an election in which voters can participate without declaring a party preference

open primary

process allowing unaffiliated candidates to be placed on a ballot by gathering voters' signatures as a sign of support

petition

voting for all the candidates in one political party

straight ticket

meetings of state and local party organizations to choose
delegates

caucuses

all eligible voters

electorate

donations to political parties for general purposes and not for specific candidates

soft money

professional media consultants

press secretaries

general ideas and attitudes about government and political issues

public opinion

to influence public opinion by presenting only one side of
an issue

card stacking

government attempts to censor material before it is
published

prior restraint

closed