Now, why does this matter? Apart from just the innate value of voting rights in a democracy, it matter because who participates in the political process at any one time affects what political outcomes are. Independent expenditures – Money spent by individuals or groups not associated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office.- In this video, we're gonna do a brief overview of how amendments to the Constitution and federal legislation have increased voting rights over time. 527 organizations were important in recent elections.
If their source of funding is corporations or unions, they have some restrictions on broadcast advertising.
#Voting blocs and behaviors definition ap gov code
Much issue advocacy is often electioneering for or against a candidate, and until 2004 had not been subject to any regulation.ĥ27 organizations – Interest groups organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code may advertise for or against candidates. Issue advocacy – Promoting a particular position or an issue paid for by interest groups or individuals but not candidates. Hard money – Donations made to political candidates, party committees, or groups which, by law, are limited and must be declared.īipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) – Largely banned party soft money, restored a long-standing prohibition on corporations and labor unions for using general treasury funds for electoral purposes, and narrowed the definition of issue advocacy. Soft money – Contributions to a state or local party for party-building purposes. Its duties include overseeing disclosure of campaign finance information and public funding of presidential elections, and enforcing contribution limits. It consists of six commissioners appointed by president and confirmed by the Senate. Interested money – Financial contributions by individuals or groups in the hope of influencing the outcome of the election and subsequently influencing policy.įederal Election Commission (FEC) - A commission created by the 1974 amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act to administer election reform laws. National party convention – A national meeting of delegates elected at primaries, caucuses, or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president, ratify the party platform, elect officers, and adopt rules. Name recognition – Incumbents have an advantage over challengers in election campaigns because voters are more familiar with them, and incumbents are more recognizable.Ĭaucus – A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform. The impact of the national tide can be reduced by the nature of the candidates on the ballot who might have differentiated themselves from their party or its leader if the tide is negative, as well as competition in the election. National tide – The inclination to focus on national issues, rather than local issues, in an election campaign. Safe seat – Elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of the party’s candidate is almost taken for granted.Ĭoattail effect – The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot, especially the president.Ĭandidate appeal – The tendency in elections to focus on the personal attributes of a candidate, such as his/her strengths, weaknesses, background, experience, and visibility.
Electoral college – Electoral system used in electing the president and vice president, in which voters vote for electors pledged to cast their ballots for particular party’s candidates.