Unit 5: Voting Rights and Voting Behavior

AP Gov.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Landmark legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, strengthening voting rights protections and enforcing desegregation.

electorate

The body of citizens eligible to vote in an election.

Fifteenth Amendment (1870) 

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

franchise

The right to vote in political elections; also referred to as suffrage.

grandfather clause

A law used in the post-Reconstruction South to exempt white voters from literacy tests and poll taxes if their ancestors had voted before 1867, effectively disenfranchising African Americans.

literacy test

A requirement that voters be able to read and write; used historically to suppress African American voter participation.

Nineteenth Amendment

Grants women the right to vote, expanding the electorate to include all adult women citizens.

party identification 

A citizen’s enduring psychological attachment or loyalty to a political party, influencing their voting behavior.

party-line voting model

When voters consistently support candidates from the same political party across elections.

poll tax

A fee required to vote; used historically to prevent poor and minority citizens from voting until outlawed by the Twenty-fourth Amendment.

preclearance

A requirement under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that certain states with histories of discrimination obtain federal approval before changing voting laws or procedures.

prospective voting model

When voters base their decisions on predictions of how a candidate will perform or what policies they will pursue in the future.

rational-choice voting model

A theory that individuals vote based on a logical calculation of which candidate or party best serves their interests.

retrospective voting model

When voters decide based on an evaluation of an incumbent’s past performance in office.

Seventeenth Amendment (1913)

Established the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote instead of by state legislatures.

suffrage 

The right to vote in elections; synonymous with the franchise.

Twenty-fourth Amendment (1964)

Prohibits the use of poll taxes in federal elections.

Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971) 

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, broadening democratic participation during the Vietnam War era.

Twenty-third Amendment (1961) 

Granted residents of Washington, D.C. the right to vote for President and Vice President by awarding them electors in the Electoral College.

Voting Rights Act of 1965 

Landmark legislation prohibiting racial discrimination in voting, enforcing the Fifteenth Amendment, and providing for federal oversight of elections in discriminatory jurisdictions.

white primary 

A practice in which only white voters could participate in primary elections, effectively excluding Black citizens from the political process until declared unconstitutional.

absentee ballot 

A voting method allowing registered voters to cast their votes by mail when they cannot physically attend their polling place on Election Day.

Australian Ballot 

A government-printed ballot cast in secret, introduced to prevent voter intimidation and ensure privacy.

gender gap

The measurable difference in political preferences and voting patterns between men and women.

Help America Vote Act (2002) 

Federal law enacted to improve the administration of elections by modernizing voting systems, creating voter identification requirements, and setting standards for provisional ballots.

midterm election 

Elections held halfway through a president’s four-year term, typically for congressional and state offices.

motor-voter law 

Common name for the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which requires states to offer voter registration opportunities when citizens apply for or renew a driver’s license.

National Voter Registration Act (1993) 

Legislation designed to increase voter participation by simplifying the registration process and mandating that voter registration be offered through motor vehicle departments and public agencies.

political efficacy 

The belief that one’s political participation makes a difference and that government responds to citizens’ input.

polling place 

The specific location where registered voters go to cast their ballots on Election Day.

precincts 

Local voting districts that organize where citizens vote and which ballots they receive.

provisional ballot 

A ballot used when there are questions about a voter’s eligibility, counted once eligibility is verified.

voter apathy 

A lack of interest or concern among citizens about politics and elections, leading to lower participation.

voter registration 

The process by which citizens enroll to become eligible to vote, typically requiring proof of residency and age.

voter turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who actually cast ballots in an election.

voting-age population 

The total number of people in a country or state who are old enough to vote, regardless of eligibility status.

voting blocs 

Groups of voters who tend to vote in similar ways based on shared characteristics such as religion, race, or class.

voting-eligible population 

The subset of the voting-age population that meets all legal requirements to vote, excluding noncitizens and disenfranchised felons.

wards 

Divisions within cities or counties that contain several precincts and serve as electoral districts for local representation.

Democratic National Committee (DNC) 

The principal organization governing the Democratic Party at the national level, responsible for coordinating strategy, fundraising, and party activities.

Democratic Party 

One of the two major political parties in the United States, generally associated with liberal and progressive policies.

linkage institutions 

Structures within society that connect citizens to government, such as political parties, interest groups, elections, and the media.

national chairperson 

The leader of a political party’s national committee who oversees daily operations, fundraising, and strategy.

national convention 

A meeting held every four years by a political party to nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates and adopt the party platform.

platform 

A formal statement of a political party’s principles, policies, and positions on major issues.

Republican National Committee (RNC) 

The principal organization governing the Republican Party at the national level, coordinating strategy, fundraising, and party activities.

Republican Party 

One of the two major political parties in the United States, generally associated with conservative and free-market policies.

robocalls 

Automated phone calls used by political campaigns to communicate with voters or solicit support.

social media 

Digital platforms used by political parties and candidates to engage voters, share messaging, and organize campaigns.

war chest 

Funds accumulated by a political candidate or party to finance campaign activities.

critical elections

Elections that signal a significant and lasting shift in the political landscape, often leading to realignments in party support.

Democratic-Republicans 

The early American political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, advocating limited federal government and states’ rights.

