AP U.S. Government & Politics Review Unit 5: Political Participation

Voting Rights Amendments

  • Fifteenth Amendment
    • Extended suffrage to African-American men
  • Seventeenth Amendment
    • Established the popular election of U.S. Senators by the people
  • Nineteenth Amendment
    • Extended suffrage to women
  • Twenty-Fourth Amendment
    • Abolished poll taxes in federal elections
  • Twenty-Sixth Amendment
    • Extended suffrage to people aged 18-20
    • Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

Voting Legislation

  • Voting Rights Act of 1965
    • Legislation that made it easier for African-Americans to vote
    • Broke down barriers such as the poll tax and literacy tests
  • National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (Motor Voter Act)
    • Made it easier for people to register to vote by allowing registration when applying/renewing their driver's license

Types of Voting Behavior

  • Rational-Choice Voting
    • Voting based on what is in the citizen’s best interest
  • Retrospective Voting
    • Voting based on a candidate’s past performance
  • Prospective Voting
    • Voting based on a candidate’s future performance
  • Party-Line Voting
    • Supporting a party by voting for all members of that political party

Voter Turnout

  • Definition: Number of registered voters that vote in an election
  • Compulsory Voting
    • Laws that require citizens to register and vote in elections
  • Political Efficacy
    • Belief that your vote matters and can influence policy
    • Belief that individual actions can impact government decisions

Election Types

  • Presidential Elections
    • Occur every four years for President and Vice-President
  • Midterm Elections
    • Elections for Congress that occur during the middle of a President’s term

Political Parties

  • Definition: An organization of people with similar ideologies
    • Influences public policy through elected officials
  • Linkage Institutions
    • Connects the people to the government
    • Can influence the political agenda

Political Campaign Dynamics

  • Campaign Finance
    • Funds raised to support various political positions including candidates and parties
    • Regulated/limited by laws
  • Candidate-Centered Campaigns
    • Campaigns focusing on candidates' personalities and agendas rather than party platforms
  • Critical Election
    • An election leading to major party realignment; supporters may switch parties
  • Direct Primary
    • Voters select a candidate to represent their party in the Presidential election
  • Dealignment vs. Realignment
    • Dealignment: Loss of interest or loyalty to a political party, leading to independence
    • Realignment: Switching voter preference from one political party to another
  • Political Action Committee (PAC)
    • Organization representing an interest group or corporation that raises money in support of its interests
    • Has limits on donation amounts during elections
  • Super PAC
    • Independent expenditure-only committee allowed to raise unlimited funds for a candidate/party but cannot interact with them

Third-Party Politics

  • Third Party
    • Minor party not among the major parties (Republican & Democratic)
    • Rarely wins elections but can influence elections by highlighting specific issues
  • Independent Candidate
    • Candidate with no formal affiliation to a party

Electoral Systems

  • Proportional System
    • Parties earn legislative seats proportional to votes received
  • Two-Party System
    • Dominated by two major parties
  • Winner-Take-All System
    • Legislative seats awarded to the party with the most votes

Interest Groups

  • “Free Rider” Problem
    • Individuals who benefit from services without contribution
  • Interest Groups
    • Groups of individuals aiming to influence public policy
  • Iron Triangle
    • Relationship between congressional committees, bureaucracies, and interest groups
    • Maximizes mutual benefits
  • Lobbying
    • Efforts to influence politicians on specific issues

Strategies of Influence

  • Direct Lobbying
    • Direct communication with bureaucrats or elected officials
  • Outside Strategies
    • Working outside D.C., e.g., campaigns and constituent outreach
  • Single-Issue Groups
    • Interest groups focused on one specific issue

Presidential Elections Process

  • Closed Primary vs. Open Primary
    • Closed Primary: Limited to registered party voters
    • Open Primary: Not limited to registered party voters
  • Caucus
    • A meeting to select party nominees
  • Electoral College
    • Electors chosen by states to vote in the Presidential election based on state election results
  • Incumbent
    • An official already in office, often at an advantage due to experience and resources

Election Types Continued

  • General Election
    • Determines which candidates will hold office
  • Popular Vote
    • Total or percentage of votes won by each candidate

Modern Campaign Dynamics

  • Campaign Finance
    • Increasing costs of campaigns since 1970
  • Political Consultants
    • Advisors who help promote a candidate during campaigns

Key Campaign Finance Cases

  • Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission (2010)
    • Supreme Court case ruling political spending as free speech, protected by the First Amendment
  • Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)
    • Banned soft money and reduced attack ads; required ads to include candidate approval statement

The Media's Role

  • Types of Journalism
    • Horse Race Journalism: Focuses on polling standings rather than policies
    • Investigative Journalism: In-depth research to uncover secrets
  • Role of the Media
    • Draws attention to issues, influencing public concern and governmental agenda

Sources

  • "AP® US Government & Politics (College-Level)." Khan Academy, Khan Academy, 2020, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-us-government-and-politics.