AP Government and Politics - Unit 4 FRQ

Describe a Constitutional amendment that increased suffrage

-15th Amendment: African American male suffrage

-19th Amendment: women's suffrage

Voting Rights Act of 1965

eliminated barriers to voting; increased, but did not grant minority participation

National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (Motor Voter Act)

allows individuals to register to vote when getting driver's license or at other government agencies, making it easier to register

Identify two factors that have contributed to the overall decline in federal elections and explain how each factor has contributed to the overall decline

-Demographic changes; as minority groups/young people increase proportionally in the population, voting turnout declines

-Rising cynicism—people don't vote because, e.g., they don't see a difference between candidates/declining trust in government

Identify and explain two reasons why voter turnout has been higher in presidential elections than in mid-term elections

-Media interest greater in presidential elections

-Greater information available about presidential candidates and issues

Identify two forms of political participation in the political process other than voting

-protest

-Running for political office / holding political office

Explain two advantages of each form you identified in (Identify two forms of political participation in the political process other than voting)

-protest: bring public attention; sympathy; low cost; immediate response; expression of alienation

-Running for political office / holding political office: direct influence on political decision-making; set policy agenda

Explain how two measures taken by some states prior to the 1960s affected voter turnout among African American citizens

-Literacy tests

-Poll taxes

Facing discrimination at the voting booth, many African American citizens turned to alternative forms of political participation. Describe two alternative forms of participation that helped bring about changes in civil rights policies

-Demonstrations / protests / public rallies / civil disobedience

-boycotts

Choose one of the forms of participation you described in (Facing discrimination at the voting booth, many African American citizens turned to alternative forms of political participation. Describe two alternative forms of participation that helped bring about changes in civil rights policies) and explain why it was effective in changing civil rights policies

Civil disobedience: did not force African Americans to work for justice within the very same system that was committing injustice; gave a platform to the litigation that shaped and validified the entire civil rights era through the virtue of judicial review

Describe how each of the following is related to likelihood of voting. (Age)

-Older people are more likely to vote

-Turnout is lowest for young people

-The likelihood of voting declines in the oldest populations

Describe how each of the following is related to likelihood of voting. (Education)

-People with more education are more likely to vote

-People with less education are less likely to vote

Identify one current government electoral requirement that decrease voter turnout. Explain how it decreases voter turnout

-Registration

-Limited opportunities to vote (midweek, limited hours, single day

Identify two characteristics of a valid, scientific, public opinion poll

-Randomized sampling

-Large sample size / low margin of error

Explain why each of the following enhances the influence of the public opinion on the voting decisions of members of Congress. (Strong public opinion as expressed in polling results)

-Because of the desire to get reelected / electoral ambition

-Because of the perceived obligation / duty to represent their constituents

Explain why each of the following enhances the influence of the public opinion on the voting decisions of members of Congress. (Competitive re-elections)

Because of the desire to get reelected

Identify the effect of one of the following amendments on the electorate.

Twenty-sixth amendment: gave citizens age 18 and over the right to vote

Motor voter laws

add more registered voters to the rolls, potentially changing voter turnout

Photo identification laws

create a potential barrier for those without accepted forms of ID, changing voter turnout

Presidential versus midterm elections

-Media coverage is greater in presidential elections

-Increased interest in and importance of national and presidential campaign

Primary versus general election

-Many primary elections are noncompetitive

-Independents are less likely to participate in primary elections

-General elections simplify choices

-Media coverage is greater in general elections

Gate keeping/agenda setting

media determines which issues are perceived as relevant to voters

Scorekeeping/race horse journalism

who's winning rather than focusing on policy issues relevant to the voters

Identify & explain one of the four main roles of media as a linkage institution. Make sure to give an example:

Agenda setting: media determines which issues are perceived as relevant to voters