AP Gov Vocab Unit 3

Political participation

Ways individuals take action to shape laws and policies of government.

Political action committees

Organizations that raise money to elect or defeat candidates.

Linkage institutions

Channels that connect individuals with the government.

Social movement

Joining of individuals seeking social or political change.

Franchise/Suffrage

The right to vote.

Voter turnout

Percent of eligible voters that actually vote.

Demographic characteristics

Measurable characteristics of population (age, gender, race, etc.).

Socioeconomic status (SES)

Measure of a person's wealth, occupation, and education.

Political efficacy

A person’s belief that their vote is effective and can make a change.

Felon disenfranchisement

Some states don’t allow felons to vote.

Political mobilization

Efforts by political parties to get their members to vote.

Registration requirements

Each state’s different rules that govern where, when, and how to vote.

Absentee ballots

Voting before election day without going to the polls.

Rational choice voting

Voting based on what a citizen believes is in their best interest.

Retrospective voting

Voting based on the incumbent's performance.

Prospective voting

Voting based on promises made by candidates.

Party-line voting

Voting for candidates based on a certain political party.

Electoral college

2 Senate + number of sitting House members = number of electoral votes.

Battleground state/Swing state

States where levels of support for both candidates are pretty equal; could go either way.

Federal Election Commission

Agency that oversees campaign financial laws.

Super PACs

Organizations allowed to spend unlimited amounts on campaigns as long as spending is not coordinated with the campaign.

Party identification

The degree a voter is influenced and connected to a political party.

Straight-ticket voting

Voting for all candidates from one party.

Split-ticket voting

Voting for candidates from different parties in the same election.

Party platform

Set of positions and policy objectives members of a party agree to.

Recruitment

Process where parties identify potential candidates.

Party coalition

Groups of voters that support a political party over time.

Realignment

When people of one party shift allegiance to another.

Critical elections

Major national election that signals change in balance of power between parties.

Party eras

Periods when one party wins most of the national elections.

Era of divided government

One party controls Congress while the president is from the opposing party.

Nomination

Formal process through which parties choose candidates for political offices.

Delegates

Persons acting as the voters' representatives at a convention to select a party's nominee.

Primary election

Election where voters choose delegates who support a presidential candidate for nomination.

Open primaries

Primaries where all eligible voters may vote regardless of party affiliation.

Closed primaries

Primaries where only those registered to a party can vote in their primaries.

Caucuses

Meetings of eligible voters to select delegates to represent their preferences in nomination.

Superdelegates

Party leaders who are not pledged to a candidate.

Front-load

Pushing primaries or caucuses as early as possible to gain more influence.

National convention

Meeting where delegates officially select their party's presidential nominees.

Candidate-centered

Referring to candidates developing their own strategies and raising money with less party influence.

Two-party system

Political system dominated by two major parties.

Proportional representation system

Citizens vote for parties, and representation matches the percentage of votes they receive.

Single member plurality system

Electoral system where the candidate with the plurality wins.

Third parties

Minor political parties in competition with two major ones.

Interest groups

Associations whose goal is to get policies they favor enacted.

Social movements

Groups that educate the public and press policymakers for societal change.

Civil society

Groups outside government advocating for specific policies.

Policy agenda

Set of issues government, voters, and the public are paying attention to.

Collective action

Process where individuals contribute time and resources to a larger group goal.

Free riders

Individuals who benefit from collective goods without contributing.

Selective benefits

Benefits available only to individuals who join a group.

Economic interest groups

Groups advocating on behalf of financial interests.

Public interest groups

Organizations acting on behalf of collective interests beyond their members.

Single issue groups

Associations focusing on one specific area of public policy.

Government interest groups

Organizations representing different levels of government.

Lobbying

Interacting with government officials to advance a group's public policy goals.

Revolving door

Movement of individuals between positions in government and lobbying activities.

Amicus curiae brief

Brief filed by someone who isn’t a party to a case in an attempt to persuade the court.

Iron triangle

Coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals.

Issue network

Webs of influence between interest groups, policymakers, and policy advocates.

Grassroots lobbying

Interest group members pressuring their representatives directly.

Protest

Public demonstration designed to call attention to a need for change.

Civil disobedience

Intentionally breaking a law to draw attention to an injustice.

Radio Act (1927)

Established Federal Radio Commission and required broadcasters to obtain licenses for specific frequencies.

Communications Act of 1934

Established FCC to oversee implementation of communications provisions.