Chapter 9 Flashcards
incumbent
the person already holding an elective office
coattails
the alleged tendency of candidates to win more votes in an election because of the presence at the top of the ticket of a better-known candidate, such as the president
malapportionment
drawing the boundaries of legislative district so that they are unequal in population
gerrymandering
drawing the boundaries of legislative districts in bizarre or unusual shapes to favor, one party
sophomore surge
an increase in the votes congressional candidates usually get when they first run for the reelection
general election
an election held to choose which candidate will hold office
runoff primary
A second primary election held, when no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the first primary
prospective voting
voting for a candidate because you favor his or her ideas for handling issues
retrospective voting
voting for a candidate because you like his or her past actions in office
nomination
The parties official endorsement of a candidate for Office
campaign strategy
The master game plan candidates layout to guide their electoral campaigns 
national party convention
The supreme power within each party that meets every four years to nominate the parties, presidential ticket and write the parties platform 
McGovern-Fraser Commission
A commission formed at the 1968 Democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups, and other others, who sought better representation 
superdelegates
National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the national party convention 
invisible primary
The period before any votes are cast when candidates compete to win early support from the elite of the party, and create a positive first impression of their leadership skills 
caucus
A system for selecting convention, delegates used in about a dozen states in which voters must attend an open meeting to express their presidential preference 
presidential primaries
election in which a states voters go to the polls to express their preference for a parties nominee for president 
frontloading
The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention 
party platform
A political party statement of its goals and policies for the next four years 
direct mail
A method of raising money for a political cause, or candidate, in which information and requests for money, are sent to people whose names appear on lists of those who have supported similar views or candidates in the past 
campaign contributions
donations that are made directly to the candidate or the party, and must be reported to the FEC 
independent expenditures
expenses on behalf of a political message that are made by groups that are uncoordinated with any candidates campaign 
federal election campaign act
A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The act created the federal election commission and provided limits on and disclosure of campaign contributions.
political action committees (PAC)
groups that raise money from individuals, and then distributed in the form of contributions to candidates that the group supports. PACs must register with the FEC and report their donation/contributions. 
