AP Gov Elections, Campaigns and the Electoral College Part II
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Nomination
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Party's official endorsement of a candidate for president
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National Party Convention
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The supreme party within each of the parties, nominates the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates, writes the party's platform
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Caucus
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System for selecting convention delegates, used in about twelve rural states, voters show up at a set time and attend an open meeting to express their presidential preference
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Primary
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Elections in which a state's citizens vote to express their preference for a party's nominee for president
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Super Delegate
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People who are automatically awarded slots as delegates based on the office they hold (ex: member of Congress or party's national committee)
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National Primary
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Nationwide proposal that would replace caucuses and presidential primaries, shortened, votes in one state wouldn't have more political impact than another state, and the media would have a greater impact by advocating political interest and the issues
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Party Platform
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Party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years, drafted prior to the party convention, party's beliefs
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Federal Election Commission
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Six member bipartisan agency that administers and enforces campaign finance laws
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Matching Funds
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Contributions of up to $250 are matched from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund to candidates for the presidential nomination who qualify and agree to meet various conditions (ex: limiting overall spending)
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McCain-Feingold Act 2002
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Increased individual contributions to presidential and congressional candidates to $2,000, indexed to rise along with inflation in the future
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Soft Money
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Does not go directly to the candidate but used to build the party up and advertise
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527 Group
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Independent political groups that are not subject to contribution restrictions because they do not directly seek the election of a particular candidate, tax exempt
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PAC
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Created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms, any corporation, union, or other that wishes to contribute to a campaign up to $5,000 per candidate in the primary and general election, must register with the FEC (monitors the expenditures)
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Citizens United v. FEC 2010
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Supreme Court ruled that using general treasury funds from corporations and unions was a restriction of free speech
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Referendum
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State level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a proposed constitutional amendment
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Initiative Petition
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Process permitted in some states whereby voters may put proposed changes in the state law to a vote if sufficient signatures are obtained on petitions
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Political Efficacy
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Belief that one's political participation matters and can make a difference
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Motor Voting Act 1993
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Requires states to permit people to register to vote when they apply for their driver's license
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Mandate Theory of Elections
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Idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out the platforms and politics of the party
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Electoral College
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Institution created by the Constitution, provides the selection of president by electors
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Retrospective Voting
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Theory of voting according to which voters essentially make their decisions based on their answers to the question, \"what have you done for me?\"
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Bush v. Gore 2000
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Decided the presidential election represents a high point of judicial activism, Equal Protection Clause violation in using different standards of counting in different counties, etc.
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Campaign Strategy
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Master gam plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign
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Candidate-centered Age
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Party outsiders can get elected in a way that is virtually unknown outside the United States. Permanent campaign, openness and individualism in politics
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Delegates
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A person sent or authorized to represent others
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Electors
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People who vote in the Electoral College
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Incredible Shrinking Sound Bite
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The decrease in the length of time a presidential candidates was shown speaking uninterrupted on the evening news between 1968 and 2004
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Recall
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Procedure that allows voters to call a special election for a specific official in an attempt to throw him or her out of office before the end of term, permitted in seventeen states, rarely used
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Role of the House in Presidential Elections
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If there is a tie in the electoral college, the House of Reps chooses the Presidents and the Senate chooses the Vice
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Suffrage
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Legal right to vote, 15th, 19th, and 26th amendment
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Voter Turnout Rates
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The total number of voters who participated
