Unit 5

17th Amendment (1913)

Direct election of senators

24th Amendment (1964)

Abolishes poll taxes

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

Franchise

the right to vote

rational-choice voting

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

restrospective voting

voting based on an assessment of an incumbent's past performance

Motor Voter Law

allows citizens to register to vote at welfare and motor vehicle offices

linkage institutions

the political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda

grassroots lobbying

Efforts by groups and associations to influence elected officials indirectly, by arousing their constituents.

lobbying

Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact.

pluralism

A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.

hard money

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin

electorate

the citizens eligible to vote

15th Amendment (1870)

U.S. cannot prevent a person from voting because of race, color, or creed

party-line voting model

process in which voters select candidates by their party affiliation

prospective voting model

model of voting in which citizens select candidates based on what they promise to accomplish once in office

Suffrage

the right to vote

Voting Rights Act of 1965

a law designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African-American suffrage

midterm election

an election that takes place in the middle of a presidential term

political efficacy

The belief that one's political participation makes a difference.

voter apathy

The lack of interest among the citizenry in participating in elections.

voter registration

System designed to reduce voter fraud by limiting voting to those who have established eligibility to vote by submitting the proper documents.

voter turnout

the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election

Democratic Party

Liberal political party in the United States

Republican Party

Conservative political party in the United States

platform

a series of statements expressing the party's principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues

divided government

one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

two-party system

An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in national elections.

swing states

Definition: State in which no single candidate or party has overwhelming support in securing that state's electoral college votes

Iron Triangle

The three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests.

issue networks

A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy formation.

Federal Election Campaign Act

1974 legislation designed to regulate campaign contributions and limit campaign expenditures.

Federal Election Commission

a six-member bipartisan agency that enforces and administers campaign finance laws

soft money

Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.

Super PACs

political action committees established to make independent expenditures

horse race journalism

news coverage that focuses on who is ahead rather than on the issues

Gatekeeper

The media can influence what subjects become national political issues and for how long.

Scorekeeper

The role played by the national media in keeping track of and helping make political reputations.

watchdog

The role played by the national media in investigating political personalities and exposing scandals.

Caucus

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.

free rider problem

the problem faced by interest groups when citizens can reap the benefits of interest group action without actually joining, participating in, or contributing money to such groups.

interest group

a group of people that seeks to influence public policy on the basis of a particular common interest or concern

winner-take-all voting system

a system in which a candidate who receives a majority of the popular vote becomes the winner or takes all of the state's Electoral votes

incumbent

An officeholder who is seeking reelection.