Survey Says...
This term measures how accurate a public opinion poll is.
What is the Margin of Error?
The most influential agent of political socialization during early childhood.
What is family?
This was created to help organize voters and win elections
What are political parties?
This institution formally selects the President and Vice President of the United States
What is the Electoral College?
This type of donation is made directly to a candidate’s campaign and is subject to strict limits
What is hard money?
These polls are conducted as voters leave the polling stations.
What are Exit Polls?
This lifelong process shapes political beliefs through influences like family, peers, and the media.
What is political socialization?
This type of primary allows only registered party members to vote
What is a closed primary?
This 2010 Supreme Court case allowed unlimited political spending by corporations and unions.
What is Citizens United v FEC?
This federal agency is responsible for regulating campaign finance and enforcing election laws
What is the Federal Election Commission? (FEC)
This method ensures every individual in a population has an equal chance of being selected for a survey.
What is random sampling?
Higher levels of this are often linked to greater political participation and more liberal views on social issues.
What is education?
The last major shift in party allegiance in the United States happened in the 1960s and is known by this term.
What is party realignment?
This term describes the practice of states moving their primaries earlier in the calendar to gain influence.
What is frontloading?
This was born from Citizens United that is allowed to raise unlimited amounts of money as long as they don't go directly towards the candidate
What are SuperPAC's?
A sampling method where the population is divided into demographic sub-groups, and random samples are drawn proportionally from each group
What is stratified sampling?
A citizen's belief that their political participation actually matters
What is political efficacy?
These minor parties rarely win major offices but can impact elections by drawing votes away from major party candidates.
What are 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)
What are super delegates?
This group is the main source of Dark Money in politics?
What are 501(c)(4) groups?
This is media coverage focusing on polling standings rather than candidate policy agendas.
What is horse-race journalism?
The phenomenon where major historical events—such as the Great Depression, the Vietnam War, or 9/11—permanently shape the political views of the age group living through them
What is the generational-effect?
In Federalist No. 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
What are factions?
This is what is used as detailed in the 12th Amendment if no Presidential Candidate wins 270 votes from the Electoral College?
What is a 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
What is FEC vs. Wisconsin Right to Life?