unit 3 test review

What are the three main levels of elections in the U.S.?

- Local, State, and National elections

What is the main purpose of elections in a democracy?

To give citizens a voice, legitimize authority, and ensure peaceful transfer of power

What is reapportionment and how often does it occur?

Redistribution of House seats every 10 years after the Census

What is gerrymandering?

Redrawing districts to favor one party (packing and cracking)

Which amendments expanded voting rights?

15th (race), 19th (women), 24th (no poll tax), 26th (age 18)

What is an interest group?

An organized group seeking to influence public policy

What is the difference between PACs and Super PACs?

PACs can donate limited amounts to candidates; Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts independently

What did Citizens United v. FEC (2010) decide?

Corporations/unions may spend unlimited amounts on independent expenditures

What did Buckley v. Valeo (1976) decide?

Upheld limits on contributions, struck down limits on candidate’s personal spending

What are Alabama’s campaign finance rules?

No dollar limits; PAC-to-PAC transfers banned

What was the Party Press?

Early newspapers (1790s–1820s) sponsored by political parties

What was the Penny Press?

Cheap newspapers in the 1830s–60s that expanded mass readership

What was the significance of the 1960 Kennedy–Nixon debate?-

Showed the power of television image; TV viewers thought Kennedy won, radio listeners thought Nixon won

How did Obama’s 2008 campaign use media?

Harnessed social media for fundraising and mobilization

How did Trump’s 2016 campaign use media?

Used Twitter to dominate coverage, generating billions in earned media

What challenge did Biden’s 2020 campaign face?

Managing digital outreach and misinformation during COVID-19

What are attack ads and their impact?

Negative ads that raise doubts, depress turnout, and increase polarization

How has public trust in media changed?

It has declined, with divisions based on outlet preference (Fox vs. CNN, NPR vs. talk radio)

What are the main steps in the election process?

Candidate announcement, primaries/caucuses ,conventions ,Campaign, Election Day, and Electoral College

What are some modern challenges to voting?

Voter ID laws, mail-in ballot debates, misinformation, rural vs. urban access

What factor typically leads to higher voter turnout?

National elections, especially presidential

What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

A landmark law banning literacy tests and expanding federal oversight of elections

How does redistricting affect representation?

It can favor one party, impacting fairness and voter power

What factor most influences elections: money, voter turnout, or redistricting?

All three play roles, but effects vary by context

List three core functions of interest groups-

Lobbying, electioneering, grassroots mobilization

Give an example of a single-issue interest group-

NRA (guns), Planned Parenthood (reproductive rights)

What is 'dark money'?

Political spending by nonprofits that don’t disclose donors

What did McCutcheon v. FEC (2014) decide?

Struck down aggregate donation limits

What did SpeechNow.org v. FEC (2010) decide?

Allowed unlimited contributions to Super PACs

What did the FEC v. Ted Cruz (2022) case decide?-

Candidates may repay themselves unlimited loans with post-election funds

What is coordinated party spending?

When a party directly strategizes with a candidate on expenditures

What Alabama group is influential in agriculture?

The Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA)

What is Yellow Journalism?

Sensationalized reporting, influential in events like the Spanish-American War, Impact over accuracy

How did FDR use radio to connect with citizens?

Through 'Fireside Chats' that reached millions

What is the main role of television in politics after the 1950s?

Became dominant medium, with debates and news shaping opinion

What role do attack ads play in voter turnout?

They may discourage turnout or polarize voters

What challenges does social media pose to elections?

Spread of misinformation, microtargeting, rapid amplification of content

What is 'earned media'?

Free coverage candidates get from controversial or newsworthy statements

Which mediums dominate campaign spending today?

Television ads and growing digital ads

How has media bias affected public trust?

Trust has declined, with divides along political and regional lines

What regional differences exist in U.S. public opinion?

South conservative, Northeast/West Coast liberal, Midwest swing

What was the Daisy Ad (1964) known for?

A powerful attack ad by LBJ suggesting nuclear war risk under Goldwater