AP GOV: Unit 2 Test

Gatekeeper (Agenda-Setter)

The media's role in highlighting certain issues and determining what is important for the public.

Scorekeeper

The media's function in tracking and reporting on political reputations, successes, and failures.

Watchdog

The media's responsibility to investigate and expose political scandals or wrongdoing.

Investigative Journalism

In-depth reporting aimed at uncovering scandals, often leading to greater public skepticism toward politics.

Print Media

Includes newspapers and magazines, forms of media that have historically influenced political communication.

Broadcast Media

Encompasses television, radio, and the Internet, each of which has reshaped political communication over time.

Narrowcasting

Media targeting specific audiences, typically associated with certain cable channels (e.g., FOX, MSNBC).

Trial Balloons

Information leaked intentionally to gauge public reaction before a policy is formally announced.

Sound Bites

Short video clips (around 15 seconds) used to convey a point quickly in news coverage.

Policy Agenda

Issues that draw the focus of public officials and other political actors.

Policy Entrepreneurs

Individuals who invest their political influence in a specific issue (e.g., Al Gore with climate change).

Referendum

A process where people vote directly on a specific law, policy, or decision, instead of having elected officials decide for them. It’s a way for citizens to have a say on important issues.

Initiative Petition

A process allowing citizens to propose legislation or amendments, often requiring a specific number of signatures.

Primary Elections

Elections to select a party's nominee.

General Elections

A regular election where voters choose who will hold public office, such as the president, members of Congress, governors, or local officials.

Policy Elections

Elections where voters make or approve legislation.

Caucus

Local meetings of party members to select delegates to a national convention.

Presidential Primaries

Elections where people from each political party vote to choose who they want to run for president

Closed Primaries

Only registered party members can vote, promoting party loyalty.

Open Primaries

Voters can decide on Election Day which party primary to participate in.

Blanket Primaries

Voters can pick candidates from multiple parties on the same ballot.

McGovern-Fraser Commission

Established procedures and quotas for delegate selection in the Democratic National Convention.

Delegates

Representatives chosen to represent the will of their constituents at a convention.

Superdelegates

Democratic Party leaders and elected officials given a portion of delegate slots.

Frontloading

The trend of states holding primaries early to gain media attention.

National Convention

A meeting held every four years to write a party's platform and nominate presidential candidates.

Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) 1974

Legislation that tightened reporting requirements and limited campaign spending.

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

Agency created to enforce campaign finance laws.

Soft Money

Political contributions to parties for general purposes (like voter registration drives), not directly tied to a candidate.

Hard Money

Direct contributions to a candidate's campaign.

Buckley v. Valeo

A Supreme Court case ruling that political contributions are a form of free speech.

McCain-Feingold Act (2002)

Banned soft money contributions to national parties.

527 Groups

Tax-exempt groups that influence political outcomes without directly endorsing candidates.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Organizations that collect contributions to support candidates who align with their goals.

Super PACs

Groups allowed to raise and spend unlimited funds for political advocacy, not directly tied to a candidate.

Citizens United v. FEC

Supreme Court ruling allowing unlimited independent spending by corporations and unions.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election.

Political Efficacy

The belief that one's participation can influence the government.

Motor Voter Act

Legislation allowing voters to register when renewing their driver's licenses.

Electoral College

The body that formally elects the U.S. president, with each state having electors based on its congressional representation. (disproportionately favors less populated states)

Gerrymandering

Manipulating electoral boundaries to favor a specific party or group.

Incumbency Advantage

The benefit held by politicians already in office, which helps them in reelection.

Presidential Coattails

When congressional candidates of the same party benefit from a popular presidential candidate's success.

Midterm Elections

Congressional elections held midway through a presidential term, often challenging the incumbent president's party.

Ticket-Splitting

When a voter chooses candidates from different political parties for different offices in the same election.

Interest Group

An organization with shared policy goals that seeks to influence the political process.

Pluralist Theory

Theory suggesting that interest groups allow for representation as groups compete and counterbalance each other.

Elite Theory

Theory suggesting that power is concentrated among a few wealthy and influential groups.

Hyper-pluralist Theory

Theory arguing that too many interest group influence leads to contradictory government policies, chaos and ineffective decision-making.

Interest Group Liberalism

A situation where the government caters to interest groups, leading to policy gridlock.

Iron Triangles (Sub-governments)

Close relationships between interest groups, government agencies, and congressional committees, often resulting in policy advantages. (refer to diagram)

Collective Good

A benefit available to all members of a group, such as clean air or higher wages.

Free-Rider Problem

When individuals benefit from a group's efforts without actively contributing.

Lobbying

The act of influencing policymakers on behalf of an interest group.

Electioneering

activities done to influence the outcome of an election, such as campaigning, promoting candidates, or trying to persuade voters to support a particular party / candidate.

Litigation

Legal action taken by interest groups to achieve their goals when legislative efforts fail.