AP Gov Final

access

The ability through certain channels to be able to more easily approach certain politicians, staffers, and policymakers in order to influence public policy

amicus curiae

Someone who is not a party to a case but submits a legal brief on behalf of the case

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Campaign spending by unions and corporations is a protected form of speech--This case started SuperPACs.

501 (c)(4)

Certain organizations such as a civic or a neighborhood organization that can lobby and campaign

501 (c)(3)

Include churches and certain hospitals, they receive tax deductions for charitable donations and can influence government, but they cannot lobby government officials or donate to campaigns

direct lobbying

Attempts to influence a legislative body through communication with a member or employee of a legislative body, or with a government official who participates in formulating legislation

free rider

Nonmembers of interest groups that choose not to bear the participation costs of time and fees but do benefit from the associated group's efforts

grassroots lobbying

An approach that separates itself from direct lobbying through the act of asking the general public to contact legislators and government officials concerning the issue at hand, as opposed to conveying the message to the legislators directly. Companies, associations and citizens are increasingly partaking in this type of lobbying as an attempt to influence a change in legislation

grasstops

Activists or members of an organization or geographic area that have a high professional and/or public profile, may be part of the "political family" for a decision maker, and can raise public attention or influence decision makers through established connections.

Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (2007)

A law that strengthens public disclosure requirements concerning lobbying activity and funding, places more restrictions on gifts for members of Congress and their staff, and provides for mandatory disclosure of earmarks in expenditure bills.

insider strategies

Quietly persuade government decision makers through exclusive access.

intergovernmental lobby

Made up of mayors, governors, superintendents of schools, state directors of public health, country highway commissioners, local police chiefs, and others who count on federal funds.

K Street

A segment of highway in Washington D.C. where many major lobbying firms were located. Now used as more of a metaphor to refer to interest groups access in Washington D.C.

leadership PACs

A political action committee that can be established by current and former members of Congress as well as other prominent political figures.

lobbying

The process by which interest group members and other individuals attempt to influence public policy through contacts with public officials.

lobbyist

A person who takes part in an organized attempt to influence legislators.

material incentives

Travel discounts, subscriptions, or complimentary items such as bags or jackets used to get people to join an interest group

Nineteenth Amendment

Guaranteed women the right to vote throughout the United States

outsider strategy

Lobbying technique that relies on things such as lawsuits or get-out-the vote drives

pluralism

A multitude of views that ultimately results in a consensus government

political action committees (PACs)

The political arm of a labor union, interest group, or corporation. They involve themselves in a wide array of election season activities, such as sending direct mail, creating advertising, staging rallies, and campaigning door-to-door.

professional associations

An organization seeking to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals engaged in that profession and the public interest.

public interest group

Geared towards improving life or government for the masses.

purposive incentives

A reason or motive having to do with ethical beliefs or ideological principles

revolving door

Occurs when officials leave their jobs in Congress or the Executive Branch to lobby the very government agencies that they departed.

Seventeenth Amendment

Empowered citizens to elect their U.S. senators directly as opposed to them being appointed by state legislators

single-issue group

Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics.

Sixteenth Amendment

Allows for Congress to impose an income tax

solidary incentives

Social rewards such as pleasure, status, or companionship that lead people to join political organizations

super PAC

Technically known as independent expenditure-only committees, these groups may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations and individuals, then spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates.

think tanks

Research institutions, often with specific ideological goals

Thirteenth Amendment

Outlaws slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States

trade associations

Organizations founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry.

Twenty-sixth Amendment

Grants 18-20 year olds the right to vote in the United States

United States v. Harriss (1954)

Upholds lobbyists' registration requirements and ensures anyone or any group the right to lobby.

upper-class bias

Though annual membership fees in most interest groups are modest, critics argue that the trend results in policies that favor higher socioeconomic classes.

