unit 5 history test

electorate

electorate

A body of individuals entitled to vote in an election, typically defined by specific criteria such as age, citizenship, and residency.

franchise

The right to vote in elections, often associated with the legal eligibility of individuals to participate in the electoral process.

suffrage

The right to vote in political elections, often emphasizing the struggle for voting rights among marginalized groups.

suffrage amendments

 Fourteenth Amendment Fifteenth Amendment

Seventeenth Amendment Nineteenth Amendment

 Twenty-Third Amendment Twenty-Fourth Amendment

 Twenty-Sixth Amendment

14th amendment

Grants citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves.

15th amendment

Prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude."

17th amendment

Established the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote, rather than being chosen by state legislatures.

19th amendment

woman receive the right to vote

23rd amendment

Granted residents of Washington, D.C. the right to vote in presidential elections.

24th amendment

Prohibited poll taxes in federal elections.

26th amendment

Lowered the voting age to 18.

historical structural barriers

Obstacles that prevent certain groups from accessing rights or opportunities, often rooted in systemic inequalities.

ex.   literacy test, poll tax, grandfather clause, white primary

grandfather clause

A legal provision that allowed individuals to bypass voting requirements/only vote if their ancestors had been eligible to vote before the Civil War, effectively disenfranchising African American voters.

rational-choice voting

A theory suggesting that voters make electoral choices based on their self-interest, evaluating candidates' policies and deciding which will serve their self interests

retrospective voting

A voting method where voters evaluate candidates based on their past performance in office, considering how well they have met expectations.

prospective voting

It is future-oriented, as voters base their decisions on promises made by candidates during the election cycle. This voting focuses on what the candidates or parties will do if they are elected, rather than what they have done in the past.

party-line (or straight ticket) voting

A voting practice where individuals select candidates from the same political party across all offices on the ballot

voter turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election, reflecting civic engagement and participation in the electoral process.

voter registration

The process by which eligible citizens sign up to be able to vote in elections, often requiring personal information and proof of identity.

Australian ballot

A voting method that allows voters to cast their votes in private, using a standardized ballot that lists all candidates and measures.

provisional ballot

A type of ballot used to record a vote when there are questions about a voter's eligibility, ensuring that the vote is counted once eligibility is confirmed.

absentee ballot

ballot for those who are not able to be present on election day/do not want to travel to vote - sent through mail

Voter ID laws

regulations assuring that voters bring proper forms of identification (depends which ones exactly on the state) -aimed at preventing fraud

political efficacy

the belief that individuals can influence political processes through their actions-Those with a strong sense of political efficacy are more likely to engage in political activities.

gender gap

the difference in voting behavior or preferences between men and women, often seen in election outcomes.

How does the Constitution and legislation protect voting rights, and how do models relate to voting behavior?

The Constitution and legislation protect voting rights through amendments and laws that prohibit discrimination based on race, gender, and age, ensuring equal access to the ballot. Various models of voting behavior, such as the rational choice model and the sociological model, help explain how different factors influence voter decisions and participation.

What roles do individual choice and state laws play in voter turnout?

Individual choice significantly impacts voter turnout by influencing whether people decide to participate in elections, while state laws, such as voter ID requirements and registration processes, can either facilitate or hinder access to the voting process.

linkage institutions 

structures that connect citizens to government, such as political parties, interest groups, and the media.

political parties

these represent different political ideologies and interests. They sere as a platform for the variety of worldviews, allowing citizens to identify with and support a particular party that aligns with their values and beliefs.

platform

this outlines goals of the party to appeal to voters and gain supporters.

