AP GOV - Unit 5

Amendments

  • 17th Amendment (1913): Changed how senators were elected by establishing the direct election of senators by the people of each state.

    • Before Amendment: Senators were selected by state legislatures,which often led to corruption and gridlock if legislatures couldn’t agree on a candidate.

    • After Amendment: Senators are elected by popular vote, allowing citizens to have more influence over who represents them in the Senate.

  • 26th Amendment (1971): Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years old in all federal, state, and local elections.

    • It was a response to arguments that if 18 year olds could be drafted to fight in wars they should also be able to vote.

  • 15th Amendment (1870): Granted African American Men the right to vote.

    • It aimed at expanding civil rights and ending racial discrimination in voting.

    • Even though it legally prohibited racial discrimination in voting, many states implemented discriminatory practices.

      • literary tests

      • Poll Taxes

      • Grandfather Clauses

  • 19th Amendment (1920): Granted Women the right to vote. Ensured that the right to vote could not be denied based on gender.

  • 24th Amendment (1964): Abolished poll taxes in federal elections.

    • Impact: It removed the barrier to voting rights and was a important step in bringing equal access to the ballot.

    • Was part of the Jim Crow Laws:

      • Aimed to disenfranchise African Americans, especially in the Southern States.

    • Poll Taxes made it so voting was unaffordable and very difficult to do since the African American society was usually not rich.

Important Questions

  • How does the electoral college promote a 2 party system in the U.S.?

    • Uses “winner-take-all” structure in most states.

      • Makes it difficult for third-party or independent candidates to win electoral votes.

      • In 48 out of 50 states, candidates who receive the majority of the popular vote in that state wins all of its electoral votes.

      • Benefits the two largest parties, as only one candidate can “take all”.

      • It discourages voters from “wasting” votes on third-party candidates since only the top candidates are likely to gain any electoral advantages.

  • What two parties emerged from the debate on the Constitution?

    • Federalists:

      • Supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution

      • Strong Central Government and weak State Govt.

    • Anti-Federalists:

      • Opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution because they thought it gave to much power to central government at the expense of peoples rights.

      • Advocate for stronger state governments.

  • What are the functions of political parties? (What do they do?)

    • Organize elections, nominate candidates, and create policy platforms to represent the interests of their members. They also help govern, mobilize voters, and provide a system of checks and balances through opposition.

  • What are the roles that minor parties play?

    • They help upbring new ideas and draw attention to issues that may be overlooked by the major parties.

    • Push larger parties to adopt new policies in response to public demand.

    • Overall broaden political discourse and challenge major parties dominance

  • What is the difference between a primary and a caucus?

    • Primary: It is a direct, secret-ballot election where voters choose their preferred candidate.

      • They can participate at their convenience during the voting period.

      • Can be Open (any registered voter) or Closed (registered party members)

    • Caucus: It is more public, in-person gathering where voters discuss and then vote on their preferred candidate.

      • Involves a series of meetings and discussions before a final vote is cast

      • More time consuming

  • Which demographics are most likely to vote Democrat?  Republican?

    • Democrats:

      • Black

      • Hispanic

      • Asian American

      • Young Voters

      • Higher Levels of Education

      • Women

    • Republicans:

      • White voters

      • Those without college degrees

      • Rural Residents

      • Older voters

Vocabulary

  • Political Action Committee(PACs): An organization that raises and spends money to influence elections, typically by supporting or opposing candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation. Can donate to political candidates but limited by federal law.

    • TWO MAIN TYPES:

      • Traditional PACs: Raise funds from members or employees of an organization and contribute directly to candidates.

      • Super PACs: Raise and spend unlimited amounts of money, but cannot donate directly to candidates or parties.

        • They engage in independent political spending, such as ads or other forms of support.

  • Single Member Plurality: Also known as the first-past-the-post, is an electoral system in which each electoral district elects one representative, and the candidate who receives the most votes wins.

