AP Government Unit 5

Political Efficacy

The belief that one's political participation really matters or doesn't-that one's vote can/can't actually make a difference.

Prospective Voting

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

Rational Choice Voting

Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen's individual interest. Individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.

retrospective voting

Voting for or against a candidate or party in office because one likes or dislikes how things have gone in the recent past (looking back). voting made after taking into consideration factors like the performance of a political party, an officeholder, and/or the administration. It presumes that people are more concerned with policy outcomes than policy instruments.

Electorate

all the people in a country or area who are entitled to vote in an election.

Issue Networks

alliance of various interest groups and individuals who unite in order to promote a single issue in government policy An example includes the wide ranging network of environmental groups and individuals who push for more environmental regulation in government policy. Other issue networks revolve around such controversial issues as abortion, gun ownership rights, and drug laws Issue Networks differ from Iron Triangles in that they seek to support the public interests, not private ones, by seeking to benefit a wide ranging constituency that supports their side

National Popular Vote

is an agreement among a group of U.S. states and the District of Columbia to award all their respective electoral votes to whichever presidential candidate wins the overall popular vote in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Federal Budget Process

itemized plan for the annual public expenditures of the United States. process by which governments create and approve a budget There are five key steps in the federal budget process: 1. The President submits a budget request to Congress 2.The House and Senate pass budget resolutions 3. House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees "markup" appropriations bills 4. The House and Senate vote on appropriations bills and reconcile differences 5. The President signs each appropriations bill and the budget becomes law

Candidate

one that aspires to or is nominated or qualified for an office, membership, or award a person who applies for a job or is nominated for election.

horse race journalism

political journalism of elections that resembles coverage of horse races because of the focus is on polling data and public perception instead of qualifications and platform issues. Election coverage by the mass media that focuses on which candidate is ahead rather than on national issues.

15th Amendment (1870)

prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, color, or previous condition of servitude". Gave African American's suffrage rights.

Ideological Orientation

refers to a persons political persuasion or how they identify. for example conservative or republican

Campaign Management

refers to overseeing, building and maintaining relationships with candidates. Candidate management is a crucial component of every recruiter's role, with both active and passive candidates. ... Ultimately, candidate management allows recruiters to make better matches between candidates and clients. the individual who travels with the candidate and coordinates the many different aspects of the campaign

Party Leadership Systems

refers to the structures in Congress and political parties that are influenced and controlled by party leaders

Investigative Journalism

the use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams, and schemes, at times putting reporters in adversarial relationships with political leaders. Reporters examine and scrutinize public officials, business, and public policy to find wrong doing

Election Coverage

Presidential or Midterm elections being covered by news, websites, tv, the media.

Traditional News Media

-Newspaper -Wire services and news syndicates -PR newswire (PRN) -Magazine -Radio and television -Public service announcement (PSA) -Video news release (VNR) -Cable and satellite

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

A 2010 landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that individuals, corporations, and unions could donate unlimited amounts of money to groups that make independent political expenditures. Landmark Supreme Court case in which the Court held that the First Amendment prohibited the government from restricting independent political expenditures by corporations and unions and overturned portions of BCRA. Turned BCRA (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act) around. Money is an expression, free speech. (2010)

Demographic Coalitions

A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which multiple political parties cooperate, reducing the dominance of any one party within that "coalition". The usual reason for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament. A political alliance, also referred to as a political coalition, political bloc, is an agreement for cooperation between different political parties on common political agenda, often for purposes of contesting an election to mutually benefit by collectively clearing election thresholds, or otherwise benefiting from characteristics of the voting system or for government formation after elections. These may break up quickly, or hold together for decades becoming the de-facto norm, operating almost as a single unit.

Elections

A formal and organised choice by vote of a person for a political office or other position. a formal and organized process of electing or being elected, especially of members of a political body.

