AP Gov Unit 3- Study GUide – Flashcards
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Political Party
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A group of people seeking to control the government apparatus by gaining office in a duty constituted election
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Primary Election
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An election held to choose candidates for office (First round, you vote on within a party)
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Democratic Party
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-Government should be involved -Minorities -Female -Universal Health Care Insurance -Liberals
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Republican Party
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-Government should be less involved -Male -White -Wealthy -Conservative
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General Election
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The regular (main election) of candidates for office, voting between the two parties
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Hard Money
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Money given directly to a candidate in an election to assist his or her campaign (Limited Money)
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Soft Money
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A contribution to a political party that is not accounted as going to a particular candidate, thus avoiding legal limitations
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Political Action Campaign
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An organization that raises money privately and employs lobbyists to influence registration
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Federal Election Commision
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An independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1957 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States (Watches how candidates are gaining money)
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Electoral College
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Body of electorals chosen by the voters in each state to elect the president and VP of the united states -Candidates must have 270 electoral votes to win election
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527 Groups
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-527 group is a type of American tax-exempt organization. Created primarily to influence the selection, nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates to federal, state or local public office -Unlimited fundings -Not associated with a specific candidate -Super Pac
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Linkage Institutions
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The means by which individuals express preferences regarding the development of public party
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Political Socialization
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Process of determining political values
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15th Amendment
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People of any race/color can vote
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26th Amendment
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18 years old can vote
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19th Amendment
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Women can vote
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Voter Turnout
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Total number of voters who participated
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Gerrymandering
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Term that describes the deliberate rearrangement of the boundaries of congressional districts to influence the outcome of elections
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Reapportionment
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The process by which congressional districts are redrawn and seats are redistributed among states in the house
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Party Identification
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A citizen's self proclaimed preference for one party or the other
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Suffrage
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The right to vote in political elections
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Federal Election Campaign Act
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Law designed to increase disclosure of contributions for federal campaigns
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Moter Voter Act
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Allowed for people to register to vote at the DMV when they are getting their license. Increased voter turnout
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Super Pac
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Able to raise and spend unlimited sums of money from different resources. Independent action committee, not associated with a party
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Incumbent Advantage
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Advantage gained by house members who are trying to get reelected. Voters are more likely to trust and vote for them again. -Better hand on the issues -Higher Media Coverage -More Money -Name Recognition
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McGovern-Frasier Commission
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Commission formed at the 1968 democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups and others who sought better representation
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National Committe
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Delegates who run party affairs between national conventions
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Two Party System
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An electoral system with no dominant parties that compete in national elections
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Caucus
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-A meeting of party members to select delegates backing one or another primary candidate -People have to individually announce who they are voting for
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Direct Primary Election
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An election within the party to choose their favorite candidate for a particular office
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Invisible Primary Election
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Early attempts to raise money, line up campaign consults, generate media attention, and get committees for support even before candidates announce they are running
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National Nomination Convention
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Held every four years in the United States by most of the political parties who will be nominating someone for presidential campaign
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Party Era
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Historical Periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections
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Party Realignment
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Displacement of the majority party by the minority party
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Party Dealignment
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The gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties, as seen in party by shrinking party identification
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Third Party
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Electoral contenders other than the 2 major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections
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Party Machine
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Type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern
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Super Delegates
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New votes balanced by people with political experience
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Liberal
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-favors more government involvement in business -social welfare -minority rights -increased government spending
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Conservative
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-less government involvement in business -less government regulations -conformity to social norms and values -Rough on criminals
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Battleground States
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No candidate has overwhelming support in this state. Candidates fight to win these states (Swing States)
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Coattails
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The alleged tendency of candidates to win more votes in an election because of the presence at the top of the ticket of a better-known candidate, such as the president
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Super Tuesday
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Day when several sates hold their presidential primaries (usually 2nd Tuesday in March)
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23rd Amendement
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Gave the residents of District of Columbia the right to vote
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24th Amendment
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eliminated the poll tax as a requirement to vote
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Political Apathy
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Caring about someone more than politics
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Political Cyncism
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People motivated by self-interest
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Political Efficacy
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Is the citizen's faith and trust in government and their belief that they can understand and influence political affairs
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Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act
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Essentially banned soft money contributions made directly to candidates and set stricter guidelines for campaign advertising
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Safe District
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A house district in which the winner of the general election carries more than 55% of the vote. Most likely win the district every year
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Buckley VS. Valeo
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1st Amendment protects campaign spending; legislatures can limit contributions but not how much one spends of his own money on campaigns
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Citizens United VS. FEC
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Corporations have a 1st Amendment right to expressly support political candidates for congress and white house
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McConell VS. FEC
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2003 Supreme court case upheld constitutionally of most of BCRA, but said money is property not speech. Not all speech protected by the 1st amendment from government infringement
