American Government - Chapters 7, 8, 9, and 10 Study Guide

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering voting, elections, media, political parties, and interest groups based on OpenStax American Government study materials.

Purpose of Voter Registration

To compile an eligible voter list, prevent fraudulent voting, and assist election officials in planning polling place needs.

Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965

Landmark federal legislation that prohibited racial discrimination in voting and eliminated barriers like literacy tests and poll taxes.

Shelby County v. Holder (2013)

Supreme Court ruling that struck down the formula used to determine preclearance jurisdictions, allowing states to change election laws without prior federal approval.

Automatic Voter Registration (AVR)

A system, pioneered by Oregon, where eligible citizens are automatically registered to vote when they interact with agencies like the DMV unless they opt-out.

National Voter Registration Act (1993)

Commonly known as "Motor Voter," this law requires states to allow citizens to register to vote when applying for or renewing a driver's license or public assistance.

Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002

Legislation passed after the 2000 election to modernize voting systems, replace punch-card systems, and create centralized state voter databases.

Voting-Age Population (VAP)

Consists of everyone residing in the United States who is 18 years of age or older, including non-citizens and disenfranchised felons.

Voting-Eligible Population (VEP)

Consists of the population 18 or older and legally qualified to vote, excluding non-citizens and felons while including eligible citizens overseas.

Gender Gap

The modern phenomenon where women consistently turn out to vote in higher proportions than men and generally favor the Democratic Party.

Crawford v. Marion County Election Board (2008)

Supreme Court ruling that upheld Indiana's strict photo ID law, citing the state's legitimate interest in preventing voter fraud.

Chronic Minority

A group of voters whose preferred political party or ideology is so outnumbered in a district that they rarely see their candidates win.

Voter Fatigue

A feeling of apathy or exhaustion resulting from the high volume of elections held in the United States.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Organizations created by interest groups or corporations to raise and spend money to elect or defeat candidates, subject to strict federal contribution limits.

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Supreme Court ruling that established personal campaign spending as protected free speech under the First Amendment, though it allowed limits on direct contributions.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Ruling that struck down BCRA restrictions on corporate and union spending, asserting that political spending is a protected form of free speech.

Super PACs

Independent Expenditure-Only Committees that can raise and spend unlimited funds for or against candidates but cannot contribute directly to or coordinate with campaigns.

Open vs. Closed Primaries

Open Primaries allow any registered voter to participate regardless of party affiliation, while Closed Primaries only allow voters registered with that specific party.

Frontloading

The tendency of states to schedule primary elections or caucuses earlier in the calendar to maximize их influence on the presidential nomination.

Electoral College

The constitutional system for electing the president where states are allocated electors based on their total congressional delegation; a candidate needs 270 votes to win.

Winner-Take-All Method

The practice in 48 states where the candidate winning the plurality of the popular vote receives all of that state’s electoral votes.

Coattail Effect

Occurs when a popular presidential candidate helps attract votes for other candidates of the same party on the same ballot.

Mass Media

The collection of all media forms—television, print, radio, and internet—that communicate news and entertainment to the general public.

Agenda Setting

The media's power to influence which topics the public perceives as important by choosing which stories to cover or ignore.

Party Press Era

A period in early American history when newspapers were openly partisan and financed by political parties to attack rivals.

Yellow Journalism

A sensationalized style of journalism characterized by scandalous headlines and exaggerated claims, associated with Pulitzer and Hearst.

Muckraking

Progressive Era investigative journalism that exposed corporate monopolies, political corruption, and unsafe conditions.

Standard for Libel (New York Times v. Sullivan)

The requirement that public officials must prove "actual malice"—publishing false information with knowledge of its falsity or reckless disregard for the truth.

Equal-time Rule

An FCC requirement that if a broadcast station provides airtime to one candidate, it must offer equal opportunities to all other candidates for the same office.

Hypodermic Theory

Also known as the "magic bullet" theory; the idea that media messages are directly received and wholly accepted by a passive audience.

Framing

The way a media outlet places a story into a specific context or angle to influence how the audience evaluates the issue.

Political Parties vs. Interest Groups

Parties run candidates for office under a party label to control government; interest groups seek to influence policy from the outside and do not run candidates.

Duverger's Law

The principle that plurality-rule, winner-take-all election systems naturally encourage a two-party system.

Party Realignment

A fundamental, long-term shift in party coalitions and the balance of power between the major political parties.

Divided Government

Occurs when one party controls the presidency while the opposing party controls at least one house of Congress.

Party Polarization

The process by which political parties grow increasingly distinct ideologically, leaving little moderate common ground.

Sorting

The alignment of partisan affiliation with ideological beliefs, such as conservatives moving exclusively into the Republican Party.

Gerrymandering

The redrawing of legislative districts to create "safe seats" and ensure a clear majority for one political party.

Iron Triangle

A closed, mutually beneficial relationship between a congressional committee, a bureaucratic agency, and an interest group.

Free Rider Problem

The challenge of individuals enjoying collective goods provided by interest groups without personally contributing time or money.

Soft Money

Unregulated, unlimited financial donations made to political parties for general "party-building" activities, banned by the BCRA in 2002.

Revolving Door Laws

Regulations requiring a "cooling-off period" before former government officials can legally work as registered lobbyists.

Collective Goods

Benefits or outcomes that are non-excludable, such as clean air or national defense, which once provided can be enjoyed by everyone.