Unit 5 APGov Vocab

Franchise/Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections, granted to citizens by law or constitutional amendment.

Rational Choice Voting

Voting based on an individual's evaluation of which candidate will best serve their personal interests.

Retrospective Voting

Voting based on an evaluation of a candidate's past performance in office.

Prospective Voting

Voting based on predictions of a candidate's future performance or policy proposals.

Party-Line Voting

Voting for all candidates from one political party across the ballot, reflecting strong party loyalty.

General Election

A nationwide election where voters select officeholders, typically held every four years for presidential elections.

Mid-Term Elections

Federal elections held halfway through a president’s term, often for congressional seats and some state offices.

Linkage Institutions

Structures like political parties, interest groups, and media that connect citizens to the government and influence policy-making.

Superdelegates

High-ranking party officials or elected leaders in the Democratic Party who have an unpledged vote at the national convention.

Third Parties

Political parties other than the two major ones (Democratic and Republican) that often focus on specific issues or ideologies.

Plurality

Receiving the most votes in an election, even if it is not a majority.

Open Primary

A primary election where voters can choose candidates from any party without declaring party affiliation beforehand.

Party Caucus

A meeting of party members to select candidates or strategize about legislative priorities.

Incumbent

The current holder of a political office running for reelection.

Iron Triangle

The relationship between congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that influences policy-making.

PAC (Political Action Committee)

An organization that raises money to support candidates or policies, subject to contribution limits.

Hard Money

Political donations regulated by law and directly given to candidates for election campaigns.

Dark Money

Funds donated to nonprofit organizations that can be used for political purposes without disclosing donors' identities.

501(c)(3)

Nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt and prohibited from engaging in political campaign activities.

Media as Gatekeeper

The media’s role in deciding which issues are important enough to be covered and brought to public attention.

Media as Watchdog

The media’s role in monitoring government actions and exposing misconduct or corruption.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to favor information that aligns with one’s pre-existing beliefs while disregarding contradictory evidence.

Electorate

All individuals eligible to vote in an election within a given jurisdiction.

Grandfather Clause

A historical law allowing individuals to bypass voting restrictions if their ancestors had voting rights before certain dates, often used to disenfranchise African Americans.

White Primary

A discriminatory practice where only white citizens were allowed to participate in primary elections, effectively excluding minorities from the electoral process.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who cast ballots in an election.

Voting Precinct

A geographic area assigned for voting purposes with its own polling place.

Absentee Ballot

A ballot submitted by mail or in advance by voters unable to attend polling places on Election Day.

National Convention

A gathering of party delegates every four years to nominate presidential candidates and establish the party platform.

Party Realignment

A major shift in political party allegiance among voters, often resulting in new dominant coalitions or ideologies within parties.

Winner-Take-All System

An electoral system where the candidate receiving the most votes wins all representation or electoral votes for that area.

Lobbying

Efforts by individuals or groups to influence government officials on specific policies or legislation through advocacy and persuasion.

Closed Primary

A primary election where only registered party members can vote for their party's candidates.

Free Rider

When individuals benefit from collective resources or efforts without contributing themselves, common in interest groups' activities.

Interest Groups

Organizations formed to advocate for specific policies or causes by influencing policymakers and public opinion.

Pluralism

A theory emphasizing diverse groups competing for power and influence within a democratic system while ensuring representation of multiple interests.

Super PAC

Independent expenditure-only committees that can raise unlimited funds but cannot directly coordinate with candidates’ campaigns.

Soft Money

Unregulated donations made to political parties for general activities rather than specific candidate campaigns.

Electoral College

A body of representatives chosen by voters who formally elect the president and vice president of the United States.

501(c)(4)

Nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt and permitted limited political advocacy without disclosing donor identities.

Media as Scorekeeper

The media’s role in tracking political reputations, elections, and public opinion polls.

Narrowcasting

Media content targeted at specific audiences based on ideological preferences or demographic characteristics.