October 22, 2005
Political Glossary
Glossary of basic political terms and concepts that people in the mobile world should know.
A Political Glossary For the Mobile World
15th Amendment - This amendment to the Constitution states that the right to vote "shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” It was ratified in 1870.
19th Amendment - This amendment to the Constitution gave women the right to vote. It was ratified in 1920.
501c – A non-profit group, as defined by the IRS.
527’s - 527’s are political groups funded by “soft money” contributions. Examples are the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth or MoveOn.org
Ballot initiative - A public policy question decided by a vote of the people. The placement of the question on the ballot is initiated by the people (usually by petition). Used only at the state level.
Blue Dog Democrat - A Democratic Party member who is ideologically aligned most closely with moderate Republicans.
Boll Weevil - A conservative Democratic politician from a southern state.
Buckley v. Valeo – This was a landmark 1976 Supreme Court decision on campaign finance law that upheld the Federal Election Campaign Act's disclosure requirements, contribution limits, and provisions for public funding of presidential election campaigns.
The Court ruled that spending limits cannot be imposed by law, except for the limits accepted voluntarily by presidential candidates who receive public funds, because this would have the effect of restricting "free speech."
Thus, the ruling allows for unlimited spending by Congressional candidates (they do not receive public funds), and by persons or groups that campaign for or against a candidate, but do not coordinate their activities with any candidate or campaign. The ruling also says that candidates who do not receive public money do not have to limit spending of their own personal funds on their campaigns.
Can-Spam Act – passed in 2003, this act sets national standards for sending commercial messages via email and mobile and requires the FTC to enforce its provisions.
Can-Spam allows e-mail marketers to send unsolicited commercial e-mail as long as it contains all of the following:
_ an opt-out mechanism (sender has ten days to remove the users name once they have opted out and sale or transfer of an address after an opt-out is prohibited);
_ a valid subject line and header (routing) information;
_ a physical address for the person or group sending the message;
_ a label for adult content
Canvassing - A form of grass roots campaigning that involves going door to door to try to create new supporters for your candidate or issue (and to identify existing supporters).
Caucus (legislative) - A group of legislators brought together by common goals or characteristics. Congressional caucusses include the Republican and Democratic party caucuses. There is also the Black Caucus, the Hispanic Caucus and a variety of caucuses oriented around specific issues.
Caucus (local party) - Political party meeting at which voters choose nominees to represent their political parties in general elections – basically the caucus is a grass-roots alternative to political primary. Iowa had the first presidential caucus in the US in Jan 2004
Closed primary - A primary in which only voters that belong to a particular political party can vote. Only registered Democrats can vote in a closed Democratic primary election.
Commission on Presidential Debates - The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) was established in 1987. Its primary purpose is to produce the presidential and vice presidential debates. The CPD is a nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation.
Concurrent powers – These are powers shared under the Constitution by both national and state governments jointly. For instance, taxation and law enforcement.
Democracy – According to Winston Churchill: "the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
Equal Protection Clause – This clause is a part of the Fourteenth Amendment and guarantees that "no state shall ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
Federal Election Campaign Act - FECA was an act of Congress passed in 1971 as an overhaul of laws regulating contributions to and expenditures of political parties and candidates in federal elections. In 1974, the act was amended and the Federal Election Commission was created. It was amended again in 1976 after the Supreme Courts “Buckley v. Valeo” decision and then again in 1979.
FECA limits who can make political contributions, how much can be contributed and establishes public disclosure requirements for those who do. FECA allocates about $62 million for each major presidential candidate. If the candidate accepts this money, then no additional funds may be raised.
Federal Election Commission (FEC) - The commission is an independent regulatory agency that enforces the terms of the Federal Election Campaign Act. Members of the FEC are chosen by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The commission is evenly divided – no more than 3 commissioners may be members of the same political party – and is comprised of 6 members, each serving six-year terms.
Fiscal year - The beginning and end of the federal government's annual budgetary cycle, which begins October 1st and ends September 30th
Gerrymandering - The redrawing of voting district boundaries by the party in power in such a way that the parties supporters are strategically grouped in the hopes of increasing their power in the next election.
Political gerrymanders date back all the way to the colonial times. The Framers provided a remedy for the problem: the Constitution gives state legislatures the initial power to draw federal election districts, but authorizes Congress to “make or alter” those districts. In Bandemer, the Court held that the Equal Protection Clause also grants judges the power–and duty–to control that practice.
HAVA - The Help America Vote Act of 2002. Legislation aiming to improve administration of elections in the U.S. by:
1. creating a new federal agency to serve as a clearinghouse for election administration information;
2. providing funds to states to improve election administration and replace outdated voting systems; and
3. creating minimum standards for states to follow in several key areas of election administration.
