Unit 5 Notes

15th Amendment

Prohibits denying a citizen's 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.

19th Amendment

Granted women the right to vote in the United States.

24th Amendment

Prohibits the use of poll taxes in federal elections.

Rational-choice voting

Voting theory where individuals make electoral decisions based on personal benefit or rational assessment.

Retrospective voting

Voting behavior based on a candidate's or party's past performance.

Prospective voting

Voting behavior based on anticipated future performance of a candidate or political party.

Party-line voting

Voting pattern aligning with chosen candidates of a political party.

Voter registration laws

Laws dictating the process and requirements for registering to vote.

Compulsory Voting

Legal requirement for eligible citizens to vote, with penalties for noncompliance.

Mid-Term Elections

Elections occurring halfway through a president's term for Congress members.

Presidential Elections

Elections held every four years for the office of the President.

Linkage Institutions

Organizations connecting citizens to government, including parties, interest groups, and media.

Party Platforms

Formal sets of principles and policies adopted by political parties.

Candidate Centric Campaigns

Campaigns focusing primarily on the individual candidate.

Direct Primaries

Elections where party members directly vote for candidates to represent the party.

Critical Elections

Elections signaling significant shifts in party coalitions and voter loyalty.

Realignments

Long-lasting shifts in the political landscape and voter preferences.

Campaign Finance

Funding of political campaigns, including how money is raised and spent.

Proportional System

Electoral system where parties gain seats in proportion to votes received.

Winner-Take-All System

Electoral system where the candidate with most votes wins all electoral votes.

Political efficacy

Belief that one's participation can influence political processes.

Voting and party identification

Relationship between an individual's party affiliation and voting behavior.

Voting and ideological orientation

Influence of individual values and beliefs on voting choices.

Voting and candidate characteristics

Impact of candidate traits and backgrounds on voter decisions.

Voting and contemporary issues

Influence of current societal issues on voter preferences.

Voting and demographic characteristics

How demographic factors affect voting patterns.

Political parties and their function

Roles political parties play in recruitment, mobilization, and policy formulation.

Interest groups

Organizations seeking to influence public policy and decision-making.

Elections

Formal process by which citizens vote for representatives or policy issues.

Media

Means of communication reaching large audiences and influencing public opinion.

Iron Triangle

Mutually beneficial relationship between government, congressional committees, and interest groups.

Issue Networks

Loose configurations of interest groups collaborating on specific policy issues.

Free Rider Problem

Individuals benefit from resources without paying, leading to under-provision.

Open Primaries

Elections allowing voters to choose which party's primary to participate in.

Closed Primaries

Elections allowing only registered party members to choose their candidate.

Caucus

Meeting of party members to select candidates or decide policy.

Incumbency

Situation where an individual currently holds office and seeks re-election.