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| Also known as "getting out the vote". Mobilization occurs when activist working for parties, candidates, or interest groups ask members of the electorate to vote. |
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| People who base their votes on candidates' or parties' position on one particular issue of public policy, regardless of the candidates' or parties' positions on other issues. |
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| A label carrying the parties "brand name" incorporating the policy positions and past performances voters attribute to it. |
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| Basing votes for a candidate or party on how successfully the candidate or party performed while in office. |
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| Voting for candidates based on specific issues, as opposed to their party or personal characteristics. |
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| An individual's enduring affective or instrumental attachment to one of the political parties; the most accurate single predictor of voting behavior. |
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| A person who is running for elected office. |
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| In a political campaign, the central thematic statement of why voters ought to prefer one candidate over the other. |
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| A method of gauging public opinion bu observing a small number of people brought together to discuss specific issues, usually under the guidance of a moderator. |
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| The act of attacking an opposing candidate's platform, past political performance, or personal characteristics. |
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| Money used by political parties for voter registration, public education, and voter mobilization. until 2002, when Congress passed legislation outlawing soft money, the government had imposed limits on contributions or expenditures for such purposes. |
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| Spending by the Democratic and Republican Party committees on behalf of individual congressional candidates. |
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| Campaign spending - by a person or organization for or against a political candidate - that is not controlled by or coordinated with any candidate's campaign. |
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| A seat in a state or district being contested by candidates, none of whom none currently holds the office. Congressional seats become "open" when the incumbent dies or does not run for reelection. |
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| The ability of privileged outsiders, such as group representatives, to obtain a hearing from elected officials or bureaucrats. |
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