Voter Behavior & Turnout
This concept refers to a person’s belief that their vote and participation matter in politics.
What is political efficacy?
This U.S. voting system awards victory to the candidate with the most votes in a district.
What is first-past-the-post?
The advantage held by current officeholders running for reelection is called this.
What is the incumbency advantage?
This problem occurs when people benefit from a group’s efforts without contributing.
What is the free rider problem?
Money donated directly to a candidate’s campaign that is regulated is called this.
What is hard money?
Voting based on what benefits you personally best describes this model.
What is rational choice voting?
This effect occurs when third-party candidates take votes away from major party candidates.
What is the spoiler effect?
This refers to the ability of voters to recognize a candidate simply by their familiarity.
What is name recognition?
This type of group focuses on one specific policy issue.
What are single-issue groups?
Unregulated money given to parties for general purposes is known as this.
What is soft money?
Voting based on judging how a candidate or party performed in the past is called this.
What is retrospective voting?
This system formally elects the president rather than the national popular vote.
What is the Electoral College?
Free mail sent by members of Congress to constituents is known as this.
What are franking privileges?
The close relationship between interest groups, Congress, and bureaucracy is called this.
What are iron triangles?
Political spending by outside groups without direct coordination is called this.
What are independent expenditures (outside spending)?
This type of voting involves choosing candidates from different parties for different offices.
What is split-ticket voting?
This process allows voters to choose party nominees before the general election.
What is the primary system?
This early cluster of primary elections plays a major role in selecting nominees.
What is Super Tuesday?
This government agency regulates broadcast media like TV and radio.
What is the FCC (Federal Communications Commission)?
This Supreme Court case ruled that political spending is protected speech under the First Amendment
What is Citizens United v. FEC (2010)?
Lower turnout in these elections compared to presidential elections is common.
What are midterm elections?
These states are exceptions to winner-take-all allocation in presidential elections.
What are Maine and Nebraska?
The official gathering where parties select their presidential candidates is called this.
What are national nominating conventions?
The media’s ability to shape what issues people think about is known as this.
What is agenda setting?
These organizations can raise unlimited funds but cannot coordinate with candidates.
What are Super PACs?