campaign finance refers to all funds raised to promote candidates, political parties or policy initiatives and their agendas during an election
factions
the groups that make up political parties i.e. ideological wings, age, occupation, issues
invisible primary
period between when a candidate announces their bid for public office and when the actual primaries take place, also known as money primary, as they spend their time spending money to show political strength
political action commitee
this raises and spens money in order to elect/defeat electoral candidates, donations limited to $5,000 per candidate per election
party system
the number of parties that have a realistic chance of forming government within a political system
policy group
a group that attempts to influence a whole policy area
professional group
a group that represents the economic interests of its members
single interest group
a group that advocates policy surrounding a small specific issue
soft/hard money
hard -when cash is contributed directly to a candidate
soft-cash to a political party with no limits
super PACs
a super political action committee raises and spends unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose political candidates without directly donating or co-ordinating with themj
religious right
the movement which generally gives support to the republican party is an ultraconserative religious response to the sexual revolution
