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.