AP Gov- UNIT 5: Political Participation
26th Amendment
Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
automatic voting registration
Michigan; when you get your 21 yr license you are automatically signed up to vote
non-voting
Not having or using a vote
butterfly ballot
Paper ballot in which opposing candidates were listed across from each other instead of vertically.
National Voter Registration Act of 1993
easier to vote, "motor voter", can register when getting a license or other gov off., register by mail
direct primary
election within the party to pick the candidates for the general election. (more formal, first used in wisconsin, today= all states use in some form)
Faithless Elector
elector who does not vote for the winner of the popular vote
Public Financing
federal matching fund, candidates must adhere to spending limits, must raise a min. of $100,000 to prove you're capable of raising money
Someone who is for closed primaries would think that...
it keeps opposing party from "raiding" and picking weak candidate, more responisve to party
Voter ID laws
laws requiring that voters show government made ID at polls, done by Republicans to decrease voter fraud but also deters lots of Democrats from voting because elderly and poor are less likely to get a good enough ID. 34 states
LLC
limited liability company
Rules of the individual in a PAC
limited to $5000 a year to a PAC but can give to as many PACS and parties as you want
how many electoral votes are there?
538
highest voter turnout in the U.S.
64%
15th amendment
Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color , or precious condition of servitude
how much money did John McCain raise?
$368 million, spent $333 million, could only spend $84 million during the election
proportional plan (no constitutional amendment needed).
% of the pop vote = % of the electoral vote
what do blanket/jungle primaries do?
-can only vote in 1 party/office -splits party loyalty and weakens the ability of a party to choose a candidate
PACs can give money
-candidate $5,000 -$5,000 to another PAC -$15,000 to national party committee
Those who are in favor of compulsory voting are in favor of...
-civic duty, government accurately reflects "will of the people" -government considers total of electorate -government focuses on other issues
advantages to mail-in voting
-convenience -satisfaction -financial saving (dec by 40%) -Inc. voter turnout
average cost of a campaign
-house: $1.3 million -senate: $10.4 million
federal election campaign act of 1971 and 1974
-limit campaign spending if you take public funding -disclosure: names and addresses for all who gave $200 dollars or more and report all expenses over $200 -limit contributions (individuals: $95,000 over 2 years divided among candidates, parties, and PACs)
What is campaign money used for?
-media (sometimes over half of the money) -salaries -travel -postage -polls (not by new networks)
Disadvantages to mail-in voting
-miss tradition -Mail delivery inconsistent (could take days) -literacy -may not have an address: Indians -Security: Corrosion by family, voter fraud -Cost more to print ballots -slow-vote counting
Non-Voting reasons
-too busy; how to fix--> national holiday, different day(s) other than Tuesday, mail-in voting, expanded absentee voting -Not interested; how to fix--> tax break if you vote, more PSA, requiring government class -Illness/disability -out of town -forgot to vote: text alert -disliked candidates/issues registration probs: automatic registration -inconvenient polling place -transportation problems -bad weather
those who are against compulsory voting are against...
-undemocratic; infringement of liberty -uneducated votes -increase the number of "bad votes"
national bonus plan
-weigh in favor of the pop vote winner -national pop vote winner gets a bonus of 102 electoral votes, needs 321 to win
rules to the electoral college
1) each state electors= the number of senators and reps 2) electors are chosen by state legislature 3) originally, each elector would have 2 votes: for a different person 4) votes counted by congress 5) person receiving a majority became president, 2nd highest became VP 6) tie or no majority winner: house of reps decides, VP decided by senate
"Jacksonian Democracy"
1820s and 30s: Must have property, religious test, poll tax requirement (eliminated). 80% of the electorate voted
Buckley v. Valeo
1974 campaign finance case declared some federal limits on campaign contributions in FECA violated First Amendment (ex. maximum spending limit and limits on candidates' spending their own money).
How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?
270
Citizens United v. FEC
A 2010 decision by the United States Supreme Court holding that independent expenditures are free speech protected by the 1st Amendment and so cannot be limited by federal law. Leads to creation of SuperPACs & massive rise in amount of third party electioneering (Citizens for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow)
office block
A form of general election ballot in which candidates for elective office are grouped together under the title of each office
FECA 1974
A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The act created the Federal Election Commission, provided public financing for presidential primaries and general elections, limited presidential campaign spending, required disclosure, and attempted to limit contributions.
party convention
A meeting of party delegates to vote on matters of policy and in some cases to select party candidates for public office.
open primary
A primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place
closed primary
A primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote
initiative
A procedure by which voters can propose a law or a constitutional amendment.
poll tax
A requirement that citizens pay a tax in order to register to vote
Permanent Registration
A system of voter registration in which voters must register only once in their district. If you move you'd have to re register
literacy test
A test given to persons to prove they can read and write before being allowed to register to vote
24th Amendment
Abolishes poll taxes
When/where were jungle primaries used?
