Elections & Campaigns
This type of election determines which party controls the legislative branch.
What is a congressional election?
Made of "Planks," this outlines a party's beliefs and policy goals.
What is a party platform?
These organizations try to influence government policy without running candidates.
What are interest groups?
One of the primary roles of the media in politics is getting people thinking about certain issues, a role called this.
What is Agenda Setting?
This amendment lowered the voting age to 18.
What is the 26th Amendment?
This system awards all electoral votes to the candidate who wins the state.
What is winner-take-all, or first past the post?
Unlike China's single-party voting system, the United States has this type of electoral system
What is a two-party system?
This tactic involves hiring professionals to influence lawmakers.
What is lobbying?
This type of media is known for openly expressing opinions rather than just reporting facts.
What is partisan media?
This group formally selects a party’s presidential nominee.
What is a national convention?
This type of primary allows voters to choose any party’s ballot.
What is an open primary?
Unlike a ranked choice voting system, our first past the post system makes it difficult for these groups to win major elections
What are third parties?
This type of benefit is available only to members of an interest group, encouraging people to join.
What are selective benefits?
Media coverage that focuses on who is winning is called this.
What is horse-race journalism?
This organization oversees Federal Elections to ensure all candidates get a fair opportunity to be heard.
What is the FEC (Federal Elections Commission)
This term refers to drawing districts to favor a political party.
What is gerrymandering?
This is when voters consistently support one party over time.
What is party identification?
This Supreme Court case allowed unlimited independent political spending by corporations.
What is Citizens United v. FEC?
When reporters act as a check on politicians, it is called this.
What is watchdog journalism?
People who already hold office are called this, and have an advantage when running for reelection
What are incumbents?
This model explains voting based on party loyalty, issues, and candidate traits.
What is the rational choice model
This process involves party leaders selecting candidates instead of voters.
What is elite candidate selection (or party-controlled nominations)?
This is when people benefit from a group without joining it.
What is the free-rider problem?
A main source of news today, this type of journalism allows individuals to experiment with investigative journalism but lacks the regulation of broadcast media
What is Citizen Journalism?
Popular sovereignty, or the voice of the people, is partially undermined by this method of choosing the winner of US Presidential elections
What is the Electoral College