    • Can lead to disproportionate outcomes where a party might win a large number of seats without receiving a proportional share of the national vote.

  • Front Loading: The tendency for U.S. States to schedule their presidential primary elections earlier in the election cycle to increase their influence in the selection of candidates.

    • Often used to gain more attention from presidential campaigns and media.

    • Though it can lead to a rush of primaries early in the season, reducing the ability for later voters to weigh in on the race.

    • Also skews the results towards candidates with more resources.

  • Gender Gap: Refers to the differences in political preferences, voting behavior and party affiliation between men and women.

    • Often takes form in varying support for political parties, policies, and candidates based on gender.

  • Rational Choice Voting: Suggests voters to make decisions based on cost-benefit analysis, where they weigh the potential benefits of a candidate or party’s policies against the costs.

    • Voters make decisions based on information about candidates positions, previous actions, and party affiliations

  • Retrospective Voting: Voters make decisions based on the past performace of a candidate or political party, rather then on future promises.

    • They address how well the current officeholder has addressed issues and delivered on their campaign promises.

    • They hold officials accountable for their past actions

  • Prospective Voting: Voters base their decisions on the potential future performance of candidates or parties.

    • Voters are driven by specific policy proposals

      • economic plans

      • healthcare reforms

      • social issues, etc..

    • Tends to focus on candidates promises on how they will change the future for the better.

  • Swing States: States where both major political parties have a strong chance of winning in a presidental election.

    • These states are crucial in determing the overall outcome because their electoral votes can swing either way.

    • Highly contested

    • They usually have a mix of ideologies

    • Economic Backgrounds

    • Demographic Groups that do not consistently vote for one party.

  • Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA): A piece of legislation passed in 2002 aimed at regulating the financing of political campaigns.

    • Sought to address issues such as soft money donations and issue advocacy ads that are being used

    • It prohibited corporations and labor unions from funding electioneering communications (ads that mention a candidate) in the 30 days before a primary and 60 days before a general election, seeking to prevent outside influence in the final months of campaigns.

  • Superdelegates: They are party officials in the United States who are given the freedom to support any candidate for the presidential nomination, regardless of how voters in their state or district have voted.

    • Commonly associated with the Democratic Party

    • Typically high-ranking members of the party

    • Purpose:

      • To ensure that the party elites or experienced members of the party have a say in selecting the nominee.

  • Pluralist: Someone who believes in or advocates for pluralism.

    • A political theory and system that emphasizes diversity and the coexistence of multiple groups, interests, cultures, or ideologies within a society.

  • Elitist: Someone who supports or believes in elitism.

    • Elitism is a social system were power and influence are held by a small, privileged group of individuals or organizations.

    • Often based on their wealth, education or social status.

    • Focuses on the idea that a select few should govern or lead due to their perceived superior abilities or qualifications

  • Free Rider: Someone who benefits from a service or resource without contributing to the cost or effort of providing it.

    • This issue often arises with public goods

      • Like clean air

      • National Defense

      • Public Education

    • Can lead to under-provision in public goods since people have less incentive to contribute if they can benefit without paying

    • SOLUTIONS:

      • Government Intervention (Taxing to fund public goods)

      • Privatization (Making goods excludable)

      • Incentivizing Participation

  • Lobbying: The act of attempting to influence government decisions, law or policies by individuals or interest groups

    • Typically seek to persuade lawmakers, regulators, or other public officials to support or oppose specific legislation

    • Hired by businesses, non-profit organizations, etc…

  • Iron Triangle: The relationship between 3 key groups in U.S. Government policy making:

    • Congressional Committees

      • These are specialized groups within Congress responsible for creating or overseeing specific policies. Have power to pass legislation or allocate funding.

    • Bureaucratic Agencies

      • Government departments responsible for implementing and enforcing laws and regulations

    • Interest Groups

      • Organizations that advocate for specific interests or causes. Seek to influence policy by lobbying both Congress & Bureaucratic Agencies.