AP Gov Unit 5

14th Amendment

grants citizenship and prohibits states from denying it (Due Process, Equal Protection Clause, passport or birth certificate)

15th Amendment

prohibits federal and state gov from denying citizens right to vote based on race

17th Amendment

establish direct popular election of US senators by the people

19th Amendment

prohibits denying right to vote based on sex

24th Amendment

federal and state from restricting right to vote in federal elections

26th Amendment

lower legal voting age from 18-21

Voting Rights Act of 1965

federal legislation outlawed discrimination voting

Rational Choice

voting behavior of individuals acting based on their interest by supporting policies or candidates

Retrospective Voting

voters decisions based on performance of candidate or party past performance

Prospective Voting

electoral behavior making decisions based on expectations of how candidate perform and how to ends up in the future

Straight Ticket Voting

support party by voting for all candidates from a specific political party (Party-line voting)

Political Efficacy

citizens actions and beliefs in politics

ABsentee Voting/Absentee Ballots

registering votes to mailors submitting a vote when unable to attend the elections

Early Voting

voting before scheduled election day

General or Presidential Elections

determine winners for federal state and local offices (4 years presidential election)

Midterm Elections

election where people can elect their representatives and other officeholders (between 2 year mark or 4 years presidential election cycle)

Linkage Institutions

political parties, interest groups, and media connect to gov

Candidate-centered Campaigns

electoral strategy of focusing one candidate NOT an entire party

Party Platform

public doc including political party principle, goals, and policy stance

Campaign Finance Laws

funds raised to spend on promoting candidates, parties, or policies

Proportional System

political parties securing legislative seats by percentage of voters

Winner-Take All

candidate having most popular votes in state or district

Third-Parties

political parties that are not as major as Republican or Democratic

Lobbying

individuals or interest groups directly influence gov policy makers such as pressuring them or through demonstrations and letters

Iron Triangles

relationship between Congressional Subcommittee, bureaucrats, and interest groups

Issue Networks

informal group of interest groups, Congressional staff, journalist, bureaucrats influence public policy

“Free Rider” Problem

benefits from public good, service, policy without having to be part of the organization

Single-Issue Groups

interest groups on ONE specific public policy

Constituencies

specific areas, districts, group of voters that an elected official represents

Incumbency Advantage Phenomenon

officeholders benefits over challengers in elections so it is easier for the officeholders to win

Open & Close Primaries

electoral process of selecting candidate by a political party for general election

Caucuses

open meeting where party members discuss and vote for president candidate or delegates

Party Conventions

delegates nominate president/vice-president candidate, adopt party platform and unify general election

Electoral College

constitutional system for indirect electing of president and vice-president (electors who represents states)

Campaign Finance

funds to spend on promoting candidate, parties, or policies

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

limits soft money to political parties and regulates finance to promote fairness

Soft Money

political donations to political party but NOT candidate

“Stand By Your Ad” Provision

BCRA requires federal candidate to authorize political ad (force ownership and accountability)

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (PACs)

Citizens United released a movie to influence Democrats benefiting Obama in negative light towards Hillary which violated BCRA prohibiting corporate funded electionary media. Ruled that they are protected under First Amendment

Political Action Committees (PACs)

organization regulating money to influence elections and public policy

“Horse Race”

media coverage based on polling, public perception and winning/losing campaign

Media Bias

journalist/organization framing stories that favor one side over the other

Independent Candidates

political candidate who doesn’t belong establish political party and runs office without affiliation

Amicus Curiae Brief

persuading judicial opinions by providing info of non-parties to strengthen party’s argument

AARP

American Association of Retired Person-nonpartisan group representing people aged 50+

Investigative Journalism

reporting to find political scandals, scams and schemes

Super PACs

independent committees raise unlimited funds from individuals and corps