Unit 5: Political Participation (All Units Included)

Political Participation

The involvement of citizens in activities related to governance, such as voting, campaigning, and civic engagement.

James Madison

Founding Father who emphasized the importance of political participation for maintaining a representative democracy.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election.

PAC (Political Action Committee)

An organization that raises money to support political candidates, allowing direct contributions to their campaigns.

Super PAC

A type of political action committee that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money but cannot coordinate directly with candidates.

Linkage Institution

Channels connecting individuals with government, including elections, political parties, interest groups, and media.

Social Movement

A collective effort by a large group advocating for social, political, or cultural change.

Voter Registration

The process by which eligible citizens sign up to be able to vote in elections.

Amendments Expanding Suffrage

Constitutional changes, including the 15th, 19th, 24th, 26th, and 23rd Amendments that increased voting rights.

Civic Engagement

Active participation in public life through various forms of political participation.

Political Efficacy

The belief that one's actions can influence political events.

Democratic Engagement

Participation in group activities aimed at influencing public policy.

Electoral Votes

Votes allocated to states in the Electoral College representing their citizens' preferences in presidential elections.

Nomination Stage

The phase of a presidential campaign where candidates compete within their party for the nomination.

General Election

The election in which voters choose among candidates nominated by parties to fill offices.

Open Primary

An election in which any registered voter can participate in any party's primary.

Closed Primary

An election where only registered party members can vote in their party's primary.

Electoral College

A body of electors established by the Constitution to elect the president.

Grassroots Movement

A type of social movement driven by the politics of a community.

Iron Triangle

The stable relationship between a congressional committee, a bureaucratic agency, and interest groups.

Amicus Curiae Brief

A document filed in court by someone who is not a party to the case, offering information relevant to the case.

Political Mobilization

Efforts to encourage the public to engage in political actions.

Digital Divide

The gap between individuals who have access to modern information and communication technology and those who do not.

Net Neutrality

The principle that internet service providers must treat all data the same without discrimination.

Social Media

Platforms that allow users to create and share content or participate in social networking.

Watchdog Role of Media

The media's role in investigating and exposing corruption to hold government accountable.

Fake News

Deliberately false or misleading information presented as news.

Agenda Setter

The media's ability to influence the importance placed on the topics of the public agenda.

Narrowcasting

The practice of targeting media programming at specific populations.

Political Consultant

A professional who advises candidates on their campaign strategies.

Voter Suppression

Efforts to influence voters' ability or willingness to vote.

Campaign Strategy

A plan of action to achieve the goals of a political campaign.

Political Party

An organized group of people with similar political goals and opinions that seek to influence government policy.

Partisan Attachment

The emotional or psychological commitment to a political party.

Critical Election

An election that signifies a significant shift in political party allegiance.

Realignment

A major shift in party alliance which leads to a new dominant party.

Two-Party System

A political system dominated by two major parties.

Third Party

A political party that is not one of the two major parties.

Proportional Representation

An electoral system that allocates seats based on the percentage of votes each party receives.

Single-Member Plurality System

An electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes wins.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A group that raises and spends money to elect candidates.

Voter Registration Act of 1993

Legislation designed to enhance voter registration opportunities.

Soft News

Media content focused more on entertainment than serious news.

Mainstream Media

Traditional forms of media, such as newspapers and television, that deliver news to a broad audience.

Lobbying

The act of attempting to influence policymakers on specific issues.

Collective Good

A benefit that is not withheld from anyone, such as clean air.

Free Rider Problem

The issue where individuals benefit from resources without contributing to their provision.

Selective Benefits

Advantages offered only to group members to encourage participation.

Political Efficacy

The belief that one’s participation can make a difference.

Media Consolidation

The trend of large companies controlling more media outlets, reducing diversity of opinion.

Political Polarization

The growing ideological divide between political parties.

Public Interest Group

An interest group that seeks to promote policies for the public good.

Campaign Finance Reform

Efforts to change the involvement of money in politics.

Electoral System

The means by which votes are translated into political power.

Voter Identification Laws

Laws requiring voters to show identification before voting.

Enduring Understanding PMI-5

The principle that interest groups serve as a key avenue for citizen participation in public policy.

Amendments Expanding Suffrage

Constitutional changes allowing more citizens to vote.

Rational Choice Voting

A theory suggesting that voters choose candidates based on personal preferences and perceived benefits.

Retrospective Voting

Voting based on an assessment of an incumbent's past performance.

Prospective Voting

Voting based on what voters expect from candidates in the future.

Voter Efficacy

The feeling that one’s political participation has an impact.

Candidate Characteristics

Traits of candidates that may affect voter preferences.

Partisan Loyalty

Strong allegiance to a political party regardless of a candidate's individual policies.

Press Freedom

The right of media outlets to report news without government interference.

Campaign Spending

The amount of money spent by candidates on their campaigns to influence election outcomes.

Electoral Competition

The contest between candidates to gain votes.

Disenfranchisement

The revocation of the right to vote.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values.

Civic Duty

The responsibility of citizens to participate in civic and political activities.

Media Literacy

The ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media in various forms.

Public Opinion

The collective attitudes and beliefs of individuals on certain issues.

Impacts of Media on Politics

The ways in which media influences the formation of political opinions and engagement.

Role of Interest Groups

Organizations that advocate for specific causes or interests to influence public policy.

Judicial Influence of Interest Groups

The ways interest groups affect judicial proceedings through lobbying and amicus curiae briefs.

Civic Engagement Tactics

Methods used to encourage public participation in political processes.

Campaign Donations

Monetary contributions made to political campaigns from individuals or organizations.

Voter Base

The group of voters who consistently support a particular candidate or party.

Constitutional Amendments

Changes or additions to the US Constitution, often expanding rights or clarifying laws.

Political Spectrum

A system for classifying different political positions or ideologies.

Electoral Strategies

Plans and tactics used by candidates to attract votes.

Voter Demographics

Statistical characteristics of voters, including factors like age, race, and income.

Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs)

Non-profit organizations that collect information on special interests and share it with the public.

Grassroots Campaigns

Campaigns aimed at mobilizing community members to support a cause at a local level.

Electoral Outcome

The result of an election reflecting the votes received by candidates.

Campaign Strategy Development

The planning of how to approach a political campaign effectively.

Electoral Law

Laws that govern electoral processes, including voter registration and voting methods.

Bipartisan Support

Agreement or cooperation between two political parties.

Misinformation

False or inaccurate information spread regardless of intent.

Content Creation

The act of producing information or media for consumption by the public.

Transparency in Politics

The openness of politicians and policies to scrutiny and public observation.

Political Debate

A formal discussion on a particular topic, often with opposing viewpoints.

Fact-Checking Organizations

Entities that evaluate the accuracy of claims made by politicians and the media.