gov final rev

What is voting-age population?

The set of individuals that have reached the minimum voting age.

What does voter turnout refer to?

The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in the election.

Define electorate.

All of the people in a country who are eligible to vote in an election.

What is suffrage (franchise)?

The right to vote in elections.

What is an initiative in voting?

Citizens gather the necessary number of signatures of registered voters to place a proposal on the ballot.

What is a referendum?

A general vote by the electorate on a single political question referred to them for a direct decision.

What is a recall in terms of elections?

Procedure where an elected official can be voted out of office.

Define voter registration.

Process of getting qualified to vote.

What does ward refer to in elections?

First-order division of counties/cities.

What is a precinct in the context of voting?

Second-order division of cities/counties.

Define polling place.

A place where people can vote.

Who was Andrew Jackson in the context of voting rights?

Presidential advocate for expansion of voting rights, often to his own political party's advantage.

What did the 15th Amendment accomplish?

Gave African Americans the right to vote.

What was the purpose of the literacy test?

An exam used to suppress African American voting under the guise of testing reading ability.

What does the poll tax refer to?

A fee required to vote, outlawed by the 24th Amendment.

Define grandfather clause.

You could only vote if your grandparents were free citizens; used to suppress African American voting.

What is the white primary?

Method to keep African Americans from voting by excluding them from primary elections.

What did the Civil Rights Acts (1957, 1964) address?

Addressed issues with racial discrimination in voting.

What did the 24th Amendment outlaw?

Outlawed poll taxes.

What is preclearance in terms of voting law changes?

Federal approval required before certain states can change voting laws.

What did the 19th Amendment grant?

Granted women the right to vote.

What is the significance of the 23rd Amendment?

Gave Washington D.C. citizens the right to vote in presidential elections.

What did the 26th Amendment achieve?

Lowered the voting age to 18.

What are Australian ballots?

Secret ballot system listing candidates' names to ensure privacy.

Define voter apathy.

Lack of concern or interest in voting.

What is political efficacy?

The belief that one’s vote makes a difference.

What does party identification refer to?

The political party with which an individual identifies.

What are voting blocs?

Demographic groups that tend to vote in similar patterns.

Define the gender gap.

Differences in voting preferences between men and women.

What was the Voting Rights Act (1965)?

Major law increasing African American voter registration.

What is the Help America Vote Act (2002)?

Reformed the U.S. election system following issues in the 2000 election.

What does the National Voter Registration Act (1993) allow?

Allowed voter registration at DMV offices (Motor Voter Law).

What was the ruling of Minor v. Happerset (1875)?

Ruled that the 14th Amendment did not grant women the right to vote.

What is access in political terms?

Ability to approach politicians to influence policy.

What does amicus curiae mean?

A person or group who is not a party to a case but offers information relevant to the case.

What did Citizens United v. FEC (2010) decide?

Allowed unlimited campaign spending by corporations and unions.

What is a 501(c)(4)?

Nonprofit groups that can lobby and campaign.

What does a 501(c)(3) refer to?

Tax-exempt nonprofits like churches that cannot campaign for or against candidates.

Define direct lobbying.

Direct interaction with lawmakers to influence legislation.

What is a free rider in political terms?

Someone who benefits from a group's actions without joining.

What is grassroots lobbying?

Mobilizing the public to contact lawmakers.

What are grasstops?

Influential community members who can sway policymakers.

What did the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (2007) accomplish?

Strengthened lobbying disclosure rules.

What are insider strategies in lobbying?

Quietly persuading policymakers behind the scenes.

What is intergovernmental lobby?

Lobbying by state and local officials for federal funding.

What does K Street symbolize?

Symbolic location for lobbying firms in Washington, D.C.

What are leadership PACs?

PACs formed by politicians to support other candidates.

What is lobbying?

Efforts to influence policy decisions.

Define lobbyist.

A person who lobbies government officials.

What are material incentives?

Tangible rewards for joining interest groups.

What does the Nineteenth Amendment guarantee?

Guaranteed women the right to vote.

What is an outsider strategy in lobbying?

Using media and public pressure instead of direct lobbying.

What is pluralism?

A theory that many groups compete for power in a democracy.

What are political action committees (PACs)?

Organizations that raise money to support candidates and causes.

What are professional associations?

Organizations that represent specific professions.

Define public interest group.

Focus on promoting general welfare.

What are purposive incentives?

Joining a group for ethical or ideological reasons.

What is revolving door in politics?

Movement of personnel between government and lobbying jobs.

What is the Seventeenth Amendment?

Direct election of U.S. senators by voters.

What is a single-issue group?

Focused on one specific issue.

What does the Sixteenth Amendment allow?

Allowed the federal government to collect income tax.

What are solidary incentives?

Social benefits from group membership.

What is a Super PAC?

Can raise and spend unlimited money but can't coordinate with candidates.

Define think tanks.

Research organizations that influence public policy.

What does the Thirteenth Amendment do?

Abolished slavery in the United States.

What are trade associations?

Interest groups representing businesses in specific industries.

What does the Twenty-sixth Amendment do?

Gave 18-year-olds the right to vote.

What is United States v. Harriss (1954)?

Upheld the right to lobby.

What is upper-class bias in politics?

Tendency for interest group influence to favor wealthier individuals.

What did the Wagner Act (1935) guarantee?

Guaranteed labor union rights to strike and collectively bargain.

What is a two-party system?

A system where two major political parties dominate.

What are minor parties?

Smaller political parties with less influence.

Who were the Democrat-Republicans?

Early U.S. party favoring state power and strict constitutional interpretation.

What are realignments in politics?

Shifts in political party loyalty.

What is a critical election?

Reveals major shifts in political alignment.

Define caucus.

A meeting of party members to select candidates or decide policy.

What are Republicans characterized as?

Conservative party, originally anti-slavery.

What is a coalition?

An alliance for combined action.

Who were the Whigs?

19th-century party opposed to Andrew Jackson.

What is a party convention?

Formal gathering to nominate candidates and set platforms.

What is popular sovereignty?

Government by the consent of the governed.

What does Grand Old Party (GOP) refer to?

Nickname for the Republican Party.

What is the New Deal Coalition?

Diverse group that supported FDR’s presidency.

What is a divided government?

One party controls the presidency; another controls Congress.

What is the Democratic National Committee (DNC)?

Oversees activities of the Democratic Party.

What is the Republican National Committee (RNC)?

Oversees activities of the Republican Party.

Who is the party chairperson?

Head of the national party.

Define elites in political context.

Individuals with disproportionate power in politics.

What were the Know-Nothings?

Anti-immigrant political party of the 1800s.

What does rank and file refer to?

Ordinary party members.

What did the McGovern-Fraser Commission accomplish?

Increased minority and youth representation in the Democratic Party.

Who are superdelegates?

Party leaders who can vote freely at conventions.

What is a political platform?

A party's formal statement of goals and policies.

What are single-issue parties?

Formed around one major issue.

What is the Free Soil Party known for?

Opposed slavery in new U.S. territories.

What are splinter/bolter parties?

Break away from larger parties.

What are economic protest parties?

Formed due to economic dissatisfaction.

What is an ideological party?

Based on a particular set of beliefs.

Who was Theodore Roosevelt in relation to political parties?

Split the Republican Party by forming the Progressive Party.

Who was H. Ross Perot?

Independent candidate in 1992, received strong third-party support.