Democrats 

Members of the Democratic Party; historically associated with Jacksonian Democracy and modern liberalism.

divided government

A situation in which one political party controls the presidency while another controls one or both houses of Congress.

Grand Old Party (GOP)

A nickname for the Republican Party.

Jacksonian Democracy

A political movement during Andrew Jackson’s era that emphasized expanded suffrage for white men, popular participation, and opposition to elitism.

Jeffersonians

Supporters of Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican Party, favoring agrarianism, states’ rights, and limited federal power.

McGovern-Fraser Commission 

A commission established in the 1960s to reform the Democratic Party’s nominating process, making it more transparent and inclusive.

New Deal Coalition

An alliance of diverse groups, including labor unions, minorities, and urban voters, that supported the Democratic Party following Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.

party dealignment 

A trend in which a large portion of the electorate abandons its previous party affiliation without replacing it with a new one.

party realignment

A lasting shift in party loyalty among voters, often resulting from critical elections or major social changes.

superdelegates 

Unpledged delegates in the Democratic Party who can vote for any candidate at the national convention, often party leaders or elected officials.

Whig Party 

A 19th-century political party in the U.S. that opposed Andrew Jackson and the Democrats, supporting modernization, banking, and economic protectionism.

ballot access

The requirements and procedures that a candidate or party must meet to appear on an election ballot.

economic-protest parties 

Third parties formed in response to economic discontent, often focusing on grievances of specific social or occupational groups.

ideological parties 

Third parties organized around a comprehensive set of political beliefs or ideology, such as socialism or libertarianism.

single-issue parties 

Parties that concentrate on one overriding political concern, such as environmental protection or prohibition.

single-member districts

Electoral districts that elect one representative, which often encourages a two-party system due to winner-take-all rules.

splinter parties 

Third parties that break away from a major party, often around a strong personality or factional disagreement.

swing states 

States in which neither major party has overwhelming support, making them critical in determining the outcome of presidential elections.

third parties (minor parties) 

Political parties outside the two major parties, often influencing elections by introducing new ideas or drawing votes from major parties.

two-party system 

A political system dominated by two major parties, which largely limits the electoral success of minor parties.

winner-take-all voting 

An electoral system in which the candidate receiving the most votes wins the election or all of a jurisdiction’s electoral votes, discouraging third-party success.

501(c)(3)

Tax-exempt nonprofit organizations that engage in charitable, religious, or educational activities; contributions are tax-deductible, but they are limited in political lobbying.

501(c)(4)

Tax-exempt social welfare organizations that can engage in lobbying and political advocacy more freely than 501(c)(3)s, though donations are not tax-deductible.

direct lobbying

Efforts by interest groups to influence policymakers through personal contact, meetings, or testimony.

endorsement 

Public support given by an interest group to a candidate, often to signal policy alignment to members or the public.

free-rider 

A situation in which individuals benefit from a group’s efforts without contributing, common in collective action problems.

grassroots lobbying 

Mobilizing the general public to contact legislators and influence policy decisions.

grasstops

Mobilizing influential community leaders or elites to advocate for policy goals, often to sway broader public opinion or policymakers.

iron triangles

Stable, mutually beneficial relationships among congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that shape policy in a specific area.

issue networks

Looser, more dynamic coalitions of policymakers, lobbyists, experts, and media actors who collaborate on particular policy issues.

lobbying 

The act of attempting to influence government policy and decision-making on behalf of an interest group.

lobbyist 

A person who advocates for an interest group to influence public officials and legislation.

pluralism

A theory that politics is a competition among diverse interest groups, ensuring that no single group dominates policy outcomes.

bundling 

Combining multiple campaign contributions from individuals into a single large donation presented by a lobbyist or interest group to increase influence.

ideological groups 

Organizations that advocate for policies consistent with a particular set of beliefs or ideology, such as conservative or progressive causes.

intergovernmental lobby 

Efforts by state or local governments to influence federal policy and secure resources.

material incentives 

Tangible rewards, such as money, services, or discounts, offered to members to encourage participation in an interest group.

Nineteenth Amendment (1920) 

Granted women the right to vote, indirectly expanding the influence of interest groups focused on gender equality.

professional associations 

Organizations representing the interests of members of a particular profession, often engaging in lobbying and standards-setting.

public interest groups

Groups that claim to represent the collective good rather than the narrow interests of members.

purposive incentives 

Intangible benefits derived from contributing to a cause, such as a sense of moral satisfaction or fulfillment.

revolving door 

The movement of personnel between roles in government and lobbying or private sector positions, raising concerns about conflicts of interest.

Seventeenth Amendment (1913) 

Established the direct election of U.S. Senators, increasing the influence of organized groups on Senate elections.

single-issue groups 

Interest groups focused narrowly on one policy area, such as gun rights or environmental protection.

Sixteenth Amendment (1913) 

Authorized Congress to levy an income tax, creating new arenas for interest groups to influence fiscal policy.

solidary incentives 

Social rewards, such as friendship, networking, or community, that motivate participation in interest groups.

think tanks 

Research organizations that produce policy analysis and recommendations, often informing legislators and public debate.

trade associations 

Organizations representing businesses in a particular industry, advocating for regulatory or legislative outcomes favorable to their members.