AP Gov Unit 5: Voting Rights and Voter Behavior topics 5.1-5.2 (Chapter 15 Workbook)

Franchise

Right to vote

Suffrage

Qualifications for voting

15th amendment

Gave African American males the right to vote and was the first constitutional mandate affecting state voting requirements

Literacy test

A test of reading skills required before one could vote

Poll tax

A fee required to vote; used to discourage potential black voters

Grandfather clause / Guinn v. United States

Allowed states to recognize a registering voter as it would have recognized his grandfather, preventing African Americans from voting, while it allowed illiterate and poor whites to circumvent the literacy test and poll tax requirements

White primary / Smith v. Allwright

A popular method for southern states to keep African Americans from voting. Included intimidation, lynching, and public policies preventing African Americans from voting

17th amendment

Direct, popular election of U.S. senators in each state

19th amendment

Women’s suffrage became national

1964 Civil Rights Act

Established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which investigates allegations of discrimination in hiring and firing. Prohibits discrimination based on national origin

24th Amendment

Outlawed poll taxes in federal elections

1965 Voting Rights Act

Outlawed literacy tests and put states with low voter turnout under the watch of the Justice Department

23rd Amendment

Extends the right to participate in presidential elections to Washington, D.C.

26th Amendment

Prevents states from denying citizens age 18 and up the right to vote

Rational-choice voting

A voter who has examined an issue or candidate, evaluated campaign promises or platform points, and decided to vote in the way that most benefits themselves

Retrospective voting

Citizens look back to consider candidates’ track records

Prospective voting

Citizens anticipate the future

Party line voting

Citizens who affiliate with a political party or hold a strong party loyalty will likely vote with that party at most opportunities

Voter registration

Enrollment in the electoral roll

Polling place

Where voters vote at an assigned polling place, usually a school or community center

Moter-voter law 1993

Addresses national standards and enforcement of multiple forms of registration (voter, mail-in, govt-agency based)

HAVA 2002

Imposes a number of requirements on states, mostly to create national standards for voting and election management

Australian ballot

Helps make elections fair. It must be public with all candidates’ names, be available only at polling places, and be completed privately.

Absentee ballot

If a voter cannot make it to the polls, they can mail a completed ballot instead

Photo ID laws

State laws for require voters to present some form of identification at the voting booth

Voting-eligible population

Citizens who could legally vote if they wished

Midterm election v. presidential election

Midterm elections: federal elections that occur midways through a presidents term

Presidential elections: elections for the next president

Voter apathy

A lack of concern for the election outcome

Political efficacy

The sense that citizens vote makes a difference

How gender influences voter choice

Women oppose harsh punishments, favor govt spending on welfare, less war-prone, more vote Democratic, more show up to vote than men.

How age influences voter choice

Younger voters have less turnout due to undeveloped views and mobility. Senior citizens are reliable voters due to more experience and understanding, also more at stake—property, investments, Social Security, Medicare

How being Hispanic influences voter choice

Side with Democrats on urban, minority, and labor issues.

How Asian Americans influences voter choice

Make up 3% of the U.S. voting population, concerns for civil liberties and equal protection, vote conservatively (Republicans push for fewer regulations on business).

How evangelicals influences voter choice

Tend to hold conservative beliefs, most don’t believe in human evolution, they are a strong political force in the south and Midwest.

How Catholics influences voter choice

Cast votes today for both parties, but leans Democratic nationwide

How Jews influences voter choice

Jewish voters participate in large numbers and vote mainly Democratic, about 90% vote, prioritize privacy, basic rights for the accused, and support charities.

How business influences voter choice

Tend to embrace a conservative political philosophy and capitalist principles, less regulation and interference

How labor and unions influences voter choice

Support govt laws and regulations, Democratic views