In practice, has become something of a hodge-podge of reforms - many of which have been difficult for states to implement. Many of which haven't addressed the 3 needs outlined above.
Invisible primary - Leading up to the first primaries, candidates have already begun campaigning and there is often a general consensus about who is the frontrunner. This time period is often referred to as the invisible primary, because, although no votes have been cast, it already seems as though the party has selected its nominee.
Matching Funds - These are federal funds given to presidential candidates that match private contributions given by individuals dollar-for-dollar. Eligible candidates in the presidential primaries receive up to $250 in matching funds for each individual contribution they receive, provided they agree to limit their campaign spending to $37 million.
Mobilization Groups - Groups whose primary focus is registering voters
Motor-voter Law - The Motor-voter law let US citizens register to vote when applying for or renewing their driver’s license. It became effective on January 1, 1995.
"Necessary & Proper" Clause – This is a provision in the Constitution which suggests that the federal government’s powers go beyond those that are explicitly stated in the Constitution itself.
Nonprobability Sampling – A selection of respondents for a survey or political poll which isn’t random. As a result, the responses from the survey may not be representative of the general population.
Open Primary – Primary for the nomination of a candidate of a particular party in which voters of any political party are eligible to vote.
Plurality - A voting system where the greatest number of votes wins, even if a majority is not reached. Also can be known as ‘First Past the Post’ (or FPTP) electoral system as an allusion to horse racing.
Psephology - The predictive or statistical study of elections.
Push Polling - This is a survey technique where the goal is to influence the person taking the poll instead of actually collecting data. This is done by incorporating negative or misleading information about opposing candidates into the survey questions.
Push Polling was most famously done (allegedly) by the Bush campaign against John McClain in the 2000 Republican Party Primaries. Bush pollsters reportedly called houses in South Carolina asking “Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain for president if you knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child?”. Although the allegation was false, the Bush campaign was (again, allegedly) able to plant the idea in the minds of thousands of voters and, eventually, cause McCain to lose the state and eventually drop out of the race.
Push Polling can also be used more generally, just to try to get certain ideas or themes into voter’s minds. For example, a candidate’s pollsters might ask questions which predominantly deal with terrorism and safety, or the economy or abortion if it was perceived that the opposition was weak on any of these points.
Representation – There are 435 Congressional districts. Currently, each district contains approximately 570,000 people. However, seats in the House are reapportioned every ten years, after the decennial census. Although the number of seats and, consequently, the number of Congressional districts has been fixed at 435, individual states may gain or lose districts as a result of reapportionment.
Soft money - Campaign contributions from large donors which were given to political parties instead of going directly to campaigns – this allowed donors to elude the legal limits placed on campaign contributions. Soft money contributions were essentially outlawed by the McCain-Feingold Bill.
Split-ticket voting - Casting votes for candidates of different political parties on the same ballot. For example,.casting a vote for the Republican presidential candidate while voting for the Democratic congressional candidate.
Suffrage – The civil right to vote … and the use of that right.
Vieth v. Jubelirer - In Vieth v. Jubelirer, Democrats sought to overturn Pennsylvania's redistricting plan, which was drafted by a Republican-led State Legislature and signed into law by a Republican governor. The redistricting plan gave Republicans an advantage in 12 of 19 Congressional districts, even though Democrats outnumbered Republicans statewide.
The Supreme Court was split in its ruling. An earlier case before the Supreme Court, Davis v. Bandemer, held that political gerrymandering claims were justiciable. In Vieth, four justices ruled that redistricting, as a political matter, should not be decided by the courts. Five justices ruled that partisan redistricting could be unconstitutional, but they didn't settle on a standard for deciding when a party had gone too far. In the end, the court allowed the Pennsylvania map to stand.
The Vieth case is important because it ultimately inspired activists to attempt to reform gerrymandering on a state by state basis (ie Proposition 77 in California).
VRM – Voter Relationship Management. VRM is the political world’s version of CRM (Customer Relationship Management). CRM originated as a way to manage customer data for sales people in the field. It later grew to include marketing and production data, and evolved to a sales worldview that put the relationship with the customer and excellent customer service the focus as opposed to the product.
Posted by Bart Cheever at 12:01 AM | Comments (0)
October 15, 2005
Mobile Glossary
Glossary of basic mobile terms and concepts that people in the political world should know.
Coming soon: a glossary of basic political terms that people in the mobile world should know ...
We'll be adding more definitions over time, so let us know if you think there is a particular phrase or concept which is missing.
3G
3G is short for “Third Generation” and refers to a variety of services that bring high speed data access to the phone. Although ...
