Political party functions, campaign finance rules, and the mechanics of primaries and general elections for AP US Government.
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- What is the primary function of a political party?
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To mobilize voters and aggregate interests into a broad coalition supporting shared policy positions.- What role do political parties play in candidate selection?
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Political parties nominate candidates to run for office at federal, state, and local levels.- Define a primary election.
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An election held before the general election in which voters select their party's candidate for a specific office.- What is the difference between a closed and an open primary?
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A closed primary restricts voting to registered party members only; an open primary allows any registered voter to participate.- What is a caucus?
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A local meeting where party members discuss candidates and vote on delegates to send to the state or national convention.- Define Super Tuesday.
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The Tuesday when the most U.S. states hold primary elections and caucuses, typically in March during presidential election years.- How are Electoral College votes allocated among the states?
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Each state receives electoral votes equal to its total number of U.S. senators (2) plus its number of representatives (based on population).- Define a swing state.
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A state where either major party has a reasonable chance of winning, making it strategically important for both candidates.- What is the Federal Election Commission?
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An independent federal agency that enforces federal campaign finance laws and regulates campaign spending.- What is the federal contribution limit for individuals donating to a candidate per election?
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Individual contributions to a candidate are capped at an amount set by the Federal Election Commission, enforced per election cycle.- Define a Political Action Committee (PAC).
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A private group that raises and spends money to promote or oppose candidates, ballot measures, or policy issues in federal elections.- What is a Super PAC?
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A type of PAC created after Citizens United that can accept unlimited contributions but cannot coordinate directly with campaigns.- What did the Citizens United decision rule?
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A 2010 Supreme Court ruling that struck down restrictions on independent political spending, treating campaign expenditures as protected free speech.- Distinguish hard money from soft money in campaigns.
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Hard money is campaign finance strictly regulated by federal law; soft money is less-regulated funding given to parties for voter drives, now mostly prohibited.- What is the incumbent advantage?
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The structural advantages held by candidates already in office, including name recognition, fundraising ability, and media coverage.
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