Parts to an election
contributions, with no limits, used for party-building expenses or generic party advertising
What is soft money?
they are awarded seats based on the office they hold, such as being a member of congress. They bring experience and represent the elite
What are superdelegates?
voting for candidates of different parties; the result is often a divided government
What is ticket splitting?
A primary election in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote.
What is a closed primary?
political donations that are regulated by law through the Federal Election Commission
What is Hard money?
party in the electorate, party as an organization, party in government
What are the 3 parts to a political party?
The votes cast by citizens in an election.
What is the popular vote?
when a state holds its primary early to capitalize on media attention
What is frontloading?
A six-member bipartisan agency created by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974. The federal Election Commission administers and enforces campaign finance laws.
What is the Federal Election Commission?
nominate candidates for political office, give cues to voters, articulate policies, coordinate policymaking, campaign for their candidates for office, they sponsor grassroots mobilization, energizing members to support a candidate or proposal, serve as linkage institution connecting citizens to the government
What are the functions of a political party?
after a presidential candidate wins the popular vote in a given state, that candidate's slate of electors cast electoral votes for the candidate on behalf of that state.
What is the electoral college?
During the presidential primaries, the practice of assigning all of a given state's delegates to the candidate who receives the most popular votes. Some states' Republican primaries and caucuses use this system.
What is the winner take all system?
the United States Supreme Court held that the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting political independent expenditures by corporations, associations, or labor unions
What is Citizens United v. FEC?
A declining in the percentage of citizens who identify with one of the major parties, usually over the course of a decade or longer.
What is dealignment?
A direct vote by citizens on a policy change proposed by a legislature or another government body. Referenda are common in state and local elections, but there is no mechanism for a national-level referendum.
What is a referendum?
A ballot vote in which citizens select a party's nominee for the general election
What are primaries?
a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States upheld federal limits on campaign contributions and ruled that spending money to influence elections is a form of constitutionally protected free speech. The court also stated candidates can give unlimited amounts of money to their own campaigns.
What is Buckley v. Valeo?
historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections. The New Deal Coalition from 1932-1964 and 1968- present are examples of this
What are party eras?
Voting made after taking into consideration factors like the performance of a political party, and officeholder, and/or the administration.
What is retrospective voting?