Gov. Ch. 7

6 sources of the $ spent on political campaigns?

*Small contributors *Wealthy individuals and families * candidates *various nonparty groups *temporary campaign organizations *public funds

Poll watchers

1 from each party, they are allowed at each polling place. Can challenge anyone they think is not qualified to vote.

What are the 4 areas that the agency is supposed to supervise?

1. Disclosure requirements 2. Individual contribution 3. Political action committee contributions 4. The public subsidy

Precinct

Smallest voting district

Presidential spending money?

2.5 billion

Campaign spending in 2008?

7 billion

Subsidy

A grant of money, usually from the government. Most of the $ comes from donations from your personal income tax

absentee voting

A process by which people can vote without going to their polling places on Election Day. You usually get your ballot by mail and then mail it back

Loophole

A way to get around the law

Australian ballot

All ballots look alike. Can be marked in secret. We have this in the usa. It is printed at public expense

527's

An organization set up usually to support a specific cause. Not associated with any party or any candidate. The amount of money cannot be regulated by the FEC

What regulates campaign spending on the national level?

Federal election commission

coattail

Occurs when a strong candidate running for an office at the top of the ballot helps attract voters to other candidates on the party's ticket.

Bedsheet ballot

Lists so many offices, candidates, and ballot measures that even the most well-informed voters have a difficult time marking it intelligently

Soft money

Money given to state and local party organizations for party building activities. Money spending does not need to be recorded.

Who was the first president to not take the money in the election period?

Obama in 2008

Election board

Supervises the polling place. Bipartisan- there's people from each party on it. Supervises all voting activities

Ballot fatigue

The farther down the ballot an office is, the fewer the number of votes that will be cast for it

What is the date for federal elections?

The first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of every even-numbered year.

Polling place

The place where the voters who live in a precinct actually vote. There's one polling place in each precinct

Political action committee

The political arms of special interest groups or other businesses...they raise money from its members and give it to candidates who support their beliefs

When do most states hold their elections?

The same date as federal elections because it's convenient and reduces the cost.

Early voting

They allow any voters who choose to do so to cast their ballots at any time over a period of several days before an election. You still go to the polls

Hard money

Those contributions that are given directly to candidates for their campaigns for congress or the white house, are limited in amount and must be reported and they are also limited by the FEC