AP Gov Unit 5

linkage institutions

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

15th Amendment (1870)

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

17th Amendment

Direct election of senators

19th Amendment (1920)

Gave women the right to vote

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

Motor Voter Act

A 1993 act that requires states to permit people to register to vote when they apply for a driver's license.

retrospective voting

voting for a candidate because you like his or her past actions in office

prospective voting

voting for a candidate because you favor his or her ideas for handling issues

straight ticket voting

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

split-ticket voting

voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election

Realignment

A process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape.

critical election

An election when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty.

political efficacy

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

Role of Political Parties

Major Function: Nominating candidates to win elections and control the government

third parties

electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections.

primary

A ballot vote in which citizens select a party's nominee for the general election.

Caucus

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

open primary

A primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place

closed primary

A primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote

Electoral College

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

winner-take-all system

an election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins all the electoral votes

Maine and Nebraska

states that split their electoral votes

battleground states

The key states that the presidential campaigns focus on because they are most likely to decide the outcome of the Electoral College vote.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations. This group can donate hard money directly to a candidate.

SuperPACs

a type of independent political action committee which may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and individuals but is not permitted to contribute to or coordinate directly with parties or candidates.

hard money

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

soft money

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

Federal Election Campaign Act

A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The act created the Federal Election Commission (FEC), provided public financing for presidential primaries and general elections, limited presidential campaign spending, required disclosure, and attempted to limit contributions.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

A 2010 decision by the United States Supreme Court holding that independent expenditures are free speech protected by the 1st Amendment and so cannot be limited by federal law. Leads to creation of SuperPACs & massive rise in amount of third party electioneering

Media as Gatekeeper

The media decides which stories and issues are important enough to receive public attention and which aren't.

Media as a watchdog

the media keeps watch on the government and others in power

horse race journalism

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

interest groups

Groups of people who work together for similar interests or policy goals

Lobbying

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

Voting Rights Act of 1965

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

divided government

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

revolving door

the tendency of public officials, journalists, and lobbyists to move between public and private sector (lobbying) jobs