California, 1996- S.C. overturns--> right of association 1st amendment
McCutcheon v. FEC
Campaign Finance case: (2014) struck down the limits on how much individuals and corporations could give in total to federal candidates and party committees claiming free speech rights. It left in place the limitations per candidate.
Super Tuesday
Day when several states hold their presidential primaries (usually the second Tuesday in March)
17th Amendment
Direct election of senators
19th Amendment (1920)
Gave women the right to vote
23rd Amendment
Gives Washington DC electoral college votes as if it were a state (DC still has no representation in Congress)
mob rule
Government by a mob or mass of people with no formal authority whatsoever (french revolution)
blanket/jungle primary
In a blanket primary, voters choose one candidate per office regardless of the candidate's party affiliation. The top vote-getters from each party participating in the primary then advance to the general election. In a traditional primary, a voter can only vote for the candidates of one political party.
1960s; enforcement of the 15th amendment
Jim Crow era, poll tax, literacy test
compulsory voting
Practice that requires citizens to vote in elections or face punitive measures such as community service, fines, or imprisonment.
direct popular vote
President elected strictly by voters - would eliminate the electoral college (needs a constitutional amendment)
501(c)4s
Social welfare organizations that can buy TV ads: vague regulations, no limit on donations, no limit on expenditures, no disclosure of donors
party-line voting
Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices across the ballot
political efficacy
The belief that one's political participation really matters - that one's vote can actually make a difference
retrospective voting
Voting to decide whether the party or candidate in power should be re-elected based on the recent past.
voter fatigue
The condition in which voters grow tired of all candidates by the time Election Day arrives, and may thus be less likely to vote.
Voting qualifications
U.S. Citizen, Live in state for required time (set by state) usually 30 days; residency, registration
"Freedmen's Oath"
Vermont; in person oath, mail-in violation, can now take the oath when they go to vote
prospective voting
Voting based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future
Rational- choice voting
Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen's individual interest
party column
a ballot listing all candidates of a given party together under the name of that party; also called an "Indiana" ballot
brokered convention
a convention that requires lengthy balloting and an eventual settlement by bargaining and compromise. candidate selected at the convention, 1924 democratic convention, 103 ballots
Australian ballot
a government-printed ballot of uniform dimensions to be cast in secret that many states adopted around 1890 to reduce voting fraud associated with party-printed ballots cast in public
Referendum
a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate
media consultant
a professional who produces candidates' television, radio, and print advertisements
fundraising consultant
a professional who works with candidates to identify likely contributors to the campaign and arranges events and meetings with donors
platform
a statement of a party's principles, beliefs, and positions on vital issues
keynote
addresses speech which above all others is stated to support the themes or goals of the party. To highlight up and coming leaders.
air issue ads
ads that do not specifically support a candidate- payed for by outside groups not in consultation with the candidate themselves
someone who is for open primaries would think that...
better because it includes independents, more participation by electorate
koch brothers
billionaires that spend billions of dollars on republican campaigns- most, if not all, of their money goes to running ads
When are electoral votes counted?
by congress the Monday after the second wed in dec
How can a donor sometimes remain anominous?
by funneling money to superPACs
What can you do with extra campaign money?
cannot keep it but it can be used for charity, other politicians, or be saved for next campaign
suffrage is not a...
civil right (belonging to all), it's a political right (those who meet the requirements)
King's Caucus
congressional caucus selected presidential nominees, ended in 1824- still used in Iowa and other states during presidential race
off-year election
congressional election that occurs between presidential election years
McCain-Feigngold/ Bipartisan campaign reform Act of 2002
conservative and a liberal. Goals: ban soft monies, address the proliferation of issue ads
ban on soft monies
contributions and expenditures to national parties, unlimited donations for non campaign purposes "get out the vote", "party building" activities.
examples of PACs
corporations, unions, interest groups
the popular vote winner...
does not always win- is the president really representing the wants of the people then?
Iowa caucuses must be...
first (all states follow, punished for violating when to hold primaries)
federal election laws
goal: to limit the effect of money in politics by limiting contributions so that wealthy Americans, corporations, unions, or interest groups do not have undue influence/ level the playing field between candidates
caucus
group of like-minded people who meet to select the candidates- more informal
hard $ limits raised
harder to donate large sums of money
How do you vote absentee in Michigan?
have to vote in person first before you are able to vote absentee
In some states homeless people can select their residency as...
homeless shelters
SuperPACs
independent expenditures only committee, created in the wake of citizens v united: No limits on contributions including union and corporate monies, cannot coordinate with or donate money to a candidate, must report donors to the FEC (bad at regulating)
527s
independent expenditures, funds spent by committees not formally attached to the candidate or campaign, no subject to spending limits, must notify the IRS when a group spends or raises more than $50,000
Voting Rights Act of 1965
invalidated the use of any test or device to deny the vote and authorized federal examiners to register voters in states that had disenfranchised blacks; as more blacks became politically active and elected black representatives, it rboguth jobs, contracts, and facilities and services for the black community, encouraging greater social equality and decreasing the wealth and education gap
Usually larger states have ___ votes
more; but if the vote goes to the house each state has one vote
What does voter registration look like?
