Ap Government Chapter 7-9

Politics in which the behavior of citizens and policymakers and the political agenda itself are increasingly shaped by technology.

Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the internet, and other means of popular communication.

Events that are purposely staged for the media and that are significant just because the media is there.

Meetings of public officials with reporters.

The use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams, and schemes, at times putting reporters in adversarial relationships with political leaders.

Newspapers and magazines, as compared with electronic media.

Television, radio, and the internet, as compared with print media.

Media programming on cable TV or the internet that is focused on a particular interest and aimed at a particular audience, in contrast to broadcasting.

The process through which people consciously choose to get the news from information sources that have the same viewpoints compared to their own.

Groups of newspapers published by media conglomerates and today accounting for over 4/5 of the nation’s daily newspaper circulation.

Specific locations from which news frequently emanates, such as Congress or the White House. Most top reporters work a particular beat, thereby becoming specialists in what goes on at that location.

Intentional news leaks for the purpose of assessing the political reaction.

Short video clips of about 10 seconds. Typically, they are all that is shown from a politician's speech on the nightly television news.

A shot of a person’s face talking directly to the camera. Because such shots are visually unstimulating, the major networks rarely show politicians talking for very long.

The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actively involved in politics at the time.

People who trust their political “capital” in an issue. According to John Kingdon, a policy entrepreneur “could be in or out of government, in elected or appointed positions, in interest groups, or research organizations.”

A team of men and women seeking to control the government apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.

The channels through which peoples political concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda. Includes elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. It assumes individuals act in their own best interests.

The voters’ perception of what Republicans and Democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism.

A citizen’s self- proclaimed preference for one party over another.

Voting with one party for one office, and with another party for the other offices.

A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and govern.

One of the key inducements used by party machines. A blank job, promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.

Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party’s candidates. thus encouraging greater political loyalty.

Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests.

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party’s platform.

One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. This is composed of representatives from the states and territories.

The person responsible for the day-to-day activities of the party.

A group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends.

Historical periods in which a majority of votes cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections.

An electoral “earthquake” in which new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. These periods are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election to bring about a new party era.

The displacement of the majority by the minority party, usually during a critical election period.

A coalition forced by Democrats , who dominated American politics (1930-1960). Its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals.

The gradual disengagement of people from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking paty identification.

Electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections.

An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first and their constituencies.

An electoral system used throughout most of Europe that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election.

When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. This from of government is quite common in the multi- party systems of Europe.

A view about how parties should work, held by some political scientists. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters and once in office, should carry out their campaign promises.

Fiscally conservative democrats who are mostly from the South and/or rural parts of the Unites States.

the official endorsement of the candidate for office by a political party. generally success in the nomination game requires momentum, money, and media attention

the master game plan candidates layout to guide their electoral campaign

the supreme power within each of the parties. the convention meets every four years to nominate the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates and to write the party's platform

A commission formed at the 1968 Democratic Convention in response to demands for reformed by minority groups and others who sought better representation

National Party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the national party convention

the period before any votes are cast when candidates compete to an early support from the elite of the party and to create a positive first impression of their leadership skills

assistant for selecting convention doll gets used in about a dozen states in which voters must attend an open meeting to express their presidential preference

elections in which a state voters go to the polls to express their preference for a party's nominee for president. most delegates to the National Party conventions are chosen this way

the recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention.

a political party statement of its goals and policies for the next four years. the platform is drafted prior to the party convention by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate's strength. it is the best formal statement of a party's beliefs.

a method for raising money for a political cause or candidate, in which information and requests for many are sent to people whose homes appear on a list of those who have supported similar views or candidates in the past.

donations that are made directly to a candidate or a party that must be reported to the FEC.

expenses on behalf of a political message that are made by groups that are uncoordinated with any candidates campaign.

a law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. the Act created the Federal Election Commission and provided for limits on and disclosure of campaign contributions.

groups that raise money for individuals and then distribute it in the form of contributions to candidates that the group supports. Pacs must require must register with the FEC and report their donations and contributions to it.

a- six member bipartisan agency created by the Federal Election Commission and ministers and enforces campaign Finance laws.

political contributions earmarked for party building expenses at the Grassroots level or for generic party advertising

independent political groups that are not subject to contribution restrictions because they do not directly seek the election of particular candidates. section 527 of the tax code specifies that contributions to such groups must be reported to the Irs.

groups that are exempted from reporting their contributions and can receive unlimited contributions. section 501c of the tax code specifies that such groups cannot spend more than half their funds on political activities.

independent exponential only pacs are known as super Pacs because they may accept donations of any size and can endorse candidates. their contributions and expenditures must be periodically reported to the FEC.

the phenomenon that people's benefits often guide what they pay the most attention to and how they interpret events.

the legal right to vote in the United states, virtually all citizens over 18.

the belief that one's political participation really matters, that one's about to make a difference.

the believe that in order to support Democratic government, all citizens should vote.

a system adopted by the states that requires voters to register prior to voting. some states require citizens to register as much as 30 days in advance, or as others permit election day registration.

a 1993 act that requires States Department people to register to vote when they apply for driver's license.

the idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his or her platforms and politics. politicians like the theory better than political scientists do.

electoral choices that are made on the basis of the voters policy preferences and where the candidates stand on policy issues.

a unique American institution created by the constitution, providing for the selection of the president by electors chosen by the state parties. Although the Electoral College vote usually reflects a popular majority, less populated states are overrepresented and the winner-take-all rule concentrates campaigns on close states.

the key states that the presidential campaigns focused on because they are most likely to decide the outcome of the Electoral College vote.