political party
An organization that sponsors candidates for political office under the organization's name.
caucus
A closed meeting of the members of a political party to decide questions of policy and the selection of candidates for office.
direct primary
A preliminary election, run by the state government, in which the voters choose each party's candidates for the general election.
open primary
Primary elections in which voters need not declare their party affiliation and can choose one party's primary ballot to take into the voting booth.
closed primary
Primary elections in which voters must declare their party affiliation before they are given the primary ballot containing that party's potential nominees.
third party
A political party other than the two major political parties, Democrats and Republicans.
proportional representation
The system by which legislative seats are awarded to a party in proportion to the vote that party wins in an election.
winner-take-all system
An election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins.
critical election
An election that produces a sharp change in the existing pattern of party loyalties among groups of voters.
divided government
The situation in which one party controls the White House and the other controls at least one house of Congress.
party convention
A gathering of delegates of a single political party from across the country to choose candidates for president and vice president and to adopt a party platform.
soft money
Contributions to a political party for party-building purposes.
hard money
Contributions given directly to a political candidate.
party platform
The statement of policies of a national political party.
electoral college
A body of electors chosen by voters to cast ballots for president and vice president.
safe seat
An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other.
Federal Election Commission
A bipartisan federal agency of six members that oversees the financing of national election campaigns.
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act
Congressional act that regulated soft money in campaigns.
political action committee
An organization that pools campaign contributions from group members and donates those funds to candidates for political office.
general election
An election of a candidate for office.
primary election
A preliminary election conducted within a political party to select candidates who will run for public office in a subsequent election.
faction
A small group within a larger group.
interest group
An organized group of individuals that seeks to influence public policy.
agenda building
The process by which new issues are brought into the political limelight.
free rider problem
The situation in which people benefit from the activities of an organization (such as an interest group) but do not contribute to those activities.
lobbyist
A representative of an interest group.
issue network
A shared-knowledge group consisting of representatives of various interests involved in some particular aspect of public policy.
mass media
The means employed in mass communication; traditionally divided into print media and broadcast media.
bias
Prejudiced opinion or feeling about a person, group, or thing; can be positive or negative.
Federal Communications Commission
An independent federal agency that regulates interstate and international communication by radio, television, telephone, telegraph, cable, and satellite.
selective exposure
The process through which people screen out messages that do not conform to their beliefs
selective perception
The process through which people perceive a desired message.
gatekeepers
Process through which media helps form the political agenda and decides what is important and for how long an issue is newsworthy.
horse race journalism
Election coverage by the mass media that focuses on which candidate is ahead rather than on national issues.
political agenda
A list of issues that need government attention.
watchdog journalism
Journalism that scrutinizes public and business institutions and publicizes perceived misconduct.
whistleblower
A person that exposes activities or information that is illegal or incorrect.
iron triangle
Strong relationship between business interest, executive branch agency, and congressional committee
Citizens United
Supreme Court Case: independent expenditures may not be limited
revolving door
Practice of government officials taking jobs in private sector, and vice versa
litigation
Interest groups file lawsuits to meet their public policy goals when the legislative process is not responsive
dealignment
Trend over time toward voters rejecting party affiliation
coattail effect
Popular president at top of ticket helps down-ballot candidates win elections
SuperPac
Independent group that spends money independently to help favored candidates win elections, usually through tv ads
sound bite
Voice of public figure on radio or TV news; have gotten much shorter
trial balloon
Government official leaks to press what he might decide to do, to gauge public reaction
adversarial press
Trend toward media coverage being more and more cynical/hostile to elected officials