National Convention

The platforms are communicated at each party’s national conventions and are important for party leaders in their attempt to hold their preferred candidate accountable.

party realignment

a set of sharp changes in party ideology, issues, party leaders, regional and demographic bases of power of political parties, and the structure or rules of the political system, such as voter eligibility or financing.

party dealignment

this occurs when significant numbers of Republicans or Democrats give up their party affiliation to either as independent voters or simply cease to vote.

third (or minor) parties

a term used in the United States' two-party system for political parties other than the Republican and Democratic partis. Third parties are most often encountered in presidential nominations.

winner-take-all electoral system

this electoral system is one where a voting bloc can win all seats in a legislature or electoral district, denying representation to any political minorities. Such systems are used in many major democracies.

What role do linkage institutions play in political parties, and what effect do political parties have on the electorate and government?

Political parties serve as a linkage institution by representing ideologies and implementing policy in government through winning elections.

How do structural barriers impact third-party and independent candidate’s success?

Winner take all, plurality system, single member districts, and the electoral college are each barriers faced by third party candidates. These systems make it exceedingly likely that candidates from the two major parties will win.

incumbency advantage phenomenon

refers to the benefits that current officeholders have over challengers in elections, making it easier for them to win reelection.

primary election (open & closed)

open=a primary election in which voters are not required to declare party affiliation.

closed=a direct primary in which only persons meeting tests of party membership may vote.

caucus

meetings run by political parties that are held at the county, district, or precinct level.

Party Convention

State delegates go to this to confirm their choice of candidates by casting ballots. But if no candidate gets the majority of a party's delegates during the primaries and caucuses, convention delegates choose the nominee. This happens through additional rounds of voting.

At this, the presidential nominee officially announces who will run with them for vice president.

general election

this is an electoral process to choose most or all members of an elected body, typically a legislature.

midterm election

are the general elections that are held near the midpoint of a president's four-year term of office,

23rd amendment

provide the citizens of the District of Columbia with appropriate rights of voting in national elections for President and Vice President of the United States.

12th amendment

ratified on June 15, 1804. It revises and outlines the procedure of how Presidents and Vice Presidents are elected, specifically so that they are elected together.

Federal Election Campaign Act  (FECA)

legislation adopted in the United States in 1971 to regulate the raising and spending of money in U.S. federal elections.

imposed restrictions on the amounts of contributions that could lawfully be made to federal candidates and parties, mandated disclosure of contributions and expenditures in campaigns for federal office

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent agency of the United States government that enforces U.S. campaign finance laws and oversees U.S. federal elections.

Created in 1974 through amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

(also known as McCain-Feingold Act)

major federal law regulating financing for federal political candidates and campaigns. The law was designed to address two key campaign finance issues: soft money and issue advocacy

soft vs hard money

soft money=given to political party not a candidate, less regulated, considered not federal (disgusted as addressing things like issue advocacy and voter registration)

hard money=given to a direct candidate, regulated by FEC

“Stand by your Ad” provision

of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA requires candidates for federal office, as well as interest groups and political parties supporting or opposing a candidate, to include in advertisements on television and radio "a statement by the candidate that identifies the candidate and states that the candidate has approved the communication"

-I approve this message or Not approved by insert candidate

Political Action Committees (PACs)

a tax-exempt 527 organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donate DIRECTLY those funds to campaigns for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation. - may coordinate with candidate - not coordinated with candidate

dark money

spending to influence elections, public policy, and political discourse, where the source of the money is not disclosed to the public.

connected PACs

established by businesses, non-profits, labor unions, trade groups, or health organizations. These PACs receive and raise money from a "restricted class", generally consisting of managers and shareholders in the case of a corporation or members

Super PACs

a type of independent political action committee which may raise unlimited sums of money but is NOT permitted to contribute to or donate directly with parties or candidates

Citizens United v. FEC

On January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission overruling an earlier decision, Austin v. Michigan State Chamber of Commerce (Austin), that allowed prohibitions on independent expenditures by corporations. The Court also overruled the part of McConnell v. Federal Election Commission that held that corporations could be banned from making electioneering communications. The Court upheld the reporting and disclaimer requirements for independent expenditures and electioneering communications. The Court’s ruling did not affect the ban on corporate contribution