AP Gov – Chapter 9 – Flashcards

An election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins.

An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official.

An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.

The electoral system used in electing the president and vice president, in which voters vote for electors pledged to cast their ballots for a particular party's candidates.

An elected officer that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted.

The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot, especially the president.

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.

A national meeting of delegates elected in primaries, caucuses, or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president, ratify the party platform, elect officers, and adopt rules.

Financial contributions by individuals or groups in the hope of influencing the outcome of an election and subsequently influencing policy.

Contributions to a state or local party for party-building purposes.

Promoting a particular position or an issue paid for by interest groups or individuals but not candidates. Much issue advocacy is often electioneering for or against a candidate, and until 2004 had not been subject to any regulation.

Interest groups organized under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code may advertise for or against candidates. If their source of funding is corporations or unions, they have some restrictions on broadcast advertising. 527 organizations were important in recent elections.

Money spent by individuals or groups not associated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office.

States cannot create qualifications stricter than those set in the US Constitution, thereby eliminating congressional term limits.

The most votes for any choice but not necessarily a majority.

The most common primary format, in which only registered party members may vote.

Primary format in which independents may votes, but only for one party.

Voters may pick one candidate for each office without respect to party lines.

Right of all incumbent congressmen to mail news to their constituents for free. This privilege cannot be used for explicit campaigning, but it still gives the incumbent an extra advantage.

The support of a candidate in return for favors.

The process of redrawing district lines in order to create "safe" congressional districts.

The appropriation of federal funds for local projects.

First state to hold a caucus or primary, therefore giving Iowa much attention during the campaign season.

Candidates want more votes, even if they don't need them.

First primary, therefore giving New Hampshire immense amounts of attention.

A trend in which states move up the date of their primaries in order to gain relevance.

A day, usually in March, when a number of big-state primaries take place.

The official views of a party.

Amendment permitting the District of Columbia to choose Electors for President and Vice President.

States that could go to either party in an election.

Members of the electoral college who do not vote as they were supposed to.