AP Gov Unit II Studyguide

What are political parties?

Organized groups of people who share common political beliefs and work together to influence government policy and elections.

What purpose do parties serve?

Link citizens to government (linkage institutions), recruit candidates, mobilize voters, and organize a government.

What is and why does the U.S. have a two-party system?

Single-member districts (winner-takes-all), historical dominance of two parties, ballot access and funding advantages.

Where are parties strong?

State and local governments control candidate selection.

What is the Tea Party?

A conservative movement for lower taxes and limited government.

What do third parties do?

Highlight ignored issues, act as spoilers, and push major parties to adopt policies.

What are the types of third parties?

Ideological, single-issue, economic protest, and splinter parties.

Why don’t third parties win?

Lack of funding, media coverage, and winner-takes-all elections.

What is wasted vote syndrome?

The idea that voting for a third party is pointless since they rarely win.

What are special interest groups?

Organizations that influence government policy.

What is the purpose of special interest groups?

Represent members in policymaking and influence laws.

What are the theories of special interest groups?

Pluralist theory, many competing groups balance power.

How do special interest groups influence politics?

Lobbying, campaign contributions, lawsuits.

How do special interest groups influence public opinion?

Advertising, grassroots movements, and research.

Who are lobbyists?

Professionals hired to influence lawmakers.

What is an Iron Triangle?

A relationship between Congress, bureaucracy, and interest groups that shapes policy.

What is an amicus curiae brief?

A legal document filed by interest groups to influence court decisions.

What are PACs, and why did they develop?

Political Action Committees raise and donate money to candidates to bypass campaign finance laws.

How are PACs restricted?

Can donate $5,000 per candidate per election.

What is FECA?

Federal Election Campaign Act (1971), regulates campaign finance.

What is the FEC?

Federal Election Commission, enforces campaign finance laws.

What is soft money?

Unlimited donations to political parties (banned by BCRA).

What is hard money?

Limited donations directly to candidates.

What did the McCain-Feingold Bill (BCRA) do?

Banned soft money.

What is a 527 organization?

Tax-exempt groups that influence elections through issue advocacy.

What is the ruling of Buckey v. Valeo (1976)?

Candidates can spend unlimited personal money.

What is the ruling of McConnell v. FEC (2003)?

Upheld BCRA’s soft money ban.

What is the ruling of Citizens United v. FEC (2010)?

Allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited money on ads.

What is the ruling of McCutcheon v. FEC (2014)?

Struck down total contribution limits for individuals.

What is a Super PAC?

Can raise unlimited money but cannot coordinate with candidates.

What is a 501(c)(4)?

Nonprofit groups that can spend on elections without disclosing donors.

What is a Testimonial ad?

An ad where celebrities endorse a candidate.

What is the Bandwagon effect?

Suggesting that “everyone supports this candidate” to persuade others.

What is Card Stacking?

Presenting only selective facts to favor a candidate.

What are Glittering Generalities?

Vague slogans like "Hope" and "Change" that sound good but lack specifics.

What is Mudslinging?

Negative attack ads against opponents.

What is Transfer in advertising?

Associating a candidate with positive symbols (e.g., the American flag).

What are Fear Ads?

Ads designed to instill fear about an opponent.

What are the goals of mass media?

Inform the public, influence public opinion, shape the political agenda.

How does media affect public opinion?

Agenda-setting: choosing which issues to focus on, and framing: presenting stories in a certain way.

What are the roles of the mass media?

Decides what news is covered, tracks political reputations, investigates corruption, shapes policy focus, engages audiences.

Why is media called the 4th branch of government?

It acts as a check on government power by exposing corruption.

Is the media biased?

For: Selective coverage, corporate influence.

Against: Multiple sources provide balance.

What are limits on media influence?

People choose biased sources, not everyone follows the news.

What are trends in the media?

Increasing reliance on social media, rise of misinformation, and fragmentation of news sources.

What is Fake News?

False information spread to mislead audiences.

How can Fake News be addressed?

Fact-checking, media literacy programs.

What was the ruling in New York Times v. U.S.?

The Pentagon Papers could be published, reinforcing freedom of the press.

What are the different types of linkage institutions?

Elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

What is Horserace Journalism?

News coverage that focuses on who is winning rather than policy issues.

What is a Soundbite?

A short, catchy audio or video clip used in news coverage.

What is a Muckraker?

A journalist who exposes corruption and scandals in politics or business.

What is Investigative Journalism?

In-depth reporting to uncover wrongdoing, corruption, or scandals.

What is Yellow Journalism?

Sensationalized, exaggerated, or misleading news used to attract readers.

What is a News Aggregator?

A website or app that collects news from multiple sources (e.g., Google News).

What are Blogs?

Personal or professional websites where individuals or groups share opinions and news.

What was the Fairness Doctrine?

