voting
Belief that one’s vote matters
What is political efficacy?
Main goal of political parties
What is to win elections?
Benefits offered to encourage joining groups
What are material incentives?
First step in the presidential nomination process
What are primaries or caucuses?
Media role that investigates wrongdoing
What is the watchdog role?
Amendment protecting voting regardless of race
What is the 15th Amendment?
Shift of Southern whites from Democrats to Republicans
What is party realignment?
Trying to influence officials directly
What is lobbying?
Number of electoral votes needed to win
What is 270?
Short, memorable clips used in news
What are sound bites?
A major factor that increases voter turnout
What is higher education / income / age / party ID?
Long-lasting shift in party coalitions
What is a critical election?
PACs formed by corporations, unions, or associations
What are connected PACs?
Groups that spend unlimited money but cannot coordinate with campaigns
What are Super PACs?
When media chooses which issues to highlight
What is agenda-setting?
Law requiring voter registration at DMVs
What is the Motor Voter Act (1993)?
Why political parties have weakened
What is candidate-centered campaigns, media influence, primaries, and PACs?
Case allowing unlimited independent expenditures by corporations
What is Citizens United v. FEC (2010)?
Money spent independently of campaigns
What are independent expenditures?
Consuming news that reinforces current beliefs
What is selective exposure / the echo chamber?
Difference between prospective and retrospective voting
What is future-based vs. past-performance voting?
Definition of dealignment
What is declining party loyalty and rising independents?
Officials leaving government to become lobbyists
What is the revolving door?
Why candidates focus on swing states
What is winner-take-all makes them decisive?
Difference between horse-race journalism and issue coverage
What is polls focus vs. policy focus?