AP Gov Unit 5

15th Amendment

Prohibits denying the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

19th Amendment

Grants women the right to vote.

23rd Amendment

Grants residents of D.C. the right to vote for president.

24th Amendment

Abolishes poll taxes.

26th Amendment

Lowers the voting age to 18.

Civil Rights Act of 1957

First civil rights legislation since Reconstruction; established the Civil Rights Division in the DOJ.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Banned discriminatory practices in voting and registration.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Prohibited racial discrimination in voting, banned literacy tests, and provided federal oversight.

Rational-Choice Voting

Voters make decisions based on their own best interest and cost-benefit analysis.

Retrospective Voting

Judging candidates based on their past performance.

Prospective Voting

Voting based on future promises and platforms.

Party-Line Voting

Voting exclusively for candidates of one political party.

Political Apathy

Lack of interest in politics.

Political Efficacy

Belief in one’s ability to influence politics.

Linkage Institutions

Entities that connect people to government; includes political parties, interest groups, elections, and media.

Mobilization/Education of Voters

Political parties encourage participation and provide information to voters.

Party Platforms

Outlines the policy positions of political parties.

Political Realignments

Enduring changes that follow critical elections, reshaping the party system.

Critical Elections

Pivotal moments in U.S. political history where significant shifts occur in electorate support.

Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

1971 law that established disclosure requirements, limits on contributions, and public financing for presidential elections.

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Court case that upheld contribution limits but struck down limits on candidates spending their own money.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

2002 act that banned soft money and limited electioneering communications before elections.

Hard Money

Regulated and disclosed contributions to political campaigns.

Soft Money

Unregulated money for party-building activities.

Super PACs

Political action committees that can spend unlimited money but cannot coordinate with candidates.

Winner-Take-All Voting

Electoral system that makes it difficult for third parties to win.

Candidate-Centered Campaigns

Campaigns that focus on the individual candidate rather than the party.

Cyberpolarization

Phenomenon of individuals being exposed predominantly to information that reinforces their existing beliefs.

Credibility of News Sources

The trustworthiness of media sources in disseminating accurate information.