Wagner Act (1935)

Guaranteed the right to strike and allowed unions to bargain collectively

voting-age population

The set of individuals that have reached the minimum voting age

voter turnout

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

electorate

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

suffrage (franchise)

The right to vote in elections

initiative

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

referendum

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

recall

Procedure where an elected official can be voted out of office

voter registration

Process of getting qualified to vote

ward

First-order division of counties/cities

precinct

Second-order division of cities/counties

polling place

A place where people can vote

Andrew Jackson

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

15th amendment

Gave African-Americans right to vote

literacy test

An exam under the pretense of seeing of one could read in order to intelligently vote...in reality a way to stifle African-American voting

poll tax

A charge in order to vote...outlawed via the 24th Amendment

grandfather clause

You could only vote if your grandparents were free citizens...a way used to stifle African-American voting

white primary

Method to keep African-Americans from voting by not allowing them to vote in primary elections

Civil Rights Act (1957, 1964)

Addressed issues with discrimination with regards to African-Americans voting

24th Amendment

Outlawed poll taxes

preclearance

If states try to create a new loophole to voting, the federal government could intervene and stop the loophole

19th Amendment

Granted women the right to vote

23rd Amendment

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

26th Amendment

18-20 year olds are legally allowed to vote

Australian ballots

A ballot with the names of the candidates on it to be handed out and marked in secret

voter apathy

Lack of concern for what happens in an upcoming election

political efficacy

Sense that your vote matters and you can make a difference politically

party identification

The party someone associates themselves with

voting blocs

Voters in various demographics

gender gap

The difference between the two gender's point of view and how they express themselves

Voting Rights Act (1965)

Wide-ranging congressional act that led to a substantial increase in African-American voting

Help America Vote Act (2002)

Reformed election system in the U.S. by replacing lever and punch based voting systems in response to the controversy stemming from the 2000 election

National Voter Registration Act (motor-voter law) (1993)

Allowed voters to register to vote at motor-vehicle departments when getting their drivers' licenses

Minor v. Happerset (1875)

Supreme Court case declaring that the 14th Amendment does not guarantee women the right to vote

two-party system

A political system in which two political parties dominate the government

minor parties

Political parties that play a smaller (sometimes insignificant) role in the country's politics

Democrat-Republicans

A political party from the early 19th century that favored a strict interpretation of the Constitution that limited federal government power and gave the states more power

realignments

Changes in the electorate due to changes in party identification

critical election

An election that reveals sharp, lasting changes in the electorate

caucus

A group of people with shared concerns within a political party...examples are the Black Congressional and Freedom versions of this term

Republicans

Founded on an anti-slavery platform...modern-day adherents believe in traditional conservative principles and an overall smaller role for the federal government

coalition

A group united for a greater cause...often used in the context of trying to influence legislation and nominations

Whigs

Opposed autocratic rule and Andrew Jackson... tried to elect a presidential candidate based on the ideal of national improvement...died out in the 1850s

party convention

A meeting of delegates in order to nominate candidates for president and vice president and create party platforms

popular sovereignty

The authority of the government is maintained by the people who are ruled over by their own consent

Grand Old Party (GOP)

Nickname for the Republican Party

New Deal Coalition

Roosevelt's followers that elected him four times through the Great Depression...consisted of city machines, labor unions, blue collar workers, minorities, farmers, white Southerners, welfare recipients, and intellectuals...succeeded in getting Democrats (except for Eisenhower) elected to the presidency until the late 1960's

white primary

A primary that consisted of all-white people

dealignment

A trend where a large portion of the electorate abandons what they previously supported...in modern politics the movement towards identifying less with political parties and the rise in independents

ticket splitting

Voting for candidates for both parties on a single ballot

divided government

When one party controls Congress and the other controls the White House

Democratic National Committee (DNC)

Official governing body of the United States Democratic Party

Republican National Committee (RNC)

Official governing body of the United States Republican Party

party chairperson

Chief strategist and spokesperson, most often appears on TV, real leader of the party

elites

A small group of people with a disproportionate amount of power within the party

Know-Nothings

Political party in the mid 1800s with the goal of keeping governmental control within the hands of native-born citizens

rank and file

The ordinary members of an organization/political party

McGovern-Fraser Commission

Brought significant changes that ensured minorities, women, and younger voters greater representation at the Democratic National Convention in response to the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago

superdelegates

High-ranking office holders also allowed to be delegates that are essentially free-agents in the delegate selection process...make up about 15% of delegates at the Democratic National Convention

platform

List of principles and plans a political party plans to enact

single-issue parties

Created to advance a particular policy or to solve one particular political concern

Free Soil Party

Opposed the extension of slavery into territories that had not achieved statehood

splinter/bolter parties

Broke from a larger existing party due to an ideological difference

economic protest parties

Parties with strong feelings about economic conditions