AP US Government Unit Five Vocabulary

Political Participation Unit Vocabulary. Definitions from O'Connor/Sabato textbook or Khan Academy

14th Amendment

Guarantees equal protection and due process of the law to all US citizens

15th Amendment

Specifically enfranchised newly freed male slaves

17th Amendment

Made senators directly elected by the people, removing their selection by state legislatures

19th Amendment

Passed in 1920; guaranteed women the right to vote

24th Amendment

Declared poll taxes void in federal elections

26th Amendment

Extended suffrage to people aged 18-20 years old by lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.

Rational Choice Voting

Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen’s individual interest.

Retrospective Voting

Voting to decide whether the party or candidate in power should be re-elected based on the recent past.

Prospective Voting

Voting based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future.

Straight-ticket voting

Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices at the same level of government.

Structural Barriers

State laws that make it more difficult to vote (for example, requiring voters to present state IDs)

Political Efficacy

A citizen’s belief that their vote matters and can influence government policies.

Midterm Election

An election that takes place in the middle of a presidential term

Presidential Election

Elections that take place every four years, in which voters elect the president and the vice-president.

Party Identification

Citizen’s attachment to a political party based on issues, ideology, past experience, or upbringing, which tends to be a reliable indicator of likely voting choices

Linkage Institutions

Groups in society that connect people to the government and facilitate turning the people’s concerns into political issues on the government’s policy agenda.

Political Parties

Organized groups that may include office holders, candidates, activists, and voters who pursue their common interests by gaining and exercising power through the electoral process

Interest Groups

Collections of people or organizations that try to influence public policy

Party Platforms

A list of goals outlining a party’s positions on issues and political priorities.

Candidate Centered Campaigns

Politics that focus on the candidates, their particular issues, and character rather than party affiliation

Critical Election

An election that leads to a major party realignment. A number of key supporters of one party (for example, southern white voters) switch to the other party.

Proportional System

A voting system that apportions legislative seats according to the percentage of the votes won by a particular political party

Winner-take-all Voting Districts

An electoral system in which the party that receives more votes than any other party wins the election

Lobbying

The activities of a group or organization that seek to persuade political leaders to support the group’s position.

Party Coalitions

an alliance for combined action, especially a temporary alliance of political parties forming a government or of states.

Free Riders

Potential members fail to join a group because they can get the benefit, or collective good, sought by a group without contributing the effort

Single-issue Groups

An interest group devoted to one particular issue rather than a larger category of interests

Political Realignment

the movement of voters from one political party to another resulting in a major shift in the political spectrum

Voting Constituencies

The individuals who live within the geographical area represented by an elected official

Incumbency Advantage

The tendency of incumbents (officials already holding a political office) to win reelection

Open Primary

A primary election that is not limited to registered party members

Closed Primary

A primary election limited to registered members of a political party

Caucus

A meeting in a voting precinct at which party members choose nominees for political office after hours of speeches and debates

Party Convention

A meeting of delegates from one political party to vote on policy and select party candidates for public office

General Election

An election that decides which candidate will fill an elective office

Electoral College

The group of electors chosen by each state to formally vote for the next US president based on the result of voting in the state

Popular Vote

The total or percentage of votes won by each candidate.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Also known as the McCain-Feingold Act. Banned soft money and reduced attack ads.

Soft Money

Money spent in support of a candidate without directly donating to their campaign, such as paying for ads or campaign events, or giving to the candidate’s party.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Officially recognized fundraising organization that represents interest groups and is allowed by federal law to make contributions directly to candidates’ campaigns

Investigative Journalism

Deep, original investigation on a specific topic, often conducted over a long period of time and sometimes involving the exposure of secret information.

Political Commentary

offers opinions on political issues, building arguments on evidence and assumptions

Horse Race Journalism

Journalism that focuses on -who is winning or ahead in the polls rather than on candidates' policy agenda or debates.

Media Bias

Bias or slant in the selection of which news to report and how the news is reported