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