Ap Government Review Unit 5 (5.1-5.12) - more review

Extended suffrage to African American men.

Established the popular election of US senators

Extended suffrage to women.

Declared poll taxes in federal elections illegal.

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

• Literacy tests

• poll taxes

• grandfather clause

Legislation designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African American suffrage.

Also called the motor voter act, it required states to allow citizens to register when applying for or renewing their driver’s license.

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

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

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

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

Party identification

A fixed-sum tax is payable by all relevant individuals.

Middle of the presidential term. (between the 2 elections, electing president, every 4 years).

They don’t care about the midterm elections as much as the presidential elections

More women vote democratic while more men vote republican

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

Elections that take place every 4 years, you elect the president and the vice president

A requirement that eligible voters enroll on an electoral roll before they can vote

The number of registered voters who vote in election

Characteristics of a population. For example, age, race, and education.

Groups in society that connect people to the government. (elections, political parties, interest parties, media).

1. Media

2. Political party

3. Elections

4. Interest groups

Political institutions are organizations which create, enforce and apply. (congress, president, bureaucracy, judges)

The primary function of political parties is to link people to the government and its policies

1. Party organization

2. Party in government

3. Party in the electorate

All of the ideas listed by candidates to gain votes (each idea is called a plank)

Occurs when voter loyalties dramatically shift in critical events.

The coalition included south, labor, urban voters, immigrants, and ethnic minorities; this coalition remained a factor in national politics for more than 3 decades. 

The 1932 election is considered a _____ because many key supporters of one party stitched to the other party.

During the last quarter of the 20th century, divided government became increasingly common.

A trend or process whereby a large portion of the electorate abandons its previous partisan (political party) affiliation, without developing a new one to replace it.

As a result of the decline of party machines, US politics has become increasingly candidate-centered. (all about me not we.)

1. Winner takes all system

2. The two major parties frequently incorporate the platforms of third parties unto their own platform

3. Single Member Districts

4. Money

Parties are formed because they have unique values and beliefs that go against other parties.

The “winner” takes the position and all control, other candidates do not get anything in return for running for president.

More than everyone else but not the majority vote. (in this case votes).

Voters identified with a third-party issue will often vote for a majority-party candidate who has adopted that issue because major parties are much more likely to win general elections.

All promises and ideas candidates talk about during their campaign.

The candidate who wins the most votes or a plurality in a field of candidates wins that office.

• Voting

• Fundraising

• Disseminating information about their issues to elected officials and the public.

• Funding

• Access to decision makers

• Committed members

Influence the government for their own benefit.

• Big business (National Association of Manufacturers)

• Big Union (NEA)

• Trade associations concerned with a particular industry or segment of the economy.

• Organizations of professionals (American Medical Association)

Support policies that benefit most Americans or the country as a whole, regardless of whether the people who join these organizations are helped.

Focus on protecting the rights and interests of people who have historically faced discrimination on the basis of race, gender or sexual orientation. 

• NOW

• NAACP

• Some people argue they have too much influence over policy making

• Most interest groups are only concerned with their own interest not the general public best interests

• Free-rider problem

• Opposing forces 

• Elected officials whose constituents will not reward them for backing a controversial issue

• Budget issue

Interest groups try to influence public policy.

Interest groups endorse candidates who support their goals and encourage them to vote for candidates.

Interest groups attempt to influence policy by working within Washington, DC.

• Direct Lobbying

• Drafting pieces of legislation for elected officials

• Suing the government

Interest groups’ attempts to influence policy outside of Washington DC.

• campaign contributions

• Media coverage

• Encouraging constituents to contact their elected officials

Registered fundraising committees that donate money on behalf of interest groups.

A group that brings attention to a social problem through public demonstrations or other forms of direct action.

To be a party’s candidate for president, a person must earn the party’s nomination.

Starts in January of an election year and ends in June.

States moved their primaries up early so that their voters have a greater say.

Candidate running for re-election.

• Already well known having been in the national spotlight for 4 years

• Has 4 years of experience and a record

• Commands the bully pulpit and can use his position to get messages out to the people

• Already proven they can win a national election

• Has a network of campaign contributors who can raise a large amount of money

• Has a network of campaign staff and volunteers with voter outreach

• Already seen as presidential a perception that other candidates have to earn

The nominee of a party is elected through a primary election, and the general election decides who wins the office.

the House.

The nominee of a party is elected through a primary election, and the general election decides who wins the office.

1. Party nomination

2. Electoral college

a primary election limited to registered members of a political party

a primary election that is not limited to registered party members.

Involved at all three levels of government and support candidates they believe have have the best chance of winning

• Modern campaigns are very expensive house: 1 mil senate; 30 mil

• Very few candidates finance their own campaigns. Most rely on the party organization and thousands of individual donors for contributions

• Candidates dedicate roughly ¼ of their campaign schedule to making personal phone calls to wealthy donors and holding high dollar formal fundraisers.

• The biography - candidates taking their own unique personal story to appeal to constituents.

• The issues- publicly discussing the major social and economic issues that make up their platform.

• The attack - cheap shots and look to expose inconsistencies in their opponent’s voting record

Agency in the bureaucracy that monitors all campaign contributions.

Also known as the McCain-Feingold Act. The purpose of the law was to regulate the new campaign finance.

• Banned soft money

• “Stand by for your ad” provision

• Banned any political advertisements paid for by a corporation

A Supreme Court case ruled that political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under the 1st amendment. This case overturned parts of the Bipartisan campaign reform act.

• cannot coordinate with a candidate’s campaign 

• Cannot specifically endorse a candidate

• Banned SOFT MONEY.

Corporations unions associations and individuals however have higher funds than PACs.

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amounts and fully disclosed which is harder than raising unlimited funds.

Money spent in support of a candidate without directly donating to their campaign.

The supreme court has ruled that individuals/groups can spend unlimited amounts in campaigns for/against candidates as long as they operate independently from the candidates.

A focus on the contest of politics-who is winning or ahead in the polls rather than policy agenda and debates.

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

Commentary specific to or relevant to politics includes policies, political parties, and types of government.

The media sets the political agenda by drawing public and government attention to certain issues.

A number of different things or parts that are grouped together to form a whole but remain distinct entities.

• set time and location

• voter registration laws

• can have an open or closed primary which affects voter turnout

• vote registration deadline decreases voter turnout because some people may miss deadlines

• identification law prevent “fraud” and decrease vote turnout

• automatic voter turnout: for example, registering to vote through the DMV

• online registration

• lottery, time off work, money

• but penalties and fines can encourage voting

house and senate elections