unit 3 gov

conservative

favors traditional values and limited government

liberal

favors gov action for social equality

right

the conservative side

left

the liberal side

political party

group organized to win elections and control government

democratic party

major us center-left/liberal party

republican party (GOP - grand old party)

us center right/conservative party

platform

party’s official statement of beliefs and goals

candidate

person running for office

third party

any party other than democrat or republican

public opinion

how the public feels about issues/leaders

telephone poll

phone-based opinion survey

tracking poll

daily/regular poll measuring opinion changes over time

internet poll

online survey

push poll

biased poll designed to sway voter opinions

participation bias

unrepresentative results because certain people opt out

civil rights act 1964

outlawed discrimination in public places and jobs

voting rights act 1965

banned discriminatory voting practices like literacy tests

interest groups

groups organized to influence policy

advocate

to publicly support a cause

public interest

general good of society

economic interest group

group focused on business/labor interests

professional groups

groups representing specific careers (e.g. doctors/lawyers)

Ideological groups

groups promoting specific political/moral beliefs

single issues groups

groups focused on just one single policy issue

lobbyists

paid professionals who meet lawmakers to influence policy

donate/endorse/inform

give money, give approval, and share facts

suffrage

right to vote

disenfranchise

to take away voting rights

15th amendment

banned race-based voting restrictions (1870)

grandfather clauses

rules exempting whites from voting restrictions

literacy test

unfair reading tests used to block black voters

19th amendment

granted women suffrage 1920

24th amendment

banned poll taxes 1964

26th amendment

lowered voting age to 18 (1971)

felon disenfranchisement laws

banning convicted felons from voting

voter ID laws

requiring photo ID to vote

registered voter

citizen enrolled on the official voter list

polling place

where you go to cast a ballot

early voting

voting in person before election day

absentee ballot

mail-in vote for those unable to go in person

hard money

direct, heavily regulated candidate donations

soft money

indirect, less regulated party-building donations

dark money

political spending from undisclosed doors

primaries

secret-ballot party elections

caucuses

local, open party meetings to vote for candidates

conventions

national party meetings to nominate presidential candidates

political spectrum

identify your view (liberal, moderate, conservative, and give 1 reason

1964 civil rights act titles

title II (public accommodations) & Title VII (employment)

1965 civil rights act titles

section 2 (discriminatory practices) & section 5 (preclearance)

interest groups influence

endorsing candidates & donating campaign funds

increase voter turnout

expand early voting & allow same-day registration

suffrage amendments

19th (women) & 26th (18+ age limit)