AP Government: Voting Rights and Voting Behavior

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering constitutional voting protections, amendments expanding the franchise, and the four main models of voting behavior.

Franchise

The right of citizens in America to vote in elections.

Article 1, Section 4

The constitutional provision stating that the times, places, and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives are determined by state legislatures, though Congress may make or alter such regulations.

15th Amendment

A constitutional amendment that recognized the right of black men to vote.

17th Amendment

A constitutional amendment that granted citizens the right to directly vote senators into office, expanding political participation from the original system of selection by state legislatures.

19th Amendment

A constitutional amendment that recognized women's right to vote.

24th Amendment

A constitutional amendment that abolished poll taxes, eliminating a method of voter suppression used by some states against minorities.

26th Amendment

A constitutional amendment that lowered the voting age from 21 down to 18.

Poll Taxes

A fee required to vote, used by some states as a mechanism of voter suppression to prevent minorities from voting until outlawed by the 24th Amendment.

Rational Choice Voting

A model of voting behavior where an individual carefully studies the issues, platforms, and candidates and votes in alignment with their individual self-interest.

Retrospective Voting

A model of voting behavior where a voter decides whether to re-elect a politician based on their recent past track record in office.

Prospective Voting

A model of voting behavior where a voter makes decisions based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future, considering campaign promises and proposed ballot initiatives.

Party-Line Voting

A model of voting behavior where a voter selects all the candidates associated with their own political party on the ballot.