Chapter 9 Rippee 1st

A political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years is called a party platform. This platform outlines the party's stance on various issues, such as healthcare, education, taxes, and foreign policy. It serves as a guide for party members and voters to understand the party's positions and what they plan to prioritize if elected into power. The party platform helps differentiate one party from another and allows voters to make informed decisions based on the party's stated objectives and policies.

Superdelegates are national party leaders who are automatically granted a delegate slot at the Democratic national party convention. They are not bound by the results of primary elections or caucuses, allowing them to independently vote for the candidate of their choice. This system gives party leaders and elected officials a significant influence in the nomination process and ensures their participation in the convention. The term "superdelegates" refers to their elevated status and influence within the party.

The New Hampshire primary is important because it is the first primary. Being the first primary, it sets the tone for the rest of the election season and can greatly influence the momentum and viability of candidates. It allows candidates to gauge their level of support and adjust their strategies accordingly. Additionally, media coverage and public attention are usually focused on the first primary, making it a crucial opportunity for candidates to make a strong impression and gain early momentum in the race.

Frontloading refers to the recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar year in order to capitalize on media attention. This means that states are scheduling their primary elections earlier in the year, often before other states, in order to gain more media coverage and influence the outcome of the overall election. By holding their primaries early, these states hope to have a greater impact on the selection of the final candidate for their political party.

The term "big mo" refers to achieving momentum in the nomination campaign. This means that a candidate is gaining significant support, winning key endorsements, and performing well in primaries and caucuses. Momentum is crucial in a nomination campaign as it can attract more voters, donors, and media attention, which can ultimately lead to securing the party's nomination.

The term "caucuses" refers to a type of political meeting where members of a political party gather to discuss and select candidates for an upcoming election. The comparison to pyramids suggests that caucuses are organized hierarchically, with a small number of influential individuals at the top making decisions that trickle down to the larger group. This is similar to how power and decision-making are concentrated at the top of a pyramid structure.

The correct answer is "required all candidates for federal office to disclose all contributions made to their campaigns." The Federal Election Campaign Act was enacted in 1971 and aimed to increase transparency and accountability in campaign financing. One of its key provisions was the requirement for all candidates running for federal office to disclose all contributions made to their campaigns. This was done to ensure that the public had access to information about who was funding political campaigns, in order to prevent corruption and undue influence in the political process.

The mandate of the McGovern-Fraser Commission was to make the Democratic Party conventions more representative. This means that the commission was tasked with implementing changes that would ensure a fair and inclusive representation of party members in the convention process. This could involve reforms such as increasing the number of delegates from underrepresented groups, implementing rules to prevent the exclusion of certain candidates, or creating a more democratic and transparent selection process for delegates. The goal was to make the party conventions more reflective of the diverse voices and opinions within the Democratic Party.

Soft money refers to money donated to political parties rather than individual candidates. This type of donation is not subject to contribution or spending limits, allowing parties to receive larger amounts of money from donors. By donating to parties instead of candidates, individuals can bypass regulations and restrictions on campaign financing. Soft money has been criticized for potentially influencing political decisions and creating an imbalance of power.

MoveOn.org is an example of a 527 group because it is a political organization that operates under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code. These groups are allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money on political activities, such as running issue advocacy ads and supporting or opposing candidates. MoveOn.org is known for its liberal and progressive stance, and it has been involved in various political campaigns and initiatives.

After the Democratic National Convention in 1968, where there were protests and unrest, the party decided to address the demands for greater inclusion from women, minorities, youth, and other groups. They chose to open up the process of choosing delegates to the national convention, allowing for more diverse representation. This decision was made to ensure that the convention was not dominated solely by elected officers or government officeholders, but rather included a broader range of voices and perspectives from within the party.

The Democratic and Republican candidates for president are formally nominated by the national party conventions. These conventions are large gatherings where delegates from each state come together to select their party's nominee for president. During the convention, delegates vote on the candidate they believe should represent their party in the general election. This process allows for a democratic selection of the party's candidate and helps to unify party members behind a single nominee.