AP GOV Linkage Institutions

The Declaration of Independence

A founding document of the United States that declared independence from Great Britain, stating that all men are created equal with unalienable rights

The Constitution of the United States cartoon summary and Heimler video

A visual and video summary of the U.S. Constitution, which establishes the framework of the U.S. government

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

A Supreme Court case that ruled political spending is protected speech under the First Amendment, allowing corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts on political activities

political participation

The different ways in which individuals take action to shape the laws and policies of a government

political action committee (PAC)

An organization that raises money for candidates and campaigns and may donate money directly to a candidate's campaign, subject to limits

linkage institution

Channels that provide a way for individuals to communicate their preferences to policymakers, including elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media

social movement

People who come together for a common purpose or goal of educating the public and making social and political change by pressuring policymakers and placing issues on the policy agenda

franchise or suffrage

The right to vote

26th Amendment

Allows those eighteen years old and older to vote

24th Amendment

Prohibits Congress from imposing poll taxes as a condition for voting in federal elections

poll tax

A payment required by a state government before a citizen is allowed to vote

voter turnout

The number of eligible voters who participate in an election as a percentage of the total number of eligible voters

demographic characteristics

Measurable characteristics of a population, such as economic status, education, age, race or ethnicity, and gender

socioeconomic status (SES)

A measure of an individual's economic and social position relative to others

political efficacy

An individual's belief that their participation in the political process will make a difference

political mobilization

Efforts by political parties to encourage their members to vote

registration requirements

Rules requiring eligible voters to register on an official list prior to voting

absentee ballot

Voting completed and submitted by a voter by the day of an election without the voter going to the polls

rational choice voting

Voting based on what a citizen believes is in their best interest

retrospective voting

Deciding whether a candidate should be reelected based on their recent past performance

prospective voting

Voting based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future

party-line voting

Voting consistently for candidates of one political party

Electoral College

A constitutionally required process for selecting the president through slates of electors chosen in each state

winner-take-all system

A system of elections in which the candidate who wins the plurality of votes within a state receives all of that state's votes in the Electoral College

battleground state

A state where the polls show a close contest between the Republican candidate and the Democratic candidate in presidential election

swing state

A state where the polls show a close contest between the Republican candidate and the Democratic candidate in presidential election

Get out the vote (GOTV)

Organized efforts to increase voter turnout by political parties, campaigns, and interest groups

super PAC

An organization that may spend an unlimited amount of money on a political campaign, as long as the spending is not coordinated with a campaign

501(c) groups

Tax-exempt organizations that can engage in varying degrees of political activity

soft money vs. hard money

Hard money refers to regulated contributions made directly to political candidates, while soft money refers to unregulated funds given to political parties for party-building activities

primary vs. general election

Primaries select party nominees, while general elections determine who will hold office

15th Amendment

Prohibits the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude

19th Amendment

Guarantees women the right to vote

political party

An organized group of party leaders, officeholders, and voters who work together to elect candidates to political office

party identification

The degree to which a voter is connected to and influenced by a particular political party

straight-ticket voting

Voting for all of the candidates on the ballot from one political party

split-ticket voting

Voting for candidates from different parties in the same election

party platform

An official set of positions and policy objectives of a political party

recruitment

The process through which political parties identify potential candidates

party coalition

Demographic groups of voters who support a political party over time

realignment

When the groups of people who support a political party shift their allegiance to a different political party

critical election

A major national election that signals a change in the balance of power between the two parties

party era

A period of time when one political party dominates elections and government

era of divided government

When control of the presidency and one or both chambers of Congress is split between the two major parties

nomination

The formal process through which parties choose their candidates for political office

delegate

A person who acts as the voters' representative at a convention to select the party's nominee

primary election

An election in which a state's voters choose delegates who support a presidential candidate for nomination or an election by a plurality vote to select a party's nominee for a seat in Congress

open primary

A primary election in which all eligible voters may vote, regardless of their party affiliation

closed primary

A primary election in which only those voters who have registered as a member of a political party may vote

caucus

A process through which a state's eligible voters meet to select delegates to represent their preferences in the nomination process

superdelegate

A delegate to the Democratic National Convention who is seated automatically and chooses who to support independently of state primary or caucus results

front-loading

The process by which states schedule their presidential primaries or caucuses early in the electoral season

national convention

A meeting where delegates officially select their party's nominee for the presidency

candidate-centered campaign

A campaign in which the public's focus is on the characteristics of the candidate and not on the party

two-party system

A system in which two political parties dominate politics, winning almost all elections

proportional representation system

An election system for a legislature in which citizens vote for parties, rather than individuals, and parties are represented in the legislature according to the percentage of the vote they receive

single-member plurality system

An election system for choosing members of the legislature where the winner is the candidate who receives the most votes, even if the candidate does not receive a majority of the votes

third party

A minor political party in competition with the two major parties

interest groups

Voluntary association of people who come together with the goal of getting the specific policies that they favor passed

theory of participatory democracy

A theory that individual participation in politics and civil society is essential to democratic government

civil society

Independent association outside the government's control

pluralist theory

A theory of democracy that emphasizes the role nongovernmental group-based activism in an effort to impact the policymaking process

elitist theory

A theory of democracy based on the premise that participation in politics and civil society is limited because elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process

policy agenda

The set of issues to which government officials, voters, and the public are paying attention

collective action

The coordinated efforts of a group to achieve a common goal

collective good

A benefit that is available to all members of a group regardless of their individual contributions

free riders

Individuals who benefit from the actions of an interest group without providing financial support

selective benefits

Benefits available only to those who join the group

economic interest groups

Organizations that represent businesses, professions, or labor unions seeking economic benefits

public interest groups

Organizations that advocate for policies they believe benefit society as a whole

single-issue groups

Association focusing on one specific area of public policy, often a moral issue about which they are unwilling to compromise

government interest groups

Associations of government officials or agencies lobbying for their interests

lobbying

Interacting with government officials to advance a group's public policy goals

revolving door

The movement of individuals between positions in government and positions in the private sector that they previously regulated

amicus curiae brief

A brief filed by an individual or a group that is not a party to a case but is acting as a "friend of the court," to provide additional information for justices to consider when reviewing the case

iron triangle

A mutually beneficial association of bureaucratic agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups, all working in specific policy areas

issue network

A temporary association of bureaucratic agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups formed to address a specific policy

grassroots lobbying

Organizing citizens at the local level to contact public officials about an issue

protest

A public demonstration designed to call attention to an issue

civil disobedience

The intentional refusal to obey a law, in order to call attention to its injustice

hyperpluralism

A theory suggesting that too many interest groups with too much influence can make governance difficult

amicus curiae briefs

Briefs filed by individuals or groups that are not parties to a case but are acting as "friends of the court"

electioneering

Campaigning activities to influence voters, particularly near polling places

AARP

American Association of Retired Persons, advocacy group for people over 50

NRA

National Rifle Association, advocates for gun rights

NAACP

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, civil rights organization

PIRG(s)

Public Interest Research Group(s), consumer and environmental advocacy organizations

ALEC

American Legislative Exchange Council, conservative policy organization

US Chamber of Commerce

Business advocacy organization

ABA

American Bar Association, professional organization for lawyers

AMA

American Medical Association, professional organization for physicians

Pharma

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, trade group for pharmaceutical companies

Sierra Club

Environmental conservation organization

AFL-CIO

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, federation of labor unions

SEIU

Service Employees International Union, labor union representing service workers