Unit 5: Political Participation (copy)

15th Amendment

Universal male suffrage

Increased people how could vote BUT south implemented Jim Crow Laws

Suffrage

The ability or right to vote

17th Amendment

Direct election of senators

Senate b4 was a millionaries club and 17th amendment allowed poor people in

19th Amendment

Women’s suffrage

Allowed women to vote BUT they didn’t change the elections bc they would vote as their husbands

24th Amendment

Repealed poll tax

A.A. could now vote without paying a huge fine/tax

26th Amendment

Made the voting age 18 years old

Increased the number of voters

Rational choice

What is in the citizen’s individual interest

Retrospective voting

Whether or not a party/candidate should be reelected based on their past performance

Prospective voting

The potential performance of a party/candidate

Party-line voting

Voting for candidates from a single political party for all offices

Political efficacy

Whether or not people think their vote/actions matter

high:makes a difference

Low:can’t make a difference

Political parties

organizations with similar ideologies that want to influence govt

Linkage institution

Structures that connect people to the govt (ex. Media, elections, political parties)

Critical election

New issues emerge and new coalitions replace the old ones

Realignment

When groups of voters swap parties

Winner-take-all

Candidate with the most votes wins all the delegates in the state

Proportional system

If you get 35% of the votes, you get 35% of the delegates in the state

Iron triangle

Relationship between congress, govt agencies and interst groups to create policy

Issue network

Groups of interest groups that promote a common cause

Horse race journalism

Focuses on polling data and competitions rather than qualifications or policies

Party platforms

List of goals that outlines party’s issues and priorities

Party coalitions

Political parties made of multiple groups made of multiple individuals; larger coalition increases candidate’s chance of winning

Dealignment

Results from party members becoming disaffected because of a policy position taken by the party, disaffected members join no party and vote for candidate instead of party

Splinter/bolster parties

Third parties formed to represent constituencies that feel disenfranchised by major parties

Lobbying

Interest groups try to convince lawmakers to support their issues

interest groups

organization of people with same policy/ issue goal

Interest group tactics

Direct lobbying, testifying before Congress, socializing, political donations, endorsements, court action, rallying membership, propaganda

Political action committees (PACs)

organization that’s raises/spends money to influence elections

Allowed by FECA (1974); formed by corporations, unions, and trade associations to raise funds

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold Act)

Regulated campaign finance and PAC donations; prohibited soft money to national political parties; limited corporate and union funding for ads about political issues within 60 days of general election and 30 days of primary election

Hard money

Regulated contributions to candidates

Soft money

Unregulated, unlimited contributions to parties for activities

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Supreme Court overturned BCRA limits on PAC funding for “corporate independent expenditures”

Super PACs

Can raise unlimited amounts of money to influence elections but cannot interact with candidates

Caucus

Meeting in which people gather and vote with their bodies and try to convince people to join their candidate.

last 3 hrs

Plurality

Greatest number of votes

Closed primary

Primary election in which only registered members of a political party can vote

Open primary

Primary election in which voters can vote in any single party primary which they choose

Presidential elections

Elections when the president is being selected

Midterm elections

Elections between presidential elections

Federal matching funds

Double all campaign donations of $250 and less by matching them

Super Tuesday

Day in early March on which many states hold primary elections

Voter turnout

How many voters vote in an election

Split-ticket voting

Voting for a presidential candidate of one party and legislators of another