AP U.S. Government & Politics Review Unit 5: Political Participation

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the AP U.S. Government & Politics Review Unit 5, focusing on political participation, voting rights, voter turnout, political parties, and campaign finance.

Fifteenth Amendment

Extended suffrage to African-American men.

Seventeenth Amendment

Established the popular election of US Senators by the people.

Nineteenth Amendment

Extended suffrage to women.

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

Abolished poll taxes in federal elections.

Twenty-Sixth Amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation that made it easier for African-Americans to vote by breaking down barriers like poll taxes and literacy tests.

National Voter Registration Act of 1993

Also known as the "Motor Voter Act"; made it easier to register to vote when applying or renewing a driver’s license.

Rational-Choice Voting

Voting on what is in the citizen’s best interest.

Retrospective Voting

Voting based on a candidate’s past.

Prospective Voting

Voting based on a candidate’s future performance.

Party-Line Voting

Supporting a party by voting for all members of that political party.

Political Efficacy

Belief that your vote matters and can influence policy.

Presidential Elections

Elections for the President and Vice-President that occur every four years.

Midterm Elections

Elections for Congress that occur during the middle of a President’s term.

Political Party

An organization of people with the same ideologies that influence public policy through elected officials.

Linkage Institutions

Informal organizations that connect the people to the government and can influence the political agenda.

Campaign Finance

Funds raised to support various political positions, which are regulated/limited by laws.

Candidate-Centered Campaigns

Campaigns revolving around a candidate's personality and political agenda rather than their party.

Critical Election

Election that leads to a major party realignment.

Direct Primary

Process of voters choosing a candidate to represent their party in the Presidential election.

Dealignment

An individual loses interest or loyalty to their political party and does not realign with another party.

Realignment

An individual switches voter preference from one political party to another.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Organization representing an interest group or corporation that raises money in support of their interest.

Super PAC

An "independent expenditure-only committee" that can raise unlimited funds for a candidate or party.

Third Party

A minor party that is not one of the two major parties (Republican & Democratic) and influences elections by drawing attention to specific issues.

Independent Candidate

A candidate for office with no formal affiliation to a party.

Electoral College

Electors chosen by the states to formally vote in the Presidential election.

Incumbent

An official who already holds office and has advantages due to experience and media exposure.

General Election

An election to decide which candidates will hold office.

Popular Vote

Total or percentage of votes won by each candidate.

Horse Race Journalism

Focuses on reporting who is winning the polls rather than actual policy agendas.

Investigative Journalism

Deep investigation into a specific subject that can reveal/expose secrets.

Interest Groups

Groups of people with the same interests attempting to influence policy.

Iron Triangle

The relationship between congressional committees, federal bureaucracy, and interest groups working together to influence policy.

Lobbying

Seeking to influence a politician on a specific issue.

Direct Lobbying

Seeking to influence a politician by directly talking to bureaucrats or elected officials.

Social Movement

Groups that bring about and influence change in society.

Single-Issue Groups

Interest groups devoted to a singular, specific issue.

Closed Primary

A primary election limited to registered party voters.

Open Primary

A primary election not limited to registered party voters.

Caucus

A meeting of members of a political party to choose nominees for political office.

Campaign Finance (Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission)

Supreme Court case that ruled political spending is a form of free speech protected by the First Amendment.