AP Gov Ch. 14 – Flashcards

citizens' feelings of effectiveness in political affairs

legislation allowing citizens to register to vote at the same time they apply for a driver's license or other state benefit

a party's efforts to inform potential voters about issues and candidates and to persuade them to vote

citizens' involvement in groups and their relationships to their communities and families

basing voting decisions on well-informed opinions and consideration of the future consequences of a given vote

basing voting decisions on reactions to past performance; approving the status quo or a desire to change

an election by which voters choose convention delegates committed to voting for a certain candidate

early attempts to raise money, line up campaign consultants, generate media attention, and get commitments for support even before candidates announce they are running

local gathering of party members to choose convention delegates

primary election in which eligible voters need not be registered party members

primary election in which only registered party members may vote

the process of scheduling presidential primaries early in the primary season

the leading candidate and expected winner of a nomination or an election

the widely held public perception that a candidate is gaining electoral strength

the approximately one-third of the electorate who are undecided at the start of a campaign

investigation of an opponent's background for the purpose of exploiting weaknesses or undermining credibility

issues on which most voters and candidates share the same position

issues on which the parties differ in their perspectives and proposed solutions

a controversial issue that one party uses to split the voters in the other party

the tendency of one party to be seen as more competent in a specific policy area

campaign advertising that emphasizes the negative characteristics of opponents rather then one's own strengths

money given by the federal government to qualified presidential candidates in the primary and general election campaigns

campaign funds donated directly to candidates; amounts are limited by federal election laws

unregulated campaign contributions by individuals, groups, or parties that promote general election activities but do not directly support individual candidates

advertisements paid for by soft money, and thus not regulated, that promote certain issue positions bu tdo not endorse specific candidates

efforts by political parties, interest groups, and the candidate's staff to maximize voter turnout among supporters

the perception that an election victory signals broad support for the winner's proposed policies