Unit 5 gov

Linkage Institution

Structures or processes that connect citizens with the government, such as elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

15th Amendment

Granted African American men the right to vote, prohibiting the denial of the right based on race.

19th Amendment

Granted women the right to vote, prohibiting the denial of the right based on gender.

24th Amendment

Prohibited the use of poll taxes in federal elections, removing a financial barrier to voting.

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age to 18 years, ensuring more young people could participate in elections.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election.

Political Efficacy

The belief that one’s participation in politics can make a difference.

Electoral College

A body of electors established by the Constitution that formally elects the President and Vice President.

Winner-Take-All System

An electoral system where the candidate receiving the most votes wins all the electoral votes in a state.

Battleground State

A state where both major political parties have similar levels of support among voters, making it a key target for campaigns.

Swing State

A state that does not consistently vote for one party and can change from election to election.

Super PAC

A type of independent political action committee that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to advocate for or against candidates.

Divided Government

A situation in which one party controls the presidency and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress.

Delegate

A person selected to represent a group at a political convention, typically used in the context of the nominating process.

Superdelegate

A party leader or elected official who is given the right to vote at the party's national convention without being pledged to a candidate.

Primary Election

An election to determine a political party's candidate for the general election.

Open v. Closed Primary

Open primary allows any registered voter to participate, while closed primary restricts participation to registered party members.

Caucus

A meeting of party members to discuss and choose candidates for an election.

Front-Loading

The practice of scheduling primaries early in the election season to capitalize on media attention.

National Convention

A gathering of a political party to nominate candidates for president and vice president, and to establish party rules and policies.

Two-Party System

A political system where two major political parties dominate the landscape, often at the expense of third parties.

Proportional Representation

An electoral system in which seats are allocated to parties in proportion to the number of votes each party receives.

Single-Member Plurality System

An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes in a district wins, regardless of whether they achieve a majority.

Third Party

A political party that is not one of the two major parties and often seeks to challenge the status quo.

Interest Groups

Organized groups of people that seek to influence public policy on specific issues.

Participatory Democracy

A model of democracy that emphasizes the broad participation of constituents in the direction and operation of political systems.

Pluralist Theory

A theory that suggests political power is distributed among a wide array of diverse and competing interest groups.

Elitist Theory

A theory asserting that a small number of people, usually wealthy and well-educated, hold significant power in society.

Free Riders

Individuals who benefit from a resource, good, or service without paying for it, often seen in the context of public goods.

Lobbying

The act of attempting to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials, usually legislators or members of regulatory agencies.

Revolving Door

The movement of individuals between positions in government and the private sector, often raising concerns about conflicts of interest.

Amicus Curiae Brief

A document filed in court by someone who is not a party to the case, providing additional information or arguments.

Iron Triangle

The stable, mutually beneficial relationship between a government agency, a legislative committee, and an interest group.

Issue Network

A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy on a particular issue.

News Media

Various media channels that distribute news content to inform the public, including newspapers, television, and online platforms.

Agenda Setting

The process by which the media or other influential entities determine which issues are considered important and worthy of public attention.

Mass Media

Forms of communication that reach large audiences, such as newspapers, television, radio, and the internet.

Investigative Journalism

A type of journalism that seeks to uncover information that is hidden or not readily available to the public.

Broadcast Media

Forms of media that transmit information electronically, including television and radio.

Media Consolidation

The process by which fewer companies own more media outlets, leading to less diversity in viewpoints.

Horse-Race Journalism

A type of journalism that focuses on the competitive aspects of politics, emphasizing who is winning or losing.