AP Gov Vocab Unit 3

Political participation - ways individuals take action to shape laws and policies of gov

Political action committees - organization that raises money to elect/defeat candidates

Linkage institutions - channels that connect individuals with the govt

Social movement - joining of individuals seeking social or political change

franchise/suffrage - the right to vote

Voter turnout - percent of eligible voters that actually vote

Demographic characteristics - measurable characteristics of population (age, gender, race, etc.)

Socioeconomic status (SES) - measure of a person's wealth, occupation and education

Political efficacy - a person’s belief that their vote is effective and can make a change

Felon disenfranchisement - some states don’t allow felons to vote

Political mobilization - efforts by political parties to get their members to vote

Registration requirements - each states different rules that govern where, when and how to vote

Absentee ballots - voting before election day without going to the polls

Rational choice voting - voting based on citizen believes is in their best interest

Retrospective voting - voting based on incumbents performance

Prospective voting - voting based on promises made by candidates

Party-line voting - voting for candidates based on a certain political party

Electoral college - 2 senate + # of sitting house members = # of electoral votes

Battleground state/swing state - levels of support for both candidates are pretty equal; could go either way

Federal Election Commission - oversees campaign financial laws

Super PACs - organizations allowed to spend unlimited amounts on campaigns as long as spending is not coordinated with campaign

Party identification - the degree a voter is influenced and connected to a political party

Straight-ticket voting - voting for all candidates from one party

Split-ticket voting - voting for candidates from different parties in same election

Party platform - set of positions and policy objectives members of a party agree to

Recruitment - process where parties identify potential candidates

Party coalition  - groups of voters that support a political party over time

Realignment - when people of one party shift allegiance to another

Critical elections - major national election that signals change in balance of power between parties

Party eras - when one party wins most of national elections

Era of divided government - one party controls congress and president is from opposing party

Nomination - formal process through which parties choose candidates for political offices

Delegates - a person acting as the voters representative at a convention to select parties nominee

Primary election - voters choose delegate who support a presidential candidate for nomination or an election by plurality vote to select parties nominee

Open primaries - all eligible voters may vote in parties primaries

Closed primaries - only those registered to that party can vote in their primaries

Caucuses - meetings of eligible voters to select delegates to represent their preferences in nomination

Superdelegates - party leader not pledged to a candidate

Front-load - pushing primaries or caucuses as early as possible to gain more influence

National convention - meeting where delegates officially select their parties presidential nominees

Candidate-centered - candidates develop their own strategies and raise money with less influence by the parties elite

Two-party system - two parties dominate political system

Proportional representation system - citizens vote for parties, their representation matches percentage of votes they received

Single member plurality system - whoever gets plurality wins

Third parties - a minor political party in competition with 2 major ones

Interest groups - associations whose goal is to get policies they favor enacted

Social movements - groups that educate the public and pressure policymakers for societal change

Civil society - groups outside government advocating for policies

Policy agenda - set of issues government voters and the public are paying attention to

Collective action - individuals contribute energy, time and money to a larger group goal

Free riders - individuals that enjoy collective goods and benefit without going or helping

Selective benefits - benefits available only to those who join the group

Economic interest groups - groups advocating on behalf of financial interests

Public interest groups - act on behalf of collective interests of more than just their members

Single issue groups - associations focusing on one specific area of public policy

Government interest groups - organizations acting on behalf of different levels of government

Lobbying - interacting with government officials to advance a groups public policy goals

Revolving door - movement of individuals between positions in government and lobbying

Amicus curiae brief - brief filed by someone who isn’t a party to case in attempt to persuade the court

Iron triangle - coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of bureau, congress and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals

Issue network - the webs of influence between interest groups, policy makers and policy advocates

Grassroots lobbying - interest group members pressuring their representatives directly

Protest - public demonstration designed to call attention to a need for change

Civil disobedience - intentionally breaking a law to call attention to an injustice

Radio Act (1927) - established Federal Radio Commission and required broadcasters to obtain licenses for specific frequencies

Communications Act of 1934 - established FCC to oversee implementation of provisions