Lecture 7 BISA/CQA

Question 1

527 organizations

Answer 1

a tax-exempt advocacy organization that seeks to influence federal elections by running issue related advertisements criticizing the record of a candidate or by mobilizing voters to register and vote

Question 2

blanket primary

Answer 2

A primary in which voters can vote for the Democratic candidates, the Republican candidates, or some from each party

Question 3

closed primary

Answer 3

A primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote

Question 4

coattails

Answer 4

The tendency of lesser-known or weaker candidates to profit from the presence on the ticket of stronger candidate

Question 5

electoral coalition

Answer 5

a base of committed partisans supporting an electoral candidate who also attracts swing votes

Question 6

electoral realignment

Answer 6

the situation when a new issue of utmost importance to voters cuts across existing party divisions and replaces old issues that formerly formed the basis of party identity.

Question 7

general election

Answer 7

An election used to fill an elective office

Question 8

gerrymandering

Answer 8

Drawing a district in some bizarre or unusual manner in order to create an electoral advantage

Question 9

incumbent

Answer 9

The person currently in office

Question 10

malapportionment

Answer 10

The result of having districts of very unequal size

Question 11

marginal district

Answer 11

Political districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in close elections, typically with less than 55 percent of the vote.

Question 12

negative ad

Answer 12

media advertising meant to cast an unfavorable light on an opponent.

Question 13

office-bloc ballot

Answer 13

Ballot on which all candidates are listed under the office for which they are running, making split-ticket voting easier.

Question 14

open primary

Answer 14

Primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote.

Question 15

party-column ballot

Answer 15

Type of ballot that encourages party-line voting by listing all of a party’s candidates in a column under the party name.

Question 16

political action committee

Answer 16

A group legally able to solicit campaign contributions from individuals within an organization and, under certain restrictions, to funnel these to candidates for office

Question 17

position issue

Answer 17

An issue dividing the electorate on which rival parties adopt different policy positions to attract voters

Question 18

presidential primary

Answer 18

A primary held to select delegates to the presidential nominating conventions of the major parties

Question 19

primary election

Answer 19

Forms of election held by the majority of the states, during which voters select the nominees for political parties. Winners of these elections appear on the ballot during the general election.

Question 20

prospective voting

Answer 20

Voting for a candidate because one favors his or her ideas for addressing issues after the election

Question 21

public finance law

Answer 21

A federal law providing funds to candidates seeking the presidency. In primaries, matching funds are available only after eligibility requirements are fulfilled. In the general election, the federal government gives candidates of major parties the option of complete financing.

Question 22

retrospective voting

Answer 22

Voting for the candidate or party in office because one likes or dislikes how things have gone in the recent past

Question 23

runoff primary

Answer 23

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

Question 24

safe district

Answer 24

Districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55 percent or more.

Question 25

sophomore surge

Answer 25

The tendency for newly elected members of Congress to become strong in their districts very quickly

Question 26

split-ticket voting

Answer 26

The practice of voting for candidates of more than one party on a ballot.

Question 27

spots

Answer 27

Short television advertisements used to promote a candidate for government office

Question 28

straight-ticket voting

Answer 28

Voting for candidates who are all of the same party

Question 29

theme

Answer 29

A simple appealing idea that can be repeated over and over again

Question 30

tone

Answer 30

an element of campaign strategy that involves either a positive (build-me-up) or negative (attack-the-opponent) approach.

Question 31

valence issue

Answer 31

An issue on which voters distinguish rival parties by the degree to which they associate each party with conditions or goals that the electorate universally supports or opposes

Question 32

soft money

Answer 32

Can be given to the parties in limitless amounts so long as it is not used to back candidates by name

Question 33

hard money

Answer 33

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed. Raising such limited funds is harder than raising unlimited funds, hence the term “hard” money.

Question 34

visual

Answer 34

A filmed episode showing a candidate doing something newsworthy