Government And Politics Ap Chapter 10 Elections

Front 1

Incumbent

Back 1

a.The person already holding an elected office.
i.Hard to beat. Especially in the house.

Front 2

Coattails

Back 2

a.The alleged tendency of candidates to win more votes in an election because of the presence at the top of a better-known candidate, such as the president.
i.Not as strong anymore. Works with the economy but not other issues.

Front 3

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Back 3

a.A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations.
i.Can give up to $5000 whereas individuals can only give up to $1000.

Front 4

Malapportionment

Back 4

a.Drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population.
i.A common tool used in gerrymandering.

Front 5

Gerrymandering

Back 5

a.Drawing the boundaries of legislative districts in bizarre or unusual shapes to favor one party.
i.Commonly used method. Connect strongholds to force them in one district.

Front 6

Sophomore surge

Back 6

a.An increase in the votes congressional candidates usually get when they first run for reelection.
i.They often blame the congress and pledge to fix it.

Front 7

Position issues

Back 7

a.An issue about which the public is divided and rival candidates or political parties adopt different policy positions.
i.Single issue voters select their party based on this. (Abortion)

Front 8

Valence issue

Back 8

a.An issue about which the public is united and rival candidates or political parties adopt similar positions in hopes that each will be thought to represent those widely shared beliefs.
i.Who can connect better? Race to achieve. (Homeland security)

Front 9

General election

Back 9

a.An election held to choose which candidate will hold office.
i.Republican v. Democrat. Need more voters, workers, and media attention then in a primary. Need to centralize positions.

Front 10

Primary election

Back 10

a. An election held to choose candidates for office.
i. Must mobilize activists with money and motivation and play to the politics of these activists. More liberal for democrats, more conservative for Republicans.

Front 11

Closed Primary

Back 11

a. A primary election in which voting is limited to already registered party members.
i.More predictable, candidates get the base vote.

Front 12

Caucus (electoral)

Back 12

a. Voters discuss candidates and then choose.
i. “Musical chairs and fraternity pledge week.”

Front 13

Open primary

Back 13

a. A primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place.
i. Independents decide!

Front 14

Blanket primary

Back 14

a. A primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties.
i. Alaska and Washington.

Front 15

Runoff primary

Back 15

a. A second primary election held when no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the first primary.
i. Common in the south.

Front 16

Independent expenditures

Back 16

a. Spending by political action committees, corporations, or labor unions that is done to help a party or candidate but is done independently of them.
i. Grass roots efforts.

Front 17

Soft money

Back 17

a. 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 18

527 organizations

Back 18

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

Front 19

Prospective voting

Back 19

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

Front 20

Retrospective voting

Back 20

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