Ap Government Review Unit 5 (5.1-5.12)

Important questions and terms for Unit 5.

15th amendment (1870)

15th amendment (1870)

Extended suffrage to African American men.

17th amendment (1913)

Established the popular election of US senators

19th amendment (1920)

Extended suffrage to women.

24th amendment (1964)

Declared poll taxes in federal elections illegal.

26th amendment (1971)

Extended suffrage to people 18-20 years old by lowering the voting age from 21 to 18

What are the limitations that used to exist?

• Literacy tests

• poll taxes

• grandfather clause

Voting rights act of 1965

Legislation designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African American suffrage.

National Voter Registration Act of 1993

Also called the motor voter act, it required states to allow citizens to register when applying for or renewing their driver’s license.

Rational choice voting

Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen’s individual interest

Retrospective voting

Voting to decide whether the party or candidate in power re-elected based on the recent past.

Prospective voting

Voting based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future.

Party-line voting

Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices at the same level of government.

What is the strongest driver of voter choice?

Party identification

Poll tax

A fixed-sum tax is payable by all relevant individuals.

Midterm Election

Middle of the presidential term. (between the 2 elections, electing president, every 4 years).

Why do people NOT participate in midterm elections?

They don’t care about the midterm elections as much as the presidential elections

Gender Gap

More women vote democratic while more men vote republican

Political efficacy

A citizen's belief that their vote matters and can influence government policies.

Presidential elections

Elections that take place every 4 years, you elect the president and the vice president

Voter registration

A requirement that eligible voters enroll on an electoral roll before they can vote

Voter turnout

The number of registered voters who vote in election

Demographic

Characteristics of a population. For example, age, race, and education.

Linkage Institutions

Groups in society that connect people to the government. (elections, political parties, interest parties, media).

What are linkage institutions?

1. Media

2. Political party

3. Elections

4. Interest groups

Political Institutions

Political institutions are organizations which create, enforce and apply. (congress, president, bureaucracy, judges)

How Political parties impact the electorate and the government:

The primary function of political parties is to link people to the government and its policies

Political Parties Semi-Independent teams:

1. Party organization

2. Party in government

3. Party in the electorate

Party Platform

All of the ideas listed by candidates to gain votes (each idea is called a plank)

Party Realignment

Occurs when voter loyalties dramatically shift in critical events.

New Deal Coalition

The coalition included south, labor, urban voters, immigrants, and ethnic minorities; this coalition remained a factor in national politics for more than 3 decades. 

Critical Election

The 1932 election is considered a _____ because many key supporters of one party stitched to the other party.

Divided Government

During the last quarter of the 20th century, divided government became increasingly common.

Dealignment

A trend or process whereby a large portion of the electorate abandons its previous partisan (political party) affiliation, without developing a new one to replace it.

Candidate-Centered Parties

As a result of the decline of party machines, US politics has become increasingly candidate-centered. (all about me not we.)

All Barriers for Third Parties

1. Winner takes all system

2. The two major parties frequently incorporate the platforms of third parties unto their own platform

3. Single Member Districts

4. Money

Third party

Parties are formed because they have unique values and beliefs that go against other parties.

Winner-Take-All-System (Plurality System)

The “winner” takes the position and all control, other candidates do not get anything in return for running for president.

Plurality

More than everyone else but not the majority vote. (in this case votes).

the response to the two major parties incorporating the platforms of third parties into their platform:

Voters identified with a third-party issue will often vote for a majority-party candidate who has adopted that issue because major parties are much more likely to win general elections.

Platform

All promises and ideas candidates talk about during their campaign.

Single Member Districts

The candidate who wins the most votes or a plurality in a field of candidates wins that office.

Interest groups facilitate citizens participation in government by organizing individuals to take collective action through:

• Voting

• Fundraising

• Disseminating information about their issues to elected officials and the public.

Some interest groups have more/less of:

• Funding

• Access to decision makers

• Committed members

What is the primary goal of interest groups?

Influence the government for their own benefit.

Economic interest groups:

• Big business (National Association of Manufacturers)

• Big Union (NEA)

• Trade associations concerned with a particular industry or segment of the economy.

• Organizations of professionals (American Medical Association)

Public Interest Groups

Support policies that benefit most Americans or the country as a whole, regardless of whether the people who join these organizations are helped.

