AP Gov Review Unit 5

What did the 15th Amendment do?

Gave Black men the right to vote.

What amendment gave women the right to vote?

19th Amendment.

What amendment lowered the voting age to 18?

26th Amendment.

What is rational choice voting?

Voting based on personal best interest.

What is retrospective voting?

Voting based on a party/candidate's past performance.

What is prospective voting?

Voting based on promises for the future.

What is straight-ticket voting?

Voting for the same party for all positions.

Name a structural barrier to voting.

Limited polling hours, registration requirements, or absentee ballot difficulties.

What is the #1 factor in voter choice?

Party Identification.

What is political efficacy?

The belief that your vote matters and you can influence politics.

How do states influence elections?

Through voter ID laws, polling hours, and voting types (open/closed primary, caucus).

What are two main goals of political parties?

Win elections and influence public policy.

What is GOTV?

Get Out the Vote - mobilizing voters.

What is a critical election?

An election that leads to a major realignment of party coalitions.

Why are third parties often unsuccessful?

The winner-take-all system makes it hard for them to gain seats.

How do third parties influence major parties?

By introducing issues that major parties may adopt.

What is the main goal of interest groups?

Influence policy and elections.

What are amicus briefs?

Legal documents submitted by interest groups to provide information in court cases.

What is the Free Rider Problem?

People benefiting from interest group efforts without contributing.

What is an iron triangle?

A relationship between a congressional committee, bureaucracy, and an interest group.

What is incumbency advantage?

Benefits sitting politicians have in elections (name recognition, casework).

What is the Electoral College?

The system used to elect the U.S. president, where electors vote based on state results.

Which states split electoral votes?

Maine and Nebraska.

What did Citizens United v. FEC decide?

Corporations/unions can spend unlimited money independently in elections.

What is a Super PAC?

A group that can raise and spend unlimited money but can't coordinate with candidates.

What law banned soft money?

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA).

What is agenda setting?

The media's power to influence what the public sees as important.

What is horse race journalism?

Focus on polling and competition, not policy.

What is narrowcasting?

Media content targeted to specific ideological audiences.

How has investigative journalism affected government trust?

It has led to a decline in trust in government.

What is the fairness doctrine?

A former rule requiring media to present balanced views.