Chapter 10: Elections and Campaigns

A meeting of members of the same political party where party delegates are selected

When a candidate wins, they tend to do better than expected in future contests due to increased name recognition and approval

Voting for a certain candidate because of their past actions in office

Voting for a certain candidate because you favor their position on issues

An issue that everyone agrees on, but the question is whether or not the candidate embraces that view

An issue where there are opposing views which divide the voters

Person currently holding an elective office

Tendency for incumbents to perform better in congressional elections

Strategically drawing boundaries of legislative districts to favor one party

Tendency for a president’s party to do better when he’s at the top of the ticket, but do worse when he is not because there are less enthusiastic voters

Tendency for candidates to win more votes because of the presence f a better known candidate at the top of the ticket

A committee or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations

Spending by PACs to help a party or candidate independently of them

Funds obtained by political parties that are spent on party activities

Organizations under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code that raise and spend money to advance political causes

A group that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money but cannot coordinate its activities with campaigns

A social welfare organization which cannot devote more than 50% of its funds to politics

Primary election where only registered party members can vote for a nominee

Primary election where all voters, regardless of party can vote

Voters can vote for the Democratic candidates, the Republican candidates, or some from each party

A primary in which, to be successful, the candidate must receive a majority of all votes cast in that race