Unit 5 - Political Participation

Flashcards covering key concepts related to political participation, linkage institutions, political parties, elections, interest groups, media, and campaign finance.

Linkage Institutions

Organizations that connect and interact with the government.

Political Parties

Organizations that aim to win elections and hold political office.

Participatory Democracy

A form of democracy where citizens directly engage in decision-making, exemplified by voting.

Realignment

The switching of party loyalty by important voting groups.

Dealignment

The process of voters detaching from political parties and becoming independent.

Winner-Take-All System

An electoral system where the party that receives at least one more vote than another wins.

Minor Parties

Political parties that play a significantly smaller role than the major parties.

Single Issue Parties

Political parties that focus on one specific issue.

Amicus Curiae Briefs

Legal documents submitted to a court by non-litigants with a strong interest in the subject matter.

Grassroots Lobbying

A method where interest groups encourage individuals to contact their representatives.

Electoral College

The system established by the Constitution for the indirect election of the president and vice president.

Incumbent

The office holder who is seeking reelection.

Franking Privilege

The ability of lawmakers to send mail to constituents at taxpayer expense.

Dark Money

Political spending that is not disclosed and is often used for general party building.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

An organization that collects funds from donors and distributes them to candidates.

Super PAC

A type of PAC that can raise and spend unlimited funds but cannot coordinate directly with candidates.

Media Functions

Roles that media plays in democracy including acting as a gatekeeper, scorekeeper, and watchdog.

Horse Race Journalism

A type of journalism that focuses on the competitive aspects of elections rather than issues.

Caucuses

Meetings where party members select candidates through discussions and votes.

Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

Law that regulates campaign finance and limits contributions.

Citizens United vs. FEC

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled restrictions on independent political expenditures by corporations are unconstitutional.