AP Gov Campaigns and Elections Unit 4 (5 on AP)

• Gerrymandering


  The drawing of legislative districts in an outrageously political manner
• Incumbency Advantage

  Advantages given to incumbents such as more money and a general head start in the election process
• Battleground States


  Any state that could reasonably be won by either the Democratic or Republican candidate by a swing in votes
• Political Action Committee


  A private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns. Allowed to give a limited amount of money directly to a candidate.
• Super PACs


  A type of independent political action committee which may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations and individuals but is not permitted to contribute to or coordinate directly with parties or candidates
• 527 Organizations

  A tax exempt organization that promotes a political agenda, not regulated by the FEC
• Soft Money

  Political donations made to parties for general party maintenance and support; banned by McCain Feingold
• Primary


  Elections held before an election year to determine which candidate will run for each party
• Momentum

  Winning in state primaries can help convince voters that you can win again
• Bandwagon Effect


  People vote for the candidate who has the most support because they want to be part of the majority
• Retrospective Voting


  The idea that elections are decided based on punishment or reward for the health of the nation
• Prospective Voting


  Examining the rival candidates’ views on the issues of the day

  and then casting ballots for the person we think has the

  best ideas for handling certain matters
• Positional Views


  Ones in which the rival candidates have opposing views on a question that also divides the voters
• Valence Issues


  An issue about which the public is united and rival candidates or political parties adopt similar positions in hopes that they each will be thought to best represent those widely shared beliefs
• 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, like a popular president
• Caucus


  A meeting of committed party members that chooses which candidate receives delegates to their party's national convention
• Rational Choice Voting


  Voting based on what is perceived to be in your individual best interest
• Gatekeeper


  press calls attention to certain issues, the media sets the subjects that politicians must address
• Freedom of Information Act

  Legislation that guarantees citizens' access to most government documents
• Loaded Language


  As time has gone on, the variety of sources available has catered so much to citizens' preferences in reporting styles that many sources use words that reflect a value judgmental, used to persuade the listener, without making an argument
• Selective Attention


  The tendency of people to see what they like and ignore what they do not like, with so much variety in available news sources
• Equal Time Rule


  Both sides of a perspective must be given same amount of time
• Fairness Doctrine


  Opponents of a story of perspective featured have to be given the chance to respond/present the other side of the issue
• FCC


  The government agency that helps regulate the media
• Watergate happens


  1970s
• Watergate


  When men linked to Nixon's campaign staff were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee, the investigation showed that contributions made to Nixon had been illegal and illegal deals had been made
• Watergate


  Led to many losses for the incumbents
• Campaign Finance laws change

  1. Create the Federal Election Commission (FEC)

  2. Allow for public financing for presidential elections

  3. Limit presidential campaign spending

  4. Require disclosure of who donated what

  5. Set limits for specific types of contributions
• PACs


  Political Action Committees that are made up of groups of 50+ voluntary organizations (many opinions represented), must give to at least 5 different federal candidates ($5,000 limit/candidate and $15,000 limit/year to national party committee), don't necessarily always align with the same party or just one party, they can give to whichever candidate(s) they think can accomplish what they want to get done (varies support with limited contributions)
• Hard Money


  Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited and must be disclosed
• Super PACs


  "independent expenditures-only committees" that are PAC-style groups that can spend unlimited amounts as long as it wasn't done because of a candidate telling them to do so (can get this $ from corporations, unions, and individuals)
• Independent expenditures


  Unlimited contributions that advocate directly for specific candidates
• Soft Money


  Unlimited money given from PACs. Can’t back candidates by name
• Buckley v. Valeo rules in 1975 that the new campaign finance laws could only apply if 8 specific phrases were used to advocate for candidates and committees directly
• Buckley v. Valeo ruled on how much you could give your own campaign and spending
• Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 2002 (AKA "McCain Feingold Act")


  1. Soft $ can't be given to political parties from corporations and unions

  2. Soft $ can't be given for national party or party committees

  3. Only hard money can be used for these purposes

  4. Raised limits individuals can give from $1,000 to $2,000

  5. New restrictions placed on independent expenditures
• McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission rules that instead of individuals being able to give up to the federal limit to only 18 candidates, they can give up to the federal limit ($2,700) to as many candidates as they want
• $2,700 being the money limit per candidate
• Hard money


  Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or group that are limited and must be disclosed
• Unlimited money


  Given from PACs. Can't back candidates by name