AP GOV - Elections, Rights, Party

Linkage Institutions

Channels that connect the public to government: political parties, interest groups, elections, and media.

Political Socialization

Process by which people develop political attitudes and values — influenced by family, school, media, religion, peers.

Political Ideology

Consistent set of beliefs about the role of government and policy. Spectrum: liberal (more gov't involvement) to conservative (less gov't involvement).

Public Opinion Poll

Survey measuring political views of a population. Must use representative sample; margin of error reflects sampling uncertainty.

Electoral College

538 electors who formally elect the president. Majority of 270 required to win. Winner-take-all in most states.

Gerrymandering

Drawing legislative district lines to advantage one party or group. Racial gerrymandering can violate Equal Protection Clause (Shaw v. Reno).

Incumbency Advantage

Sitting officeholders' structural advantages in elections: name recognition, franking privilege, casework, fundraising ability.

Coattail Effect

Popular candidate at top of the ticket helps elect members of the same party in down-ballot races.

Realignment

Major lasting shift in party coalitions and bases of support (e.g., New Deal coalition, Southern Strategy).

Dealignment

Voters detach from major parties without aligning with the other party; rise of independents.

Third Parties

Minor parties that rarely win but can influence elections and raise new issues. Face structural barriers: winner-take-all, ballot access laws.

Interest Group

Organization that tries to influence government policy on behalf of its members' shared interests.

Lobbying

Direct efforts by interest groups to influence legislators, executives, or bureaucrats.

PAC (Political Action Committee)

Organization that raises and spends regulated money to elect or defeat candidates. Contributions capped by FEC.

Super PAC

Independent-expenditure-only committee. Can raise unlimited funds from any source but cannot coordinate directly with campaigns.

Soft Money

Money donated to parties for 'party-building' activities, not directly to candidates. Largely banned by BCRA (2002).

Hard Money

Regulated campaign contributions made directly to candidates, subject to FEC limits.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 2002 (BCRA / McCain-Feingold)

Banned soft money to national parties; regulated electioneering communications within 60 days of election. Partially struck down in Citizens United.

Civil Rights Act 1964

Banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in employment and public accommodations. Created the EEOC.

Voting Rights Act 1965

Prohibited discriminatory voting practices (literacy tests, etc.). Required preclearance for certain states. Key sections weakened by Shelby County v. Holder (2013).

War Powers Resolution 1973

President must notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops; forces must be withdrawn within 60 days without congressional authorization.

Strict Scrutiny

Highest judicial review standard — used for laws involving race or national origin. Gov't must show a compelling interest and narrowly tailored law.

Rational Basis Test

Lowest judicial review standard — used for most economic/social legislation. Law just needs a rational government purpose.

Intermediate Scrutiny

Middle-level judicial review standard — used for gender-based classifications. Law must be substantially related to an important gov't interest.

Prior Restraint

Gov't preventing publication before it occurs. Presumptively unconstitutional under 1st Amendment. Key case: NY Times v. US.

Civil Liberties

Individual freedoms protected from gov't interference — mostly found in Bill of Rights (e.g., free speech, right to counsel).

Civil Rights

Protections against discrimination based on characteristics like race, sex, religion. Gov't obligation to ensure equal treatment.