Third Parties

A political party organized as opposition to the existing parties in a two-party system. While no current third party has reached the level and status of the two major parties they still have an impact on elections and policy Generally third party are created in response to the failure of the major parties to address a significant issue of a policy Declining trust and faith in the two major parties Types: Splinter-A political party formed by members of an existing one whose views or policies differ from those of the majority. Single Issue/Social Protest-Prohibition party Economic/Fiscal Special Interest-Green Party is focused on protecting the environment. Why they don't win: -Election laws are written by state legislatures and they make it difficult by creating structural barriers for third parties to get on the ballot -Third parties receive little media attention Wasted Voted Theory-Due to the strength of the two parties voters view third party candidates as "Can't win" and will support the third parties in public opinion polls but feel if they vote third party it is a "wasted vote" They cause a spoiler effect sometimes: -Consequence of vote splitting between candidates or ballot questions with similar ideologies/beliefs. -One spoiler candidate's presence in the election draws votes from a major candidate with similar politics thereby causing a strong opponent of both or several to win. -The minor candidate causing this effect is referred to as a spoiler

Regional realignments

A shifting of party coalition groupings in the electorate that remains in place for several elections. Occurs when a party undergoes a major shift in its electoral base and political agenda. The groups of people composing the party coalition may split up, resulting in a vastly different party. Realignments are rare and tend to be signaled by a critical election. Example: the new deal, when many working class and ethnic groups joined together under the democratic party. Southern states turning away from Democrats and supporting Republicans and minorities leaving GOP and supporting Democrats.

Caucuses

A system for selecting convention delegates used in about a dozen states in which voters must attend an open meeting to express their presidential preference. A meeting of people, often in an auditorium, where they physically discuss and vote on who they would like their party's nominee to be. There are several states that use the system instead of a primary to help select a presidential nominee A caucus is a system of local gatherings where voters decide which candidate to support and select delegates Presidential candidates focus on early primary and caucus states to win early contests and build momentum to win the nomination of their party.

Electoral College

A unique American institution created by the Constitution, providing for the selection of the president by electors chosen by the popular vote within each state. Throughout American History, the winner of the electoral college vote has usually been the candidate with the most popular votes. However in 2000, President George W. Bush was elected even though Al Gore won the popular vote, and President Trump was elected in 2016 even though Hillary Clinton won more votes nationwide. Electoral College-representatives of each state cast the final ballots that officially elect a president Elector- Member of the Electoral College chosen by methods determined in each state 538 electors Problems with it: -Unequal voting power depending on where you live -Winner-take-all method of distributing electoral votes -Unbound electors -House of Representatives chooses if no one reaches a majority or the Electoral college is tied -Presidency can be won without a majority of the popular vote Arguements: -The Founding Fathers enshrined the Electoral College in the US Constitution because they thought it was the best method to choose the president. -The Electoral College ensures that all parts of the country are involved in selecting the President of the United States. -The Electoral College guarantees certainty to the outcome of the presidential election. -Like most of the Constitution the Electoral College was the result of compromise Not a perfect solution but satisfied all sides Selection by Congress vs. Direct election-

Campaign Finance

All funds that are raised and spent in order to promote candidates, parties or policies in an election. Campaign finance reform-attempt to set limits and bring transparency to the elections

Political Participation

All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue. The most common means of political participation in a democracy is voting; other means include protest and civil disobedience. any activity that shapes, affects, or involves the political sphere

Iron Triangles

Also known as subgovernments, iron triangles consist of interest groups, government agencies, and congressional committees or subcommittees that have a mutually dependent, mutually advantageous relationship; they dominate some areas of domestic policymaking. policy-making relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy and interest groups.

Critical Elections

An electoral "earthquake" where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. Such periods are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election to bring about a new party era. dramatic change in the political system.

Electoral rules

An electoral system is a set of rules that determine how elections and referendums are conducted and how their results are determined. Political electoral systems are organized by governments, while non-political elections may take place in business, non-profit organisations and informal organisations. Electoral systems consist of sets of rules that govern all aspects of the voting process: when elections occur, who is allowed to vote, who can stand as a candidate, how ballots are marked and cast, how the ballots are counted (electoral method), limits on campaign spending, and other factors that can affect the outcome. Political electoral systems are defined by constitutions and electoral laws, are typically conducted by election commissions, and can use multiple types of elections for different offices. Some electoral systems elect a single winner to a unique position, such as prime minister, president or governor, while others elect multiple winners, such as members of parliament or boards of directors. There are a large number of variations in electoral systems, but the most common systems are first-past-the-post voting, the two-round (runoff) system, proportional representation and ranked or preferential voting. Some electoral systems, such as mixed systems, attempt to combine the benefits of non-proportional and proportional systems. the method used to calculate the number of elected positions in government that individuals and parties are awarded after elections. In other words, it is the way that votes are translated into seats in parliament or in other areas of government (such as the presidency).

