|
blanket primary |
A primary in which voters can vote for the Democratic candidates, the Republican candidates, or some from each party |
|
closed primary |
A primary election in which voters must first declare to which party they belong |
|
coattails |
The tendency of lesser-known or weaker candidates to profit from the presence on the ticket of stronger candidate |
|
direct mail |
A means of soliciting funds from millions of people |
|
general election |
An election used to fill an elective office |
|
gerrymandering |
Drawing a district in some bizarre or unusual manner in order to create an electoral advantage |
|
incumbent |
The person currently in office |
|
Independent |
A voter describing herself or himself as neither a Democrat nor a Republican |
|
independent expenditures |
Ordinary advertising for or against candidates but not coordinated with or made at their direction |
|
open primary |
A primary in which voters can vote for the candidates of either the Democratic or the Republican party |
|
malapportionment |
The result of having districts of very unequal size |
|
political action committee (PAC) |
A group legally able to solicit campaign contributions from individuals within an organization and, under certain restrictions, to funnel these to candidates for office |
|
position issue |
An issue dividing the electorate on which rival parties adopt different policy positions to attract voters |
|
presidential primary |
A primary held to select delegates to the presidential nominating conventions of the major parties |
|
primary election |
An election intended to select a party’s candidates for elective office |
|
prospective voting |
Voting for a candidate because one favors his or her ideas for addressing issues after the election |
|
retrospective voting |
Voting for the candidate or party in office because one likes or dislikes how things have gone in the recent past |
|
runoff primary |
A primary in which, to be successful, the candidate must receive a majority of all votes cast in that race |
|
soft money |
Can be given to the parties in limitless amounts so long as it is not used to back candidates by name |
|
sophomore surge |
The tendency for newly elected members of Congress to become strong in their districts very quickly |
|
spots |
Short television advertisements used to promote a candidate for government office |
|
talking heads |
Televised pictures showing nothing more than individuals speaking |
|
valence issue |
An issue on which voters distinguish rival parties by the degree to which they associate each party with conditions or goals that the electorate universally supports or opposes |
|
visual |
A filmed episode showing a candidate doing something newsworthy |
Share This
Flashcard
