N: Clode's Right Political Dictionary
“National Conference/ Convention” This is often the title of the governing body of the Party. Even a party’s National Executive is usually subordinate to the authority of the National Convention. In many parties, a party leader will be chosen by a national convention.
“National Executive” This senior body administers a political Party between National Conferences. The National Executive of a party is usually elected by a National Conference and decisions of the Executive can be reviewed or even overturned by subsequent Conferences. But because of the fast pace of political events, the reality is that the National Executive is by default the most important decision-making body in a party. Usually the Parliamentary leaders of a party will sit on a National Executive, alongside regional representatives; the Party President; the “Director” or “General Secretary”; the senior party fund-raiser or Treasurer; and the International Secretary who liases with representatives of equivalent parties abroad.
“Negative Ads” These election campaign advertisements aim to make the opponent candidate or party look bad, either by criticising the opponent’s character or the party’s record on the issues. Such advertisements often use factual evidence and refer to the sources of that evidence, in order to give credibility to the criticisms. The objective of such “ads” may differ. In same cases the intent is to drive the supporters of your opponent towards supporting your party. In first-past-the-post systems, the tactic often aims at driving opposing voters into supporting third parties where their votes will be ineffective. Another tactic is to disgust or demoralize opposing voters so that they stay at home (this is effective in electoral systems where voting is not compulsory, or where attendance is not high).