Campaigns, Elections, Media, Political Parties, Interest GroupsCritical Media Studies - GlossaryCampaigns, Elections, Media, Political Parties, Interest Groups1.501(c)(3) groups Nonprofit group that may legally address political matters but may not lobby or campaign; donations are tax-deductible2.501(c)(4) group Nonprofit group that is permitted to lobby and campaign. Donations to it are not tax-deductible3.527 Organizations Organizations created under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code that raise and spend money to advance politicalcauses4.Adversarial Press Tendency of the national media to be suspicious of public officials and eager to reveal unflattering information about themselves5.Background A public official's statement to a reporter given on the condition the official not be named but the title of the official (Senior White House Aide, etc.) can be used6.Blanket (Open) PrimaryPrimary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties7.Closed Primary A primary election in which voting is limited to already-registered party members8.Coattails Effect Tendency of candidates to win more votes in an election because of a well-known politicians at the top of the ticket9.Congressional Campaign CommitteeA party committee in Congress that provides funds and campaign support to members and possible members up for election. The Democratic one is the DCCC, the Republican oneis the Republican National Campaign Committee, the RNCC10.Constituents The citizens an elected official represents. A House member has fewer constituents than the President.11.Dealigning Election An election where voters who usually support a specific party no longer support that party. They dealign themselves from a previous party12.Deep Background Statement from a public official where neither the person's name, title, or workplace can be used13.Democratic CoalitionAfrican-Americans, Jews, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Union Members14.Equal Time Rule An FCC rule that if a broadcaster sells time to one candidate itmust sell time to another candidate15.Feature Stories Heavily promoted stories about events not regularly covered by media outlets. Often controversial or intriguing.16.General Election An election held to choose which candidates will hold office17.Gerrymandering Drawing the boundaries of representative districts in bizarre or unusual shapes to substantially favor one party over another18.Gotcha Question A journalist's question to a politician that seemingly seeks to embarass the politician19.Hard Money Money raised directly by specific candidates and spent by those candidates20.Ideological Interest GroupsPolitical organizations that attract members by appealing to their political convictions or principles21.Incentive Something of value one cannot get without joining an organization22.Incumbent The person already holding elected office23.Independent ExpendituresSpending by PACs, corporations, or labor unions that is done to help a party or candidate but is done independently of them and without communication with them24.Insider Stories Stories about events not usually made public that have some sort of inside information or "behind-the-scenes" material25.Interest Group An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy26.Loaded Language Words that imply a value judgment used to persuade a readerwithout having made a serious argument27.Malapportionment Drawing the boundaries of representative districts so they are unequal in population28.Material Incentive Money or things valued in monetary terms29.Narrowcasting When a specifically identified audience is targeted by a news source30.National Chairman Day-to-day party manager elected by a party's national committee31.National CommitteeDelegates who run party affairs between national conventions32.National ConventionA meeting of party delegates from the states held every four years33.National delegates Party representatives who attend national conventions and are much more politically active, wealthy, and engaged than the average American34.National Rifle AssociationNational interest group focused on overturning restrictions on gun ownership and preventing gun-control bills from being passed.35.Open primary Primary election where voters choose what party ballot they want when they walk into the polling place36.Party Caucus A meeting of party members to select delegates backing one or another primary candidate37.Party-Column BallotWhere candidates for office are listed in a party list. Makes it easier to vote for every party candidate in a general election38.Personal Following When a politician or candidate has followers based on personal popularity or charisma in addition to or instead of party label39.Plurality System Electoral syste in which the winner is the one who gets the most votes, but not necessarily the majority of votes. Example: If Bill gets 25% of the vote but Steve, Jim, and Tim each get 24.9% of the vote, Bill wins with only 25% of the vote.40.Political Action CommitteeA committee, set up by a politician, labor union, corporation, or interest group that spends campaign money from voluntary donations41.Political Cue A signal telling a politician what values are at stake in a vote. Also something that tips a voter off on how they should vote42.Political Machine A party organization that recruits members by dispensing patronage jobs43.Political Party A group that seeks to nominate and elect candidates to public office by supplying them with a label44.Position Issue An issue about which the public is divided and rival candidates or political parties choose different positions. Examples: Abortion, Death Penalty45.Primary Election An election where you choose which candidates will be placed on a ballot46.Prospective Voting Voting for a candidate because you favor what he/she wants to do in the future47.Rank-and-File SupportersPolitical party supporters who are non-elite and are dependable asvoters.48.Rating When an interest group issues a ruling on a candidate based on the ideological goals of the interest group49.Realigning ElectionAn election where a bloc of voters who did not support a specific party before suddenly support a party.50.Retrospective VotingVoting for someone based on their past actions51.Revolving Door When former politicans leave and immediately go to work for an interest group to use their experience and contacts to further
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