 | Term | Definition |
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Why Congressmen get re-elected |
less people vote in congressional race-can target partisan voters; get credit for district improvements; can run as individuals |
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coattails -> straight-ticket ballots |
support for presidential candidates means support for lesser candidates of same party (party-column ballot- "Indiana") |
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Political Action Committee- PAC |
committee set up by and made to represent a corporation, labor unioin, special interest group- can get candidate up to $5,000 |
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Money Rules |
individuals up to $1,000; need $250 from 20 different donors in 20 different states |
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"position papers" |
written by advisers about your views on issues- give to special-interest groups, journalists |
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Strategy and Themes |
tone, theme, timing, target |
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"clothespin vote" |
don't like either candidate, just vote for less objectionable one |
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Position Issue |
ruval candidates have opposing views that also divides voters |
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Valence issue |
voters look for which candidate's views most closely agrees with universally shared view |
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spots |
short television ads, more information about candidate |
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visual |
campaign activity that appears on news broadcast; interesting, people think have credibility |
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campaign debate |
don't give less known opponent publicity; but can reassure public of performance |
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Federal Communications Commission |
approved plan for free tv time to major presidential candidates only |
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Advantages of Computer |
direct-mail campaigning; aimed at specific groups; "The List"- potential contributors |
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Sources of Presidential Campaign $ |
private donors and federal gov't; primaries- private and interest groups and gov't matches; gives grant to each party to pay for nominating convention |
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Sources of Congressional Campaign $ |
private sources, mostly form individuals, can have benefit performances |
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1974 federal campaign finance reform law |
Federal Election Commission- tougher restrictions on political spending and public financing of presidential campaigns; organizations can form PACs |
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Why can't you limit the amount of $ a candidate can spend? |
Infringes on First Amendment right- freedom of speech; but only use $50,000 if getting federal financing; but no limit on "independent" political advertising |
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soft money |
political parties spend $ on local party activities like voter registration campaigns (get more voters- will help party) |
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Effects of 1974 Reforms |
increase $ spent by special interest groups, $ controlled by individuals not parties, helps wealthy and incumbents- easier to raise money |
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"pocketbook vote" |
the success of the party of the president depends on economy |
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Majority of people identify with Democratic Party- Why don't always win? |
Democrats aren't always loyal to party, Republicans do better among independents; more Republicans vote |
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Prospective Voting |
cast ballots for person with best ideas for handling an issue you know a lot about; common among political activists |
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Retrospective Voting |
vote based on how party that controls presidency has acted (not necessarily for challenger, but against incumbent), based on economic conditions, seen in congressional races (based on how president is doing) |
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How do you find a winning coalition? |
maintain committed partisans while attracting swing voters |
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Democratic Coaltion |
loyal- AA, Jews, Hispanics>small portion of total electorate; Southerners, union members, Catholics largest part of Dem. voters but less support |
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Republican party |
business and professional people, farmers, poor people (elderly, retired) |
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Critical or realigning periods |
issues that separate parties, kinds of voters in each party change: 1800; 1828; 1860-slavery dividing issue; 1896 William Jennings Bryan; 1932 Roosevelt |
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Why Reagan not critical period? |
people may have voted for him b/c he was not Jimmy Carter, Democrats still controlled Congress; probably won't occur because party labels are not as important to voters |
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Split ticket |
congressional district will vote on party for Congress, the other party for presidency |
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office-bloc ballot- "Massachusetts" |
lists all candidates by office, no way to vote straight ticket with one mark (more ticket splitting than others) |
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Why is it hard to get an entire party to support one policy (enact many laws)? |
members have diverse opinions, so many officeholders; constitutional system makes it hard to make drastic policy changes |
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Road to Nomination |
Create Organization (can't raise $ without one); Start Raising $, Prepare for early primaries and caucuse; Pick a Strategy; Control the convention |
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general election |
choose person to fill elective office |
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primary election |
select party's candidates for elective office |
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closed primary |
declare in advance that you are a registered member of political party in primary you want to vote |
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open primary |
decide in booth which primary you wnat to participate in |
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blanket ("free love") primary |
ballot lists all candidates of all parties- select Dem and Republican candidate |
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runoff primary |
if no one gets majority- reelection between 2 with most votes |
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presidential primary |
pick delegates to presidential nominating convetnions of major parties (delegate selection only, delegate slection with advisory presidential preference, binding presidential preference) |
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Political parties not state legilautres decide how delegates to national convention are selected |
decided by Supreme Court |
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Why didn't Gore have overwhelming popular vote |
Clinton did a good job economically- Joe Lieberman criticized Clinton; very liberal campaign; economy good for a while- Gore not credited; lost Florida, didn't get TE (home state) or AK (Clinton's home state); Ralph Nader Green Party took away liberal votes |
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2000 Congressional Election |
Republicans lost seats in House and Senate; minority in Senate, thin majority in House |
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