Mobile Voter Glossary of Basic Mobile Terms
3G
3G is short for “Third Generation” and refers to a variety of services that bring high speed data access to the phone. Although definitions vary, mobile’s “First Generation” refers to the first analog voice-only mobile phones that came on the market in the late 80’s and 90’s. The “Second Generation” of devices were digital(and included the ability to send basic data for instance, text messaging or surfing stripped down, text heavy versions of websites using WAP). The “Third Generation” brings high speed data access (live streaming video, surfing the web at some facisimile of how you see it at your home or office), “always on” data access and improved voice quality.
There are several different 3G technology standards. The most prevalent is UMTS, which is based on WCDMA. (WCDMA and UMTS are often used interchangeably.) UMTS is the 3G technology of choice for most GSM carriers.
The other major standard is cdma2000, which is an evolution of CDMA 2G technology. There are several types of cdma2000, each offering different data rates and levels of compatibility with 2G CDMA.
Asynchronous
A way to send information at non-regular intervals. Information is sent as necessary, instead of synchronized with a time signal, as with Synchronous communication.
Backhaul
In wireless networks, the connection from an individual base station (tower) to the central network (backbone).
Typical backhaul connections are wired high-speed data connections (T1 line, etc.), but they can be wireless as well (using point-to-point microwave or WiMax, etc.)
BREW
BREW (Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless) is a solution developed by Qualcomm for downloading small applications and content to mobile phones. Found almost exclusively in CDMA phones.
The primary component lets users download and run small software applications on wireless devices, including phones. Such applications might include games, expense tracking software, or interactive map tools. This component of BREW competes with J2ME, a Java technology from Sun Microsystems. BREW and Java are generally not compatible.
The BREW subsystem on a phone can also manage graphics and ringtones.
The BREW solution also includes a server component which resides on the network. The BREW server manages the network side of BREW downloads, including billing, and can also serve and bill for non-BREW applications and content.
Carrier
A mobile phone operator. In the US the main carriers include Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, Cingular, Nextel.
CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access)
CDMA is a digital wireless technology. It’s a general type of technology, implemented in many specific technologies. But the term "CDMA" is also commonly used to refer to one specific implementation: IS-95 - a mobile-phone technology that competes with technologies such as GSM.
CDMA is a "spread spectrum" technology, which means that it spreads the information contained in a particular signal of interest over a much greater bandwidth than the original signal.
Unlike many competing technologies, CDMA has no hard limit for the number of users who may share one base station (tower). Instead, with CDMA, additional users can connect until the base station determines that call quality would suffer behind a set limit.
CDMA systems have been in operation since 1995. CDMA networks operate in the 800 and 1900 MHz frequency bands with primary markets in the Americas and Asia. IS-95 CDMA systems are sometimes referred to as cdmaOne. The next evolutionary step for CDMA to 3G services is cdma2000.
Circuit Switching
A method of transmitting information (voice or data) through a system or network by establishing a persistent, dedicated connection ("circuit").
CSC
Common Short Codes. These are 5 digit numbers which allow the user to send a text message without entering an entire phone number.
EVDO
Part of a family of CDMA2000 1x digital wireless standards. 1xEV-DO is a "3G" CDMA standard. EV-DO stands for "EVolution, Data-Only".
In the US 1x-EVDO is primarily being marketed by Verizon as their new broadband service. EV-DO provides data rates over 10 times faster than 1xRTT, the previous data technology for CDMA networks.
Unlike other "1x" standards, EV-DO only addresses data - not voice. It requires a dedicated slice of spectrum, separate from voice networks using standards such as 1xRTT.
There are currently two main versions of 1xEV-DO: "Release 0" and "Release A".
Release 0 is the original version, and the first to be widely deployed. Release 0 offers data rates up to 2.4 mbps, averaging 300-600 kbps in the real world. This is much faster than the 50-80 kbps typically offered by 1xRTT technology. Release 0 data rates are identical to 1xEV-DV Release C.
Release A integrates most of the faster data technology from 1xEV-DV Release D, and improves latency. These enhancements allow features such a VoIP and video calling.
Although EV-DO does not include voice capability natively, Release A is fast enough to support VoIP technology at service levels equal or better to 1xRTT voice technology. This may be a future upgrade path for CDMA carriers if EV-DV development remains stalled.
1xEV-DO is based on a technology initially known as "HDR" (High Data Rate) or "HRPD" (High Rate Packet Data), developed by Qualcomm. The international standard is known as IS-856.
Firmware
Firmware is in-between "hardware" and "software" - hence the name "firmware".
Hardware is any part of the phone that is physical and cannot be changed unless it is physically replaced. For example, Verizon phones are CDMA, while VoiceStream phones are GSM. The two systems are incompatible. The Verizon phone contains a CDMA chip that was designed specifically to deal with CDMA. It's permanently wired to be CDMA, and could never be upgraded to GSM.