A former FCC rule (1949-1987) requiring broadcasters to present balanced views on controversial issues.

What is the Equal Time Rule?

A rule requiring broadcast stations to give equal airtime to opposing candidates.

What is Net Neutrality?

The principle that internet service providers (ISPs) must treat all content equally without blocking or slowing websites.

What is the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)?

A law that allows public access to government records and documents.

What is Libel?

False written statements that damage someone's reputation.

What is Slander?

False spoken statements that damage someone's reputation.

What is a Trial Balloon?

A strategy where politicians leak information to test public reaction before making a decision.

Who are Citizen Journalists?

Ordinary people who report news using smartphones, blogs, or social media.

What is Media Consolidation?

The trend of fewer companies owning more media outlets, reducing diversity in news sources.

What is the American Independent Party’s stance on crime?

Supports tougher laws and stricter punishments, including the death penalty.

What is the American Independent Party’s stance on the environment?

Prioritizes property rights over environmental regulation and opposes strict environmental policies.

What is the American Independent Party’s stance on healthcare?

Opposes government-run healthcare and supports private, free-market solutions.

What is the American Independent Party’s stance on social issues?

Strongly conservative, opposes abortion and same-sex marriage, and supports traditional family values.

What is the American Independent Party’s stance on the economy?

Supports lower taxes, fewer regulations, and free-market capitalism.

What is the American Independent Party’s stance on international affairs?

Advocates for America First policies and opposes foreign entanglements.

What is the American Independent Party’s stance on education?

Supports school choice, homeschooling, and local control over education policy.

What is the Democratic Party’s stance on crime?

Supports criminal justice reform, alternatives to incarceration, and community-based policing.

What is the Democratic Party’s stance on the environment?

Supports strong environmental protections, renewable energy investments, and combating climate change.

What is the Democratic Party’s stance on healthcare?

Supports universal healthcare access and expanding programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

What is the Democratic Party’s stance on social issues?

Supports abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial and gender equality.

What is the Democratic Party’s stance on the economy?

Advocates for higher taxes on the wealthy, stronger worker protections, and government programs to reduce economic inequality.

What is the Democratic Party’s stance on international affairs?

Supports diplomacy, global cooperation, and multilateral agreements.

What is the Democratic Party’s stance on education?

Supports public school funding, student loan relief, and expanded access to higher education.

What is the Green Party’s stance on crime?

Supports abolishing private prisons and focusing on rehabilitation instead of punishment.

What is the Green Party’s stance on the environment?

Strongly supports environmental protection, climate action, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

What is the Green Party’s stance on healthcare?

Supports universal healthcare and Medicare for All.

What is the Green Party’s stance on social issues?

Supports LGBTQ+ rights, racial and gender equality, and pro-choice policies.

What is the Green Party’s stance on the economy?

Supports progressive taxation, wealth redistribution, and reducing corporate influence in government.

What is the Green Party’s stance on international affairs?

Advocates for global peace, demilitarization, and reducing U.S. military involvement abroad.

What is the Green Party’s stance on education?

Supports tuition-free college and student debt forgiveness.

What is the Libertarian Party’s stance on crime?

Supports reducing prison sentences for nonviolent crimes and eliminating laws that criminalize personal choices.

What is the Libertarian Party’s stance on the environment?

Opposes most government regulations on businesses but supports private conservation efforts.

What is the Libertarian Party’s stance on healthcare?

Opposes government-run healthcare and supports a free-market system.

What is the Libertarian Party’s stance on social issues?

Supports personal freedoms, LGBTQ+ rights, abortion rights, and drug decriminalization.

What is the Libertarian Party’s stance on the economy?

Supports free-market capitalism, lower taxes, and minimal government interference.

What is the Libertarian Party’s stance on international affairs?

Supports a non-interventionist foreign policy and reducing military spending.

What is the Libertarian Party’s stance on education?

Supports school choice, charter schools, and homeschooling.

What is the Peace and Freedom Party’s stance on crime?

Opposes mass incarceration and supports prison abolition for nonviolent offenses. Advocates for restorative justice and community-based alternatives to incarceration.

What is the Peace and Freedom Party’s stance on the environment?

Supports strong environmental protections and rapid action to combat climate change.

What is the Peace and Freedom Party’s stance on healthcare?

Supports Medicare for All and nationalized healthcare.

What is the Peace and Freedom Party’s stance on social issues?

Strongly supports social justice, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial equality.

What is the Peace and Freedom Party’s stance on the economy?

Supports a socialist economy with wealth redistribution and public ownership of major industries.

What is the Peace and Freedom Party’s stance on international affairs?

Advocates for global peace, diplomacy, and an end to U.S. military interventions.

What is the Peace and Freedom Party’s stance on education?

Supports tuition-free college and increased public school funding.