AP US Government Unit Five Vocabulary

Guarantees equal protection and due process of the law to all US citizens

Specifically enfranchised newly freed male slaves

Made senators directly elected by the people, removing their selection by state legislatures

Passed in 1920; guaranteed women the right to vote

Declared poll taxes void in federal elections

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

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

Voting to decide whether the party or candidate in power should be 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.

State laws that make it more difficult to vote (for example, requiring voters to present state IDs)

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

An election that takes place in the middle of a presidential term

Elections that take place every four years, in which voters elect the president and the vice-president.

Citizen’s attachment to a political party based on issues, ideology, past experience, or upbringing, which tends to be a reliable indicator of likely voting choices

Groups in society that connect people to the government and facilitate turning the people’s concerns into political issues on the government’s policy agenda.

Organized groups that may include office holders, candidates, activists, and voters who pursue their common interests by gaining and exercising power through the electoral process

Collections of people or organizations that try to influence public policy

A list of goals outlining a party’s positions on issues and political priorities.

Politics that focus on the candidates, their particular issues, and character rather than party affiliation

An election that leads to a major party realignment. A number of key supporters of one party (for example, southern white voters) switch to the other party.

A voting system that apportions legislative seats according to the percentage of the votes won by a particular political party

An electoral system in which the party that receives more votes than any other party wins the election

The activities of a group or organization that seek to persuade political leaders to support the group’s position.

an alliance for combined action, especially a temporary alliance of political parties forming a government or of states.

Potential members fail to join a group because they can get the benefit, or collective good, sought by a group without contributing the effort

An interest group devoted to one particular issue rather than a larger category of interests

the movement of voters from one political party to another resulting in a major shift in the political spectrum

The individuals who live within the geographical area represented by an elected official

The tendency of incumbents (officials already holding a political office) to win reelection

A primary election that is not limited to registered party members

A primary election limited to registered members of a political party

A meeting in a voting precinct at which party members choose nominees for political office after hours of speeches and debates

A meeting of delegates from one political party to vote on policy and select party candidates for public office

An election that decides which candidate will fill an elective office

The group of electors chosen by each state to formally vote for the next US president based on the result of voting in the state

The total or percentage of votes won by each candidate.

Also known as the McCain-Feingold Act. Banned soft money and reduced attack ads.

Money spent in support of a candidate without directly donating to their campaign, such as paying for ads or campaign events, or giving to the candidate’s party.

Officially recognized fundraising organization that represents interest groups and is allowed by federal law to make contributions directly to candidates’ campaigns

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

offers opinions on political issues, building arguments on evidence and assumptions

Journalism that focuses on -who is winning or ahead in the polls rather than on candidates' policy agenda or debates.

Bias or slant in the selection of which news to report and how the news is reported