Ap Government Chapter 9

Front 1

Australian ballot

Back 1

A secret ballot prepared, distributed, and tabulated by government officials at public expense. Since 1888, all states have used the ________ rather than an open, public ballot.

Front 2

"beauty contest"

Back 2

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.

Front 3

caucus

Back 3

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

Front 4

closed primary

Back 4

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

Front 5

coattail effect

Back 5

The influence of a popular candidate on the electoral success of other candidates on the same party ticket. The effect is increased by the party-column ballot, which encourages straight-ticket voting.

Front 6

corrupt practices act

Back 6

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.

Front 7

credentials committee

Back 7

A committee used by political parties at their national conventions to determine which delegates may participate. The committee inspects the claim of each prospective delegate to be seated as a legitimate representative of his or her state.

Front 8

elector

Back 8

A member of the electoral college, which selects the president and vice president. Each state's ______ are chosen in each presidential election year according to state laws.

Front 9

focus group

Back 9

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

Front 10

front-loading

Back 10

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

Front 11

front-runner

Back 11

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

Front 12

hatch act

Back 12

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

Front 13

independent expenditures

Back 13

Nonregulated contributions from PACs, organizations, and individuals. The funds may be spent on advertising or other campaign activities so long as those expenditures are not coordinated with those of a candidate.

Front 14

issue advocacy advertising

Back 14

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.

Front 15

office-block, or massachusetts, ballot

Back 15

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

Front 16

open primary

Back 16

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

Front 17

party-column, or Indiana, ballot

Back 17

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. It emphasizes voting for the party, rather than the office or individual.

Front 18

political action committee

Back 18

A committee set up by and representing a corporation, labor union, or special interest group that raises and gives campaign donations.

Front 19

political consultant

Back 19

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

Front 20

presidential primary

Back 20

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

Front 21

rational ignorance effect

Back 21

An effect produced when people purposely and rationally decide not to become informed on an issue because they believe that their vote on the issue is not likely to be a deciding one; a lack of incentive to seek the necessary information to cast an intelligent vote.

Front 22

registration

Back 22

The entry of a person's name onto the list of registered voters for elections. To register, a person must meet certain legal requirements for age, citizenship, and residency.

Front 23

soft money

Back 23

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

Front 24

superdelegate

Back 24

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

Front 25

tracking poll

Back 25

A poll taken for the candidate on a nearly daily basis as election day approaches.

Front 26

voter turnout

Back 26

The percentage of citizens taking part in the election process; the number of eligible voters that actually "turn out" on election day to cast their ballots.