AP U.S. Government & Politics - Course Vocabulary Unit 5

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms for AP U.S. Government & Politics.

Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections.

Rational Choice voting

A voting theory where voters act in their own self-interest.

• examines the issues/ candidates and votes in a way you believe benefits you/America the most.

Retrospective voting

Voting based on the past performance of a candidate or party. (accomplishments or shortcomings)

Prospective voting

Voting based on predictions of future performance. (potential actions/promises)

Party line voting

Voting for candidates of the same political party.

• straight ticket voting- individuals who vote for everyone from one party.

• encourages party loyalty

Demographics

Age, gender, race, marital status, education, employment

• most likely to vote: educated, married, older white woman who work in the government.

Political Efficacy (engagement)

The belief that your vote matters, if you don’t believe your vote will make a difference, you probably won’t vote.

Gender Gap

The differences in political views and voting behavior between men and women.

Linkage Institution

channels or structures that connect people to government/communicate their preferences to policy-makers such as

• political parties

• interest groups

• elections

• media

Data Management Technology

Technological tools used for collecting, storing, and analyzing data.

• pinpoints who gets what political messages, effective target marketing during campaigns

Psychographic Segmentation

Using data about citizens; personality, lifestyle, and social class to categorize voters

• explains why voters vote the way they do by examining likes

• parties use info of to tailor their messages (hobbies, interests, and personality)

Third Party

A political party other than the two major parties.

• omnipresent (always exist but the likelihood of success is low )

Winner-Take-All System

An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes wins all electoral votes.

Interest Group

An organization that seeks to influence public policy. May represent very specific or more general interests, and can educate voters and office holders, draft legislation, and mobilize membership. (influence judicial decisions)

Free Rider

Someone who benefits from resources or services without paying or any effort ( like a clean park or successful lobbying) without contributing

Incumbent

The current holder of a political office who will run for another term.

Closed Primary

must register with a part ro vote, encouraged party loyalty.

Open Primary

A voter does not have to register with a specific party to vote. In theory, could participate in either party’s primaries. A primary election in which any registered voter can participate, regardless of their declared political party affiliation. 

Caucus

A gathering of party members and voice their preference for a particular candidate to win the nomination. (very few states use this method.)

Coattail Effect

A popular presidential candidate can impact other candidates running for various offices and issues down the ballot within the same party.

Bandwagon Effect

A phenomenon where individuals adopt certain behaviors or beliefs because others do.

Electoral College

536 total delegates, delegates cast their vote in December for president; winner take all system except Maine and Nebraska. 270 needed to win.

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

an independent U.S gov agency created to administer and enforce federal campaign finance laws for presidential, House, and Senate elections.

Hard Money

Money provided directly to candidate.

Soft Money

Money that is not given directly to candidate but still benefits them.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

An effort to ban soft money and reduce attack ads with “Stand by Your Ad” provision. “I’m [name] and I approve this message.”

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Regulated by FEC, money given by PACs is regulated donate limited amount of money.

Super PACs

Are allowed to donate unlimited amount of money w/o restriction.

Dark Money

Contributions to political causes that is difficult to track

• source of income is not disclosed

Investigative Journalism

Reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest over a period of months/years.

• ex. Watergate

Horse Race Journalism

Focusing on who’s ahead in the polls instead of like what their primary issues are, what’s their past etc. But what’s more entertaining who’s more popular.

Political Reporting

Fact based reporting (congress, president, courts)

Plea Bargain

A negotiated agreement in criminal law where a defendant pleads

Political Analysis

Expert opinion/explanation, still opinion, so not free from bias, can explain causes/effects/implications of legislation, court ruling, econ policy

Commentary

Opinion based reporting and often becomes the focus of pollings because it is the most entertaining (if political→opinion reporting, inherently based.)

Confirmation Bias

Can be created through ideologically oriented programming

iron triangle

Pluralism

Brings representation to all

Elitism

Elite run the government

Hyperpluralisim

Too many groups demand government’s attention.