Independent Candidate

An independent or nonpartisan politician is an individual politician not affiliated with any political party. A candidate in a nonpartisan election or a candidate in a partisan election who is not the nominee of a political party.

Interest Groups

An organization of people with a shared policy goal, or goals, who enter the policy process at one or more points, in one or more policy arenas, to try to achieve their goals. Organized individuals that try to influence public policy

Political Commentary

Analysis, support or criticism that is specific of or relevant to politics, including policies, politicians, and political parties. Offers opinions on political issues, building arguments on evidence and assumptions

Professional Consultants

Campaigns hire managers and experienced professionals to assist in every aspect of the campaign Modern campaigns hire these consultants to gain an advantage and win elections

Competitive and Fair elections

Competitive: elections that are regular, free, and fair and that offer a real possibility of the incumbent government being defeated Fair: elections held on principle of "one person, one vote," and non- predetermined outcome all voters have an equal opportunity to register, where all votes are counted, and where the announced results reflect the actual vote totals.

Demographics

Demographic Characteristics -Socioeconomic characteristics of a population expressed statistically, such as age, sex, education level, income level, marital status, occupation, religion, birth rate, death rate, average size of a family, average age at marriage. statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.

Closed Primary

Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party's candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty. A primary election in which only a party's registered voters are eligible to vote

Open Primary

Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests. A primary in which party members, independents, and sometimes members of the other party are allowed to vote

17th Amendment

Established the popular election of U.S. Senators by the people of the states Previously the Constitution required Senators to be selected indirectly through state . legislatures

Campaign Finance Law

Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971(FECA): -Federal law which increased disclosure of contributions for federal campaigns -Previously campaigns did not have to reveal who they received donations from and how they spent their money -Placed legal limits on the amount of campaign contributions. -Created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) which monitors money received/spent by political campaigns -FEC is an independent regulatory commission Laws placed on how much and what can be financed on campaigns. Regulations on financing campaigns.

Bi-Partisan Campaign Reform Act

Federal law regulating financing for federal political candidates and campaigns The law was designed to address two key campaign finance issues: -soft money -issue advocacy Attempt to bans the use of "soft money" in federal campaigns and increased individual spending limits. Attempted to ban soft money by regulating issue advocacy and party building activities A single person cannot directly donate to a political candidate

Mobolization

Grassroots mobilization - interest groups organize citizens, who act to influence policymakers Lobbying - direct contact with policymakers for the purpose of persuasion through the provision of information, political benefits, etc Litigation - the use of courts to gain policy preferences through cases or amicus curiae briefs ("friend of the court" briefs) the action of making something movable or capable of movement

Free Rider problem

For an interest group, the fact that some or many potential group members will not join because they can benefit from the group's activities without joining. Since individuals benefit from the activities of interest groups some do not feel the need to support the group financially or through active participation.

Single Issue Groups

Groups that have a narrow interest on which their members tend to take on uncompromising stance. Some interest groups are formed to advocate for or against a single issue. Such as NRA, National Abortion Rights Action League.

Outreach

Interest groups trying to reach to voters.

Impact of Media Ownership

Media companies are businesses and ownership can affect ideology, philosophy and type of coverage

Committee system

Members of Congress are assigned to committees to investigate the merits and problems with suggested bills, sometimes holding public hearings to learn more before sending it to the full House or Senate for debate and a vote. is a legislative sub-organization in the United States Congress that handles a specific duty (rather than the general duties of Congress). Committee membership enables members to develop specialized knowledge of the matters under their jurisdiction. As "little legislatures", the committees monitor ongoing governmental operations, identify issues suitable for legislative review, gather and evaluate information, and recommend courses of action to their parent body. -Part of iron triangle

Midterm Elections

Midterm Congressional elections -Elections conducted in the middle of a presidential term -Lower voter turnout compared to general presidential elections combination of elections for the US Congress, governorships and local races that take place every two years.

