AP Government Unit V, List I

political participation

the different ways in which individuals take action to shape the laws and policies of a government

linkage institutions

Institutions that connect citizens to government. The mass media, interest groups, and political parties are the three main linkage institutions.

26th Amendment

States cannot deny the right to vote based on age (18+)

24th Amendment

Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1964) eliminated the poll tax as a prerequisite to vote in national elections.

poll tax

A requirement that citizens pay a tax in order to register to vote

rational choice voting

assumes that voters will make decisions based on their own benefit, carefully weighing all choices

retrospective voting

voting based on the past performance of a candidate

prospective voting

voting based on the imagined future performance of a candidate

straight ticket voting

practice of voting for candidates of only one party in an election

absentee voting

The casting of a ballot in advance by mail in situations where illness, travel, or other circumstances prevent voters from voting in their precinct.

political efficacy

The belief that one's political participation really matters - that one's vote can actually make a difference

political mobilization

Efforts to encourage people to engage in the public sphere: to vote for a particular candidate (and donate money, work on the campaign, etc.) or to get involved in specific issues.

winner-take-all system

an electoral system in which the party that receives at least one more vote than any other party wins the election

Electoral College

the body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice-president

swing state

a state that does not consistently vote either Democratic or Republican in presidential elections

Political Action Committee (PAC)

a private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns

Super PAC

an organization that may spend an unlimited amount of money on a political campaign, as long as the spending is not coordinated with a campaign