Campaigns and Elections/Media Flashcards
Single-member District
An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official
Proportional Representation
Election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote
Electoral College
Electoral system used in electing the president and vice president, in which voters vote for electors pledged to cast their ballots for particular party’s candidates
Safe Seat
Elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of the party’s candidate is almost taken for granted
Coattail Effect
The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot, especially the president
Candidate Appeal
The tendency in elections to focus on the personal attributes of a candidate, such as his/her strengths, weaknesses, background, experience, and visibility
National Tide
The inclination to focus on national issues, rather than local issues, in an election campaign. The impact of the national tide can be reduced by the nature of the candidates on the ballot who might have differentiated themselves from their party or its leader if the tide is negative, as well as competition in the election
Name Recognition
Incumbents have an advantage over challengers in election campaigns because voters are more familiar with them, and incumbents are more recognizable
Interested Money
Financial contributions by individuals or groups in the hope of influencing the outcome of the election and subsequently influencing policy
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
A commission created by the 1974 amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act to administer election reform laws. It consists of six commissioners appointed by president and confirmed by the Senate. Its duties include overseeing disclosure of campaign finance information and public funding of presidential elections, and enforcing contribution limits
Soft Money
Contributions to a state or local party for party-building purposes
Hard Money
Donations made to political candidates, party committees, or groups which, by law, are limited and must be declared
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)
Largely banned party soft money, restored a long-standing prohibition on corporations and labor unions for using general treasury funds for electoral purposes, and narrowed the definition of issue advocacy
Issue Advocacy
Promoting a particular position or an issue paid for by interest groups or individuals but not candidates. Much issue advocacy is often electioneering for or against a candidate, and until 2004 had not been subject to any regulation
Mass Media
Means of communication that are reaching the public, including newspapers and magazines, radio, television, films, recordings, nooks, and electronic communication