Data Management Technology

Parties use communicationtechnology and voter-data management to disseminate, control, and clarify political messages and enhance outreach and mobilization efforts. The skills and equipment used to organize, secure, store and retrieve information. Data management technology can refer to a wide range of techniques and database systems used for managing information use and allocating access both within a business and between entities. Data management refers to an organization's management of information and data for secure and structured access and storage. Data management tasks include the creation of data governance policies, analysis and architecture; database management system (DMS) integration; data security and data source identification, segregation and storage.

Party Conventions

Party gathering held in the summer before the general election to officially nominate the presidential candidate. Previously party leaders and bosses ruled and deals were made in private back rooms. Currently with the reformed primary process most nominations are known well in advance. A national meeting of delegates elected in primaries, caucuses, or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president, ratify the party platform, elect officers, and adopt rules.

Social Media in Campaigns

Planned, coordinated marketing efforts using one or more social media platforms. Identify strategy goals, Target audience, Campaign: experiment & engage, Budget, Monitor & change.

Political Ideology

Political Ideology: The coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals. Beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose, which helps give meaning to political events.

Election Cycles

Presidential Elections are every 4 years Congressional Elections are every 2 years (Called midterm elections)

24th Amendment

Prohibits both Congress and the states from conditioning the right to vote in federal elections on payment of a poll tax or other types of tax Southern states adopted poll taxes in laws as a measure to prevent African Americans and often poor whites from voting

19th Amendment

Prohibits the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex. Allowed women to vote. The amendment was the culmination of the women's suffrage movement in the United States, which fought at both state and national levels to achieve the vote

26th Amendment

Prohibits the states and the federal government from using age as a reason for denying the right to vote to citizens of the U.S. who are at least 18 years old The drive to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 grew across the country during the 1960s, driven in large part by the military draft that resulted in young men between the ages of 18 and 21 being forced to fight in the Vietnam War

Candidate Recruitment

Recruit candidates-Done by political parties. Find people interested in running for public office

"Stand by your Ad" Provision

Requires candidates and groups to disclose who paid for the ad in an effort to reduce attack ads "I'm _________ and I approved this message"

Presidential Elections

STEPS FOR RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT Exploration Candidates will set up exploratory committees to find out if they are viable candidates Announcement Campaigning in states, raising money, informing voters Primary Debates - debates between potential party nominees Primaries/Caucuses - voting for delegates who represent party members at the national convention National Convention - official selection of party nominee National Debates - debates between two party nominees General Election - selection of electors Electoral College - official selection of President The election of President and Vice President of the United States is an indirect election in which citizens of the United States who are registered to vote in one of the 50 U.S. states or in Washington, D.C. cast ballots not directly for those offices, but instead for members of the U.S. Electoral College, known as electors. These electors then in turn cast direct votes, known as electoral votes, for President, and for Vice President. The candidate who receives an absolute majority of electoral votes (at least 270 out of a total of 538, since the Twenty-Third Amendment granting voting rights to citizens of Washington, D.C.) is then elected to that office. If no candidate receives an absolute majority of the votes for President, the House of Representatives chooses the winner; if no one receives an absolute majority of the votes for Vice President, then the Senate chooses the winner.

Party Platforms

Set of beliefs that are accepted as characteristic of a particular political party and presented to the public to help the public know the principles and values for which that party stands A political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years. The platform is drafted prior to the party convention by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate's strengths. It is the best formal statement of a party's belief. -A belief in small government and lower taxes are examples of the Republican Party platform. -A belief is large government and social welfare programs are examples of the Democratic Party platform

Structural Barriers

State voter registration laws -States determine how to register and registration deadlines Procedures on how, when, and where to vote -How to vote -States determine how either by mail, in person, or both -States determine voting technology and systems for counting ballots -When to vote -States determine the hours and can allow early voting -Where to vote -States control number of polling locations and where people can vote Voter ID laws -laws that require a person to provide some form of official identification before they are permitted to register to vote, receive a ballot for an election, or to actually vote.

State Voter registration laws

States determine how to register and registration deadlines. Laws and requirements to vote in each of the states, such as: -Being Over 18 -U.S. and State Citizen -No felonies

Party Line Voting

Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices across the ballot Also known as straight ticket voting

Linkage Institutions

The political channels through which people's concern become political issues on the policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions including elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media. Structure or organization within a society that connects the people to the government.

