Civics: Unit II QUEST

What are the requirements to vote in the United States?

18 years old, U.S. citizen, completed registry form (within state you are voting in)

Who were the first demographic of American voters?

White, Male, Property Owners

What is the definition of Electorate?

potential voting population

What is the definition of Suffrage?

the right to vote

What were the two Suffrage trends during history?

1) Elimination of Certain Restrictions

2) States Power to vote → Federal Power

Which amendment eliminated religious, property ownership, and tax payment qualifications?

24th Amendment

What did the 24th Amendment do?

Remove religious, property ownership, and tax payment qualifications for voting

What did the 15th Amendment say?

“No citizen shall be denied the right to vote because of race or color”

Which amendment stated that “No citizen shall be denied the right to vote because of race or color?”

15th Amendment

Why was the 15th Amendment semi-ineffective?

African Americans were still systematically prevented from voted

What is the definition of Disenfranchised?

having the right to vote stripped/taken

What was the largest group of disenfranchised citizens in America’s population?

African Americans

Which Amendments/Acts affected the requirements to vote?

14th Amendment, 15th Amendment, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 23rd Amendment, 24th Amendment, 26th Amendment

What did the 26th Amendment do?

change the minimum voting age requirement to 18 years old

Which amendment changed the minimum voting age from 21 to 18?

26th Amendment

What are Idiotes?

private citizens who lack professionalism and do not involve themselves in public/political affairs

What is Ballot Fatigue?

Voter turnout lessens as one goes further down the ballot?

What is the Electoral College?

an indirect method of election for our President and VP

How does the Electoral College work?

people vote for the electors, then the electors choose the President and VP

Which government documents describe the Electoral College?

Article II of the Constitution & the 12th Amendment

Why was the Electoral College implemented?

Constitution drafters were concerned that the average American citizen was not knowledgeable enough to cast a wise vote.

What was the solution to a potential “mob democracy?”

indirect democracy

When are election days?

The first tuesday of November

Who are the electors?

Nominated by their political party

What happens if there’s a tie in the electoral college?

HOR makes the decision (26 or more to win)

What are Interest Groups?

A private group who share common goals and organize to influence elected and appointed officials of the government

What is a Lobbyist?

Someone hired by a client (mostly corporations) to make contact and influence

What is a Political Action Committee (PAC)?

an issue oriented organization that raises and contributes money to the campaigns of candidates or to influence issues that are likely to advance the group’s interest

Can individuals and interest groups donate unlimited amounts of money to PACs?

Yes

What is the Federal Elections Commission (FEC)?

an independent agency in charge of administering all laws dealing with federal elections (underfunded and understaffed)

What are the election laws regarding campaign funding?

timely disclosures about the source of money, limits on campaign contributions and expenditures

What is Hard Money?

donors must be disclosed, contribution limits apply, FEC regulated

What is Soft Money?

Spending made by organizations/individuals other than candidate campaigns themselves? (political parties may accept unlimited amounts of money, but organizations may not directly coordinate with political candidates or parties; not FEC regulated)

What is the most common type of Dark Money group?

501 (c)4

What is Gerrymandering?

the practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries to create a political advantage

What was Gerrymandering named after?

Governor Elbridge Gerry’s Massachusetts district shaped like a salamander

When was the first instance of Gerrymandering?

1812

What was Gerrymandering originally used for?

To benefit Democratic-Republicans (Jeffersonian Republican Party)

Which two major political parties have utilized Gerrymandering in the past?

Democratic & Republican

What is “Cracking?”

splitting opposing voters across multiple districts

What is “Packing?”

concentrating opposing voters into few districts

What does Gerrymandering result in?

disproportionate representation

What is Gerrymandering’s impact on elections?

“safe seats” for incumbents, reduces electoral competition, minority party control despite popular vote

What are the demographics that are mostly affected by Gerrymandering?

racial minorities (primarily black and hispanic), urban populations, lower-income communities

What are the proposed solutions for Gerrymandering?

Independent re-districting commissions, mathematical models, increased transparency, federal legislation proposals