AP GOV - Unit 5 Political Participation

Expansion of Suffrage

Key amendments (15th, 17th, 19th, 24th, and 26th) and legislation like the Voting Rights Act of 1965 expanded voting rights.

Barriers to Voting

-Voter ID laws

-Registration requirements

-Limited access

Rational-Choice Voting

Based on individual interest

Retrospective Voting

Based on past performance of a party or candidate

Prospective Voting

Based on predicted future performance

Party-line Voting

Based on party loyalty

Influencing Factors

-Demographics (age, education, income)

-Type of election (presidential vs. mid-term)

-State laws (registration requirements, early voting)

Political Efficacy

The belief that one’s participation matters and impacts turnout

Functions of Political Parties

-Mobilizing voters

-Establishing platforms

-Recruiting candidates

-Managing campaigns

Realignment and Dealignment

Shifts in party loyalty or loss of party affiliation

Third Parties

Struggle due to winner-take-all electoral system and ballot access laws

Interest Groups

Influence policy through lobbying, PACs, and litigation

Social Movements

(e.g., Civil Rights Movement, #MeToo, Black Lives Matter) aim to bring societal change by mobilizing people outside traditional institutions

Iron Triangles and Issue Networks

Show how interest groups, congressional committees, and bureaucracies influence policy-making

Primary Elections

(open vs. closed) and caucuses select party nominees

General Elections

Determine officeholders

Electoral College

Determines the president; encourages focus on swing states

Incumbency Advantage

Especially strong in congressional elections

Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

Established disclosure rules and contribution limits

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

Regulated “soft money” (contribution to a political party that is not accounted as going to a particular candidate)

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Corporations and Unions can spend unlimited money on independent expenditures, leading to the rise of Super PACs

Political Action Committees (PACs) and Super PACs

Fund campaign activities; Super PACs can’t coordinate directly with candidates

Horse-Race Journalism

Focus on polling rather than issues

Social Media

Rapid spread of information and misinformation; impacts public opinion

Ideological Polarization

Media bias can reinforce existing beliefs