Political Spectrum

The political spectrum refers to the range of political positions or opinions that exist from the progressive left wing to the conservative right wing.

Incumbency Advantage

Those individuals who already hold office. In congressional elections, incumbents usually win. Why they have advantages: -High visibility -Name recognition and media access -Institutional means of self-promotion -Franking privilege: free postage -Pork barrel spending -Money for the district -Gerrymandering -Rigging elections through redrawing of districts -Financial advantage -Money and party support, receive more campaign donations -"scare off" effect -Quality challengers recognize the difficulty to defeat incumbents and avoid contesting elections" -Lack of voter knowledge

Voter Turnout

Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election. Why is turnout low: -Structural Barriers -Difficulty to register and vote -Voter ID laws Low political efficacy (belief that your vote matters) -Some people believe their vote won't make a difference -Failure of parties to mobilize voters -Mistrust of government -Apathy -Don't care -Satisfaction with the way things are -Lack of penalties for not voting

Constituencies/Constituent

a body of citizens entitled to elect a representative (as to a legislative or executive position). Electoral districts, groups of people who support a candidate.

Social Movements

a group of diffusely organized people or organizations striving toward a common goal relating to human society or social change, or the organized activities of such a group

Political Action Committee (PAC)

groups that raise money from individuals and then distribute it in the form of contributions to candidates that the group supports. PACS must register with the FEC and report their donations and contributions to it. Individual contributions to a PAC are limited to $5,000 per year, and a PAC may give up to $5,000 to a candidate for each election. -An organization that raises money privately and employs lobbyists to influence legislation -Official registered fund-raising committee that represents interest groups in the political process -PACs were created as a result of stricter rules on unions and corporations -PACs give primarily to incumbents who are more likely to win Super PAC: -a type of independent political action committee which mayraise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and individuals but is not permitted to contribute to or coordinate directly with parties or candidates. -Comedian Stephen Colbert exposed the lack of restrictions and enforcement by running for president and creating his own Super PAC

Political Parties

team of men and women seeking to control the government appartus by gaining office in a duly constituted election. Group of office holders, candidates, activists, and voters who seek to elect public officials and influence public policy. Functions: -Recruit candidates -Find people interested in running for public office -Nominate and support candidates -Raise money and run candidate campaigns through the party organization -Mobilizing citizens and gathering support -Get out the vote efforts -Building coalitions: a group of interests or organizations that join forces for the purpose of electing public officials -Educate the electorate about the issues and candidates -Inform citizens and encourage voters to participate in the election -Parties try to cultivate a popular image and help inform the public about issues through advertising and voter contact -Organize the government The organization of Congress and state legislatures is based on political party controls -Unity and Linkage -Parties unite government officials and offer a connection between voters and candidates -Parties have linked different regions to form national coalitions

Media

the main means of mass communication (broadcasting, publishing, and the Internet), regarded collectively. Types: -Print press -Newspapers, magazines, and journals -Electronic media -Radio, television, and the internet Functions: -Informing the public and shaping public opinion -Linkage institution -Providing a link between citizens and government -Sets the agenda by highlighting key stories that focus the country's attention -Serves as a watchdog that investigates actions of government and businesses -Investigative Journalism: Reporters examine and scrutinize public officials, business, and public policy to find wrong doing Media Bias: the prejudice of journalists and news producers within the mass media in the selection of events and stories that are reported and how they are covered Biased reporting includes distorting the truth, only telling part of the truth or reporting the facts out of context Unfair or favorable coverage of stories and events to influence public opinion There are a number of national and international watchdog groups that report on bias in the media

Media Bias

the prejudice of journalists and news producers within the mass media in the selection of events and stories that are reported and how they are covered Biased reporting includes distorting the truth, only telling part of the truth or reporting the facts out of context Unfair or favorable coverage of stories and events to influence public opinion There are a number of national and international watchdog groups that report on bias in the media the bias or perceived bias of journalists and news producers within the mass media in the selection of events and stories that are reported and how they are covered real or imagined prejudice that is thought to affect what stories journalists cover and how they report those stories Partisan News sites: The rapidly increasing demand for media and political communications outlets from an ideologically diverse audience have led to debates over media bias and the impact of media ownership and partisan news sites.