name, age, place of birth, address, residence length
election of the president by the people
no- founding fathers did not trust the average american
election of the president by congress
no- president would be beholden to the legislators
pregnant chad
not fully hole punched ballots
Citizens United v. FEC did what?
overturned the ban on issue ads in the m-f act, upheld disclosure agreements, and maintained a ban on direct contributions
campaign consultant
paid professional who specializes in the overall management of political campaigns or an aspect of campaigns
What happens if you cannot transport yourself to vote?
parties will arrange your transportation for you
what happens when there is a reverse coattail effect?
party power in the White House usually loses seats in congress,cprimarily the house of reps
will of the party
party selects candidates for local, state, and national offices
Super PACs
political action committees established to make independent expenditures
Dark Money
political money where the donors of the money do not have to be disclosed
district plan (No constitutional amendment needed)
pop vote state winner gets 2 electoral votes, pop vote winner in each congressional district wins that vote (nebraska and maine)
electors are not always required by law to follow the ____ ____
popular vote; 27 states by law, 23 by custom
straight ticket voting
practice of voting for candidates of only one party in an election
recall
procedure whereby voters can remove an elected official from office
What are campaign finance laws supposed to do?
protect against corruption
In 2008 how much money did Obama raise and spend?
raised $745 million, spent $730 million- 1st to reject public funding
iron triangle
refers to the policy-making relationships among interest groups, congressional committees, and the bureaucracy- interest groups usually provide expert information
motor voter
register to vote when you update your license (1993) President Clinton
hard monies
regulated by the FEC
FEC
regulates national office races: president, senate house indp regulatory agency Bipartisan commission to enforce campaign finance laws and distribute pub funds to candidates and force public disclosure
New Hampshire caucuses must be...
second
Methods of nomination
self announcement (oldest) or the caucus
12th Amendment
separate ballot for president and VP, house will decide among top 3 vote getters, president/VP cannot be form the same state
What types of campaign donors are most common?
small ones around 100, 150, 200 dollars
a party's platform describes...
specific/individual parts of the platform such as their goals and proposals.
problem with a brokered convention
strong, powerful, big-city bosses controlled blocks of votes and the process today: candidate becomes the official party nominee
one problem that may occur when the 2nd place vote getter becomes VP is that...
the VP and the president may be from different political parties
will of the party was first used by...
the anti-masons in 1831 and the Democrats in 1832
What solution did the founding fathers come up with to elect the president?
the electoral college
incumbency advantage
the electoral edge afforded to those already in office
hanging chad
the excess paper from the punched hole that was still attached to the ballot
civil rights act of 1957
the first civil rights legislation since Reconstruction. The new act established the Civil Rights Section of the Justice Department and empowered federal prosecutors to obtain court injunctions against interference with the right to vote.
campaign manager
the individual who travels with the candidate and coordinates the campaign
campaign strategy
the master game plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign
Mail-in voting
the method by which registered voters fill out and mail ballots that have been mailed to them, often used in an attempt to raise the level of voter participation. 3 states.
early voting
the option in some states to cast a vote at a polling place or by mail before the election. 37 states and D.C.
same-day registration
the option in some states to register on the day of the election, at the polling place, rather than in advance of the election. 14 states (11% higher turnout)
electorate
the potential voting population
suffrage
the right to vote
front loading
the tendency of states to choose an early date on the nomination calendarfor more influence
top-two primary
the two candidates who receive the most votes in the Primary advance to the General Election, regardless of their party preference. (washington, cali, lousianna)
what happen in Michigan when there is a faithless elector?
the vote is cancelled and the elector is replaced
Why do some believe is the cause for low voter turnout?
the voting registration process
Ban on non-partisan issue ads
those referring to candidates without expressly advocating their election or defeat 60 days before a general election and 30 days before a primary (SC ruled unconstitutional as the 1st amendment protects pol speech)
Reform Proposals to the electoral college (their goal)
to ensure that the pop vote winner wins the electoral votes/election
What are some of the variations of voter ID laws?
undocumented, strict, requested
soft monies
unregulated, no limits
Who likes/hates top-two primary?
voters like (easier), Parties hate (limits amount of representation of the party on the ballot)
split-ticket voting
voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election
voting history
voting qualifications set by states
fat cats
wealthy contributors
reverse coattail effect
when a candidate for some major office is less than popular, but wins electoral college
no reason absentee
when you sign up for an absentee ballot you don't have to give a reason why
late 18th and early 19th centuries
white, property-owning men who had a vested interest
winner-take-all system
win a plurality of the state vote, win all of the electoral college votes (except maine and nebraska)
coattail effect
winning presidential candidate and party pulls more less known candidates to victory