Ch 8 Elections And Campaigns

Front 1

caucus

Back 1

small, precinct-level meetings held simultaneously throughout state to select party candidates

Front 2

Federal Election Comission

Back 2

part of 1974 Federal Campaign Reform Law to regulate campaign finance legislation

Front 3

general election

Back 3

an election used to fill an elective office

Front 4

gerrymandering

Back 4

drawing the boundaries of political districts in bizarre shapes to make it easy for candidates of party in power to win elections in those districts.

Front 5

incumbency

Back 5

being in office

Front 6

independent expenditures

Back 6

spending by political action committees on political matters that is done directly and not by giving $ to candidate/party

Front 7

malapprotionment

Back 7

drawing boudaries of districts so that they are unequal in population

Front 8

1974 Federal Campaign Reform Law

Back 8

(passed after Watergate scandal)
- established FEC
- limit on personal donations
- Political Action Committees can donate certain amount of $

Front 9

Party coalitions

Back 9

alliance among different interest groups to achieve some political goal (like cons. democrats and lib. republicans)

Front 10

spots

Back 10

paid advertising - little-known candidates can increase their popularity, work better in primary rather then general elections

Front 11

party realignment

Back 11

occurs when a new issue arises that cuts along existing party divisions (slavery/weak economy)

Front 12

politcal action committees

Back 12

(PAC) committee set up by and representing a corporation, labor union, or special interest group that raises + spends campaign contributions of 1+ candidate/cause

Front 13

position issues

Back 13

issue dividing the electorate on which rival parties adopt different policy positions to attract voters.

Front 14

primary election

Back 14

election prior to general election - voters select the candidates who will run on each party's ticket.
presidential primary held to select delegates to pres. nominating convention

Front 15

soft money

Back 15

funds solicited from individuals /corporations/ unions that are spent on party activities rather for a specific candidate. are not reported to FEC

Front 16

valence issues

Back 16

issue on which voters distinguish rival parties by the degree to which they associate each party/candidate with conditions the electorate approves/disapproves of. (issues like prosperity/corruption)

Front 17

visuals

Back 17

news broadcasts - cost little, percieved to have more credibility then a spot, filmed by a news agency