Software, meanwhile, refers to things that *can* be changed. In a computer, you can load new software whenever you want. You can even load a whole new operating system. The software is stored in memory chips while in use. As soon as the computer is turned off, whatever was in the memory chips is gone, but a copy is saved on the hard disk.
Phones also need to store different types of non-permanent things, such as an operating system, roaming instructions, and your phone book. But there's no room for a disk of any kind, and it wouldn't be good if your phone lost its operating system (and thus became useless) every time you turned it off.
Which is where firmware comes in. Firmware uses special memory chips that can hold information even when the phone is turned off and battery-less. It's sort of like hardware, because it acts just like a permanently-wired chip, but it's also like software because it can be changed at any time.
So firmware is technically how your phone stores its phone book – it is also how your phone stores the roaming instructions (PRL) or operating system.
You can have your PRL updated and your phone will be able to roam in new areas. Sometimes operating system updates are available that fix bugs in the way the phone works.
Flash Mob
A gathering of people organized spontaneously via txt messaging, the internet or other mobile communication.
Form Factor
Mobile phones come in several different physical styles (form factors). While manufacturers are continually coming up with new types of designs, there are several common categories used on this site to describe form factors:
Bar: (AKA candy-bar or block) This is the most basic style. The entire phone is one solid monolith, with no moving parts aside from the buttons and possibly antenna. To prevent keys from being pressed accidentally while the phone is in a pocket, etc., a "key guard" feature is usually provided, requiring a special key combination to "unlock" the keys.
Clamshell: This type of phone is made of two halves connected by a hinge. The phone folds closed when not in use. The top half usually contains the speaker and display with the bottom half containing the keypad.
Flip: This type of phone is a cross between the Bar and Clamshell types. Most of the components of the phone are in one part, but a thin "flip" part covers the keypad and/or display when not in use. The flip may be all-plastic, or it may contain one or two minor components such as a speaker or secondary keys.
Slide: This type is usually designed similarly to a clamshell, with a large main display and speaker in one half, and the keypad and battery in the other half. But the two halves slide open instead of using a hinge. Slide designs allow the main display to be seen when closed, and are generally easier to open and close one-handed.
Java (J2ME)
J2ME (Java 2 Micro Edition) is a language that allows a device to run small, user-installable software applications written especially for mobile devices such as phones.
J2ME applications can provide specific functions such as a tip calulator, they can be games, or they can be custom-written corporate applications. They can be Internet-enabled, so that, for example, a J2ME game might let you play someone else in real time over the Internet. They can be created by anyone - not just the phone manufacturer or your carrier.
You can download new applications to your phone at any time. Most phones allow you to download new applications directly to your phone using the Wireless Internet feature.
Keitai
(pronounced k-tie) The Japanese term for "mobile phone". The term has achieved cultural significance in Japan, especially among youth, as a way to describe not only the phones and corresponding services, but the entire culture of users and their habits. Exhaustive analysis of Keitai culture can be found on the Wikipedia entry on Japanese mobile phone culture and our pal Xeni Jardin's excellent Wired News article on How Mobile Phones Conquered Japan.
MMS
Multimedia Messaging Service. MMS’s are like text messages (SMS) but include images, video or audio.
MVNO
Mobile Virtual Network Operator. A company, such as Virgin Mobile, that does not actually own spectrum or the infrastructure of an actual carrier –MVNO’s provide the marketing and front end of a mobile service while partnering with an established carrier to provide the backend.
Polyphonic Ringtones
Polyphonic ringtones can create multiple notes simultaneously. This produces a more natural and realistic sound for melodies in that it can include melodies. Most polyphonic ringers can also simulate the sound of various instruments, instead of just tones. Different phones support a different number of simultaneous instruments (chords) - anywhere from 4 to 40 or more.
Ringback Tone
Ringback is the ringing sound you hear from your phone when you call someone else. Ringback tones are now offered by many carriers to compliment their booming downloadable ringtone business. For a small fee, users can download a song or sound effect that callers will hear whenever they dial the users number.
SPAM
Unsolicited email or SMS messages.
SMS
This is a method of sending short, 160 character messages between mobile phones. Extremely popular among youth, particularly in Asia and Europe. In the UK, for example 80% of all high school age kids send at least one text message a week.
VoIP
(Voice over Internet Protocol)
A technology for transmitting ordinary telephone calls over packet-switched data networks, ie the internet. Also called IP telephony.
WAP
Wireless Application Protocol. An mobile phone language which allows mobile phone users to surf a stripped down, text heavy version of the web. This was what your phone was running 2 years ago.
Posted by Bart Cheever at 12:45 AM | Comments (0)