AP Gov: Unit 5 (Political Participation) Key Terms

14th Amendment

Granted citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the U.S.

Included former slaves

Guaranteed due process and promised equal protection under the law

Prevented states from abridging privileges or immunities

15th Amendment

Prohibits federal and state governments from denying citizens the right to vote based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”

Aimed to secure voting rights to Black men

Later on tates used discriminatory loopholes to disenfranchise them

17th Amendment

Two Senators from each state are elected by the people

Serve 6 years, each Senator has 1 vote

Any vacancies in the Senate will result in an election to fill the spot(s)

19th Amendment

Prohibits the federal government and states from denying the right to vote based on sex

Culmination of the Women’s Suffrage Movement

Enabled 26 million American women to vote

24th Amendment

Prohibits the federal and state governments from requiring a poll tax

Designed to abolish discriminatory voting barriers used to disenfranchise Black citizens and poor voters

26th Amendment

Lowered the legal voting age to 18 instead of 21 for all federal, state, and local elections

Prohibits the government from denying the right to vote to any citizen 18 or older based on age

Largely driven by “old enough to fight, old enough to vote” during the Vietnam War

Rational Choice Voting

Voters make decisions based on an analysis of which party/candidate will best serve their interests

Considered factors such as policies, personal benefits, and expected outcome of the candidates actions

Retrospective Voting

Voters make decisions based on the performance of the candidate or party in office

Often involves assessing how well the elected officials have addressed key issues and fulfilled their campaign promises

Prospective Voting

Voting based on what a candidate pledges to do in the future about an issue if elected

Straight-Ticket Voting

Voters assigning all their votes to the candidates of one political party in an election

Can take place when voters are able to elect multiple office holders in a single election

Only states that allow: Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, Pennsylvanie, South Carolina, Utah

Voter Turnout

Measures the percentage of voters that have actually taken part in the election

Votes can be classifies into ballot papers which were correctly filled out and those which were incorrectly filled out and therefore counted as invalid

Political Efficacy

The belief that one’s participation in politics matters and can influence government

Structural Barriers

Obstacles that make it harder for people to vote

Obstacles: legal, economic, logistical

Voter ID Laws

Laws requiring voters to show identification to vote

Can affect voter turnout

Absentee Voting

Voting by mail or remotely when a voter cannot by physically present

Early Voting

Casting a ballot before Election Day to increase accessibility

Voter Registration Laws

Rules determining how and when citizens can register to vote

Demographics

Characteristics that influence voting behavior

Characteristics: age, race, income, education

Party Identification

A voter’s long-term loyalty to a political party

Ideological Orientation

A person’s political beliefs

Liberal, conservative, moderate

Linkage Institutions

Structures (parties, media, interest groups) that connect people to government

Political Parties

Organizations that nominate candidates and influence public policy

Party Platforms

Official statements of a party’s principles and policy positions

Candidate Recruitment

The process by which parties find and support candidates for office

Campaign Management

Organizing and running a political campaign

Strategy, messaging, outreach

Party Leadership Systems

The structure of leadership within a political party

Candidate-Centered Campaigns

Campaigns focused more on individual candidates than on party identity

Critical Elections

Elections that cause major, lasting shifts in party alignment

Political Realignment

A significant shift in voter loyalty from one party to another

Coalition

An alliance of groups or individuals united for a common political goal

Third Parties

Political parties outside the two major parties

Lobbying

Directly attempting to influence government officals’ decisions

Amicus Curiae Brief

A “friend of the court” document offering information in a legal case

Iron Triangle

A stable relationship between Congress, bureaucracy, and interest groups

Issue Network

A loose alliance of various groups working on a policy issue

Free Rider Problem

People benefit from a group’s efforts without contributing to it

Selective Benefits

Incentives offered to members to encourage participation

Single-Issue Groups

Interest groups focused on one specific issue

Social Movements

Large-scale efforts by people to bring about social or political change

Protest Movements

Organized public demonstrations to influence policy or opinion

Incumbancy Advantage

The electoral advantage held by current officeholders

Primaries (Open & Closed)

Elections where voters select party nominees

Open: any voter

Closed: party members only

Caucuses

Local party meetings where members select candidates

Party Conventions

Meetings where parties officially nominate candidates and set playforms

General Elections

Final elections where voters choose between party nominees

Electoral College

System where electors formally elect the president

Popular Vote

The total number of votes cast directly by citizens

Midterm Elections

Elections held halfway through a president’s term

Campaign Strategy

A plan for winning an election

Target voters, messaging, timing

Political Consultants

Professionals hired to advise campaigns

Fundraising

Raising money to support campaign activities

Campaign Costs

Expenses associated with running a campaign

Election Cycles

The recurring schedule of elections

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)

Law that limited soft money and regulated campaign financing

Soft Money

Unregulated funds donated to political parties

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Groups that raise and spend money to support candidates

Super PACs

Independent groups that can raise unlimited funds but cannot coordinate with campaigns

Independent Expenditures

Spending for political communication not coordinated with a candidate

Media (as linkage institution)

Connects the public to government through information and communication

Agenda Setting

The media’s ability to influence what issues people think about

Horse-Race Journalism

Coverage focusing on who is winning rather than issues

Public Opinion Polling

Surveys measuring public attitudes and beliefs

Media Bias

Perceived or real favoritism in news reporting

Partisan Media

Media outlets that promote a specific political viewpoint

Ideologically Oriented Programming

Content designed to appeal to specific political beliefs

Consumer-Driven Media

Media shaped by audience preferences and demand

Political Communication

The sharing of political information between leaders, media, and citizens