Court Cases
The ruling made it possible for the New York Times and Washington Post newspapers to publish the then-classified Pentagon Papers without risk of government censorship or punishment
New York Time v. US (1971)
a primary in which members of a party nominate its candidates by direct vote
Direct Primary
practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating district boundaries to create partisan advantaged districts
A six-member bipartisan agency created by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974. The federal Election Commission administers and enforces campaign finance laws.
Federal Election Commission
members of Congress have the privilege to mail letters or other parcel without the application of a postage stamp
Franking Privilages
protected a newspaper from being sued for libel in state court for making false defamatory statements about the official conduct of a public official
New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)
An election prior to the general election in which voters select the candidates who will run on each party's ticket. Before the elections, a presidential primary is held to select delegates to the presidential nominating conventions of the major parties
Primary
process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census
Redistricting
created FEC; all contributions over $100 disclosed; no foreign contributions; establishment of PACs - $5,000 per candidate; individual contributions - $1,000 per candidate; presidential elections
Federal Election Campaign Act (1974)
substantial and long-term shift in party allegiance by individuals and groups, usually resulting in a change in policy direction
Realignment
the United States Supreme Court held that the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting political independent expenditures by corporations, associations, or labor unions.
A primary election that permits voters to choose on election day the primary in which they wish to vote. They may vote for candidates of only one party
Open Primary
Redistribution of representation in a legislative body, especially the periodic re-allotment of U.S. congressional seats according to changes in the census figures as required by the Constitution.
Reapportionment
regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. It was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and operates as an independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress.
Federal Communications Commission
series of positions on political issues used to promote a party or candidate
Party Platform
the United States Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of most of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
McConnell v. FEC (2003)
A primary election limited to registered party members. Prevents members of other parties from crossing over to influence the nomination of an opposing party's candidate
Closed Primary
an inappropriate or unfair proportional distribution of representatives to a legislative body
Mal-apportionment
the money a presidential candidate is given by the federal government to match the money they have raised personally
Federal Matching Funds
the press is guaranteed freedom from censorship-that is, rules telling it in advance what it can publish. After publication, however, the government can punish the press for material that is judged libelous or obscene
Prior Restraint
United States Supreme Court decision that effectively resolved the dispute surrounding the 2000 presidential election. Seven justices agreed that there was an Equal Protection Clause violation in using different standards of counting in different counties
Bush v. Gore (2000)
A primary election that permits all voters, regardless of party, to choose candidates. A Democratic voter, for example, can vote in a blanket primary for both Democratic and Republican candidates for nomination
An increase in the votes that congressional candidates usually get when they first run for reelection
Sophmore Surge
composed of three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial, whose powers are vested by the U.S. Constitution
Federal Government
A journalist who searches through the activities of public officials and organizations seeking to expose conduct contrary to the public interest
Muckraker