Equity Interest Groups

Focus on protecting the rights and interests of people who have historically faced discrimination on the basis of race, gender or sexual orientation. 

• NOW

• NAACP

Problems with Interest Groups

• Some people argue they have too much influence over policy making

• Most interest groups are only concerned with their own interest not the general public best interests

• Free-rider problem

Obstacles interest groups meet with:

• Opposing forces 

• Elected officials whose constituents will not reward them for backing a controversial issue

• Budget issue

Lobbying

Interest groups try to influence public policy.

Endorsing Candidates

Interest groups endorse candidates who support their goals and encourage them to vote for candidates.

Inside strategies

Interest groups attempt to influence policy by working within Washington, DC.

Inside Strategy Examples:

• Direct Lobbying

• Drafting pieces of legislation for elected officials

• Suing the government

Outside strategies

Interest groups’ attempts to influence policy outside of Washington DC.

Outside strategy examples:

• campaign contributions

• Media coverage

• Encouraging constituents to contact their elected officials

Political action committees (PACS)

Registered fundraising committees that donate money on behalf of interest groups.

Protest movement

A group that brings attention to a social problem through public demonstrations or other forms of direct action.

Party Nominations

To be a party’s candidate for president, a person must earn the party’s nomination.

Primary and Caucus Season

Starts in January of an election year and ends in June.

Front-Loading

States moved their primaries up early so that their voters have a greater say.

Incumbent

Candidate running for re-election.

Incumbency Advantages

• Already well known having been in the national spotlight for 4 years

• Has 4 years of experience and a record

• Commands the bully pulpit and can use his position to get messages out to the people

• Already proven they can win a national election

• Has a network of campaign contributors who can raise a large amount of money

• Has a network of campaign staff and volunteers with voter outreach

• Already seen as presidential a perception that other candidates have to earn

What are the two stages in the election process?

The nominee of a party is elected through a primary election, and the general election decides who wins the office.

Is it easier to get re-elected in the HOR or Senate?

the House.

What are the two stages in the election process?

The nominee of a party is elected through a primary election, and the general election decides who wins the office.

What are the 2 competitions a candidate must win in order to become president

1. Party nomination

2. Electoral college

Closed Primary

a primary election limited to registered members of a political party

Open Primary Election

a primary election that is not limited to registered party members.

Party Organizations

Involved at all three levels of government and support candidates they believe have have the best chance of winning

Fundraising

• Modern campaigns are very expensive house: 1 mil senate; 30 mil

• Very few candidates finance their own campaigns. Most rely on the party organization and thousands of individual donors for contributions

• Candidates dedicate roughly ¼ of their campaign schedule to making personal phone calls to wealthy donors and holding high dollar formal fundraisers.

Showcasing the candidate

• The biography - candidates taking their own unique personal story to appeal to constituents.

• The issues- publicly discussing the major social and economic issues that make up their platform.

• The attack - cheap shots and look to expose inconsistencies in their opponent’s voting record

Federal Election Committee (FEC)

Agency in the bureaucracy that monitors all campaign contributions.

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Also known as the McCain-Feingold Act. The purpose of the law was to regulate the new campaign finance.

• Banned soft money

• “Stand by for your ad” provision

• Banned any political advertisements paid for by a corporation

Citizens United vs FEC (2010)

A Supreme Court case ruled that political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under the 1st amendment. This case overturned parts of the Bipartisan campaign reform act.

• cannot coordinate with a candidate’s campaign 

• Cannot specifically endorse a candidate

• Banned SOFT MONEY.

Super PACs

Corporations unions associations and individuals however have higher funds than PACs.

Hard Money

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amounts and fully disclosed which is harder than raising unlimited funds.

Soft Money

Money spent in support of a candidate without directly donating to their campaign.

Independent Expenditure

The supreme court has ruled that individuals/groups can spend unlimited amounts in campaigns for/against candidates as long as they operate independently from the candidates.

Horse race journalism

A focus on the contest of politics-who is winning or ahead in the polls rather than policy agenda and debates.

Investigative journalism

Deep, original investigation on a specific topic, often conducted over a long period and/or involving the exposure of secret information.

Political Commentary

Commentary specific to or relevant to politics includes policies, political parties, and types of government.

The media as a gatekeeper

The media sets the political agenda by drawing public and government attention to certain issues.

Conglomerate

A number of different things or parts that are grouped together to form a whole but remain distinct entities.