds obtained by political parties that are spent on party activities, such as get-out-the-vote drives, but not on behalf of a specific candidate

Front 19

sophomore surge

Back 19

an increase in the votes congressional candidates usually get when they first run for reelection

Front 20

valence issue

Back 20

an issue about which the public is united and rival candidates or policial parties adopt similar positions in hopes that each will be thought to best represent those widely shared beliefs