Unit 5.8-5.13 Elections, Campaigns & The Media

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Open primary

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Primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote.

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Caucuses

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Meetings of party leaders to determine party policy or to choose the party's candidates for public office.

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Electoral College

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A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president.

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General election

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Election in which voters decide which candidates will actually fill elective public offices. This typically occurs after the primaries.

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Incumbent

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An officeholder who is seeking reelection.

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Incumbent advantage phenomenon

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The ability to use all the tools of the office to support candidacy for a second term.

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Plurality

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The number of votes cast for a candidate who receives more than any other but does not receive an absolute majority.

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Primary election

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Nominating election held to choose party candidates who will run in the general election.

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Proportional system

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Candidate gets same % of electoral votes as popular votes.

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Split ticket

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Voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election.