Survey Says...
This term measures how accurate a public opinion poll is
Margin of Error
The most influential agent of political socialization
family
This was created to help organize voters and win elections
political parties
This institution formally selects the President and VP of US
electoral college
This type of donation is made directly to a candidate’s campaign and is subject to strict limitations
hard money contributions
These polls are conducted as voters leave the polling stations
Exit Polls
This lifelong process shapes political beliefs through influences like family, peers, and the media
political socialization
This type of primary allows only registered party members to vote
closed primary
This 2010 Supreme Court case allowed unlimited political spending by corporations and unions
Citizens United v FEC
This federal agency is responsible for regulating campaign finance and enforcing election laws
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
This method ensures every individual in a population has an equal chance of being selected for a survey
random sampling
Higher levels of this are often linked to greater political participation and more liberal views on social issues
education
The last major shift in party allegiance in the US happened in the 1960s and is known by this term
Party realignment
This term describes the practice of states moving their primaries earlier in the calendar to gain influence
frontloading
This was born from Citizens United that is allowed to raise unlimited amounts of money as long as they don’t go directly toward the candidate
SuperPACs
A sampling method where the population is divided up into demographic sub-groups, and random samples are drawn proportionally from each group
stratified sampling
a citizen’s belief that their participation actually matters
political efficacy
These minor parties rarely win major offices but can impact elections by drawing votes away from major party candidates
third parties
In the Democratic Party, these individuals can vote for any candidate at the convention, regardless of primary results (has been limited as of recently in terms of power)
superdelegates
This loophole allows interest groups to run ads without directly supporting or opposing a candidate, often leading to controversial advertisements
Issue Advocacy
This is media coverage focusing on polling standings rather than candidate policy agendas
Horse-Race Coverage
The phenomenon where major historical events–such as the Great Depression, Vietnam, 9/11–permanently shape the political views of the age group living through them
generational effect
In Federalst 10, James Madison famously warned against these groups, which he defined as citizens united by a common interest adverse to the rights of others or the permanent interests of the community
factions
This is what is used as detailed in the 12th Amendment if no Presidential Candidate wins 270 votes from Electoral College
contingent election
This Supreme Court case saw the first crack towards the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act in which removed the blackout window component of campaign ads
FEC v Wisconsin Right to Life