AP Government Unit 5

Fifteenth Amendment (1870)

Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Nineteenth Amendment (1920)

Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote on account of sex.

Twenty-third Amendment (1961)

Resident citizens of Washington D.C were granted electors in the Presidential election (no more than the smallest state).

Twenty-fourth Amendment (1964)

Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote by reason of failure to pay a tax (poll tax or others).

Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971)

Citizens eighteen years or older cannot be denied the right to vote on account of age.

Rational-Choice Voting

Evaluating campaigns to determine what benefits the voter most (this could be personal, issue-based, or societally-based).

Retrospective Voting

Looking back at a candidate's track record or a party's history.

Prospective Voting

Looking ahead; which candidate has a vision that I support?

Party-line Voting

Being loyal to a party, not a candidate.

Types of Ballots

Must be printed, private, include all candidates, and only available at polling sites.

Provisional Ballot

"Set aside" ballots; allows for the verification of a voter.

National Voter Registration Act (1993)

Increased the locations where citizens can register to vote, like at the DMV ("Motor-Voter Law").

Help America Vote Act (2002)

Made voting more accessible, easy & accurate; changed punch-card voting to electronic; gave more options to the disabled.

Voter ID Laws

Most states accept many forms of ID when voting (like signature IDs, a utility bill); very few require photo ID.

Voter Turnout

Some people aren't concerned about politics, others feel that their vote is ineffective.

Fraud Prevention v. Voter Suppression

Claims about voter fraud tend to be minimal or insignificant.

Factors of Influence

Gender, Age, Race/Ethnicity, Religion, Career.

Linkage Institutions

Parties as Linkage Institutions- Connecting people with Government.

The Benefits of Political Parties

They mobilize citizens to register and vote, as well as educate voters on political issues.

Party Platforms

A list of beliefs and objectives created at National Conventions.

Coalition

A demographic that votes as a 'bloc'.

McGovern-Fraser Commission

A 1968 Autopsy Report that led to changes in party structure.

Superdelegates

High-ranking delegates who cast a vote outside of the primaries for a candidate.

Party Realignment

The History of 'Party Realignment' in the US (Take notes on critical elections and historical shifts).

Divided Government

One party controls Congress, and the other controls the White House (has been a theme since 1968).

Third Parties

A competitive minor party in national politics.

Barriers to Third-Party Success

Money & ballot access (DNC & RNC have established donors, and ballot requirements are covered).

Winner-Take-All

The Electoral College 'Winner Take All' approach (except NE & ME) & single-member districts.

Free-Riders

Members who benefit without contributing to efforts.

Iron Triangles

Relationship between Congress, Agency, and Interest Group.

Issue Networks

Complex relationships among various interest groups.

Lobbyist

Individual influencing legislators for an Interest Group.

Direct Lobbying

Personal interaction with legislators to influence policy.

Grassroots

Mobilizing community support for a temporary cause.

Grasstops

Using influencers to advocate for an interest.

Endorsements

Public support expression for a proposed bill.

Bundling

Collecting large donations from multiple donors.

Revolving Door

Legislators transitioning to lobbying roles.

Incentives

Benefits offered to prevent Free-Riders.

Purposive Incentives

Philosophical satisfaction from group membership.

Material Incentives

Tangible benefits like discounts for members.

Solitary Incentives

Social gatherings for members of a group.

Honest Leadership and Open Government Act

2007 law banning gifts from lobbyists to Congress.

Incumbent Advantage Phenomenon

Sitting president's ease in securing nomination.

Caucus

Party members elect delegates for candidates.

Closed Primary

Only declared party members can vote.

Open Primary

Voters choose party affiliation on election day.

Super Tuesday

Many states hold primaries simultaneously.

Party Conventions

Delegates announce party candidate based on primaries.

Electoral College

Body that elects the president based on votes.

Mid-Term Elections

Federal elections halfway through a president's term.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating district boundaries for political advantage.

Campaign Organization

Structure supporting a candidate's election efforts.

PACs

Political Action Committees funding candidates.

War Chest

Candidate's campaign fund size influencing elections.

Gerrymandered Districts

Redrawn districts favoring one political party.

DCCC

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for strategy.

Candidate's Committee

Group formed by a candidate for election support.

Candidate Showcase

Campaign strategy highlighting bio, issues, and attacks.

Professional Consultants

Experts aiding campaigns in various fields.

Dark Ads

Anonymous online ads aimed at manipulation.

FECA

Federal Election Campaign Act regulating campaign finance.

BCRA

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act limiting soft money.

FEC

Federal Election Commission overseeing campaign finance laws.

Connected PACs

PACs linked to organizations collecting member donations.

Nonconnected PACs

Independent PACs raising funds from the public.

Leadership PACs

PACs formed by officials, cannot fund their campaigns.

Super PACs

Independent PACs raising unlimited funds, no direct contributions.

Free Press

Unrestricted media acting as a government check.

Investigative Reporting

Journalism exposing corruption and social issues.

Horse-Race Journalism

Media focusing on polling and election outcomes.

Gatekeeping

Media setting agenda based on public interest.

Watchdogs

Reporters investigating government corruption.

Narrowcasting

Media targeting specific audiences with agendas.

FCC

Federal Communications Commission regulating electronic media.

Media Bias

Slant in news coverage towards specific ideologies.

Confirmation Bias

Seeking news that reinforces existing beliefs.

Consumer-Driven Media

Media influenced by audience preferences and demands.

Editorials

Opinion pieces in newspapers expressing viewpoints.

Social Media

Platforms providing immediate news and interaction.

Political Analysis

Expert commentary on complex political issues.