Studied by 0 people
15th Amendment
Prohibits denying the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
17th Amendment
Establishes the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote.
19th Amendment
Grants women the right to vote.
23rd Amendment
Gives Washington, D.C., residents the right to vote in presidential elections.
24th Amendment
Prohibits poll taxes in federal elections.
26th Amendment
Lowers the voting age to 18.
1964 Civil Rights Act (Title I)
Outlaws discriminatory voter registration practices.
1965 Voting Rights Act
Bans racial discrimination in voting, eliminates literacy tests, and establishes federal oversight in certain states.
Preclearance
Requires states with a history of discrimination to get federal approval for voting law changes.
Shelby County v. Holder
Struck down the VRA preclearance formula, weakening federal oversight.
Current Methods of Voter Suppression
Tactics like voter ID laws, voter roll purges, and reduced polling places.
Voter Fraud
Rare occurrences of ineligible voting or ballot tampering.
Low Efficacy Voter
Believes their vote doesn’t matter; less likely to vote.
High Efficacy Voter
Confident their vote influences government; more likely to vote.
Voting Blocs
Groups voting in predictable patterns based on gender, race, education, or age.
Gender Gap
The difference in political preferences and voting patterns between men and women.
Rational Choice Voting
Voters choose candidates based on personal benefit or policy alignment.
Retrospective Voting
Voters base decisions on a candidate’s past performance.
Prospective Voting
Voters base decisions on a candidate’s future policy promises.
Party Line Voting
Voters consistently support their party’s candidates.
State Role in Elections
Administers elections, manages voter registration, sets voting methods.
Federal Role in Elections
Sets federal election dates, enforces voting rights, oversees campaign finance.
Initiative
Citizens propose and vote on laws through petitions.
Referendum
Voters approve or reject laws passed by the legislature.
Recall
Voters can remove elected officials before the end of their term.
Primary
Election to select a party’s candidate for the general election.
Invisible Primary
Period of gaining support and fundraising before official primaries.
Open Primary
Any voter can participate in any party’s primary.
Closed Primary
Only registered party members can vote in their party’s primary.
Incumbent Advantage
Advantages of sitting officeholders, like name recognition and media access.
Caucus
A meeting where party members discuss and vote on candidates, differing from a primary’s formal ballot process.
Front Loading
States schedule primaries early to gain influence.
Super Tuesday
A key day when many states hold primaries, often determining frontrunners.
Iowa Caucus
The first major contest in the presidential nomination process.
New Hampshire Primary
The first primary election, setting the tone for the race.
Safe States
States consistently voting for one party.
Battleground States
Competitive states crucial for winning elections.
Winner-Take-All System
The candidate winning a state’s popular vote gets all its electoral votes.
Electoral College
538 total votes; states’ electors based on congressional representation; 270 votes needed to win.
Electoral Process (Nov–Jan)
General election, elector voting, Congress certifies results, and Inauguration Day.
Pros of Electoral College
Ensures regional representation, prevents urban dominance.
Cons of Electoral College
Can result in a president winning without the popular vote, marginalizes safe states.
Functions of Political Parties
Nominating candidates, informing voters, connecting citizens to government, organizing government, and providing opposition.
Party Platform
A formal statement of a party’s principles and policy goals.
Political Parties as Linkage Institutions
Connect citizens to government through platforms, voter mobilization, and communication.
Critical Election
Marks a significant shift in political coalitions or ideologies.
Realignment
Long-term shift in voter loyalty to different parties.
Dealignment
Voters increasingly identify as independents, reducing party loyalty.
Divided Government
Different parties control the presidency and Congress.
Two-Party System
Dominated by two major parties, limiting third-party influence.
Third Party
Minor political parties like single-issue, ideological, or splinter parties.
Obstacles to Third Parties
Single-member districts, winner-take-all system, and restrictive ballot access laws.
Note 
Flashcard (50)