AP Gov Unit 5

Describe how voting rights have expanded throughout American history, including the 15th, 17th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments.

15th Amendment - Gives suffrage to everyone regardless of race (Only black men really, and restricted by black codes) 17th Amendment - Direct Election of Senators 19th Amendment - Grants women suffrage 24th Amendment - Elimination of poll taxes Voting Rights Act (1965) - Ensures all citizens can vote 26th Amendment - Age to vote lowered to 18

Explain how modern campaign strategies, tactics and activities including name recognition, incumbency, positioning, campaign financing, organization, momentum, paid and free media coverage, debates, internet outreach, volunteers, and GOTV all play a role in the success of a presidential candidate.

All of these aspects publicize the candidate, announce their presence, and paint a good picture for them in order to appeal to undecided voters and their base.

Describe the benefits and drawbacks to modern campaigns including the dependence on professional consultants, rising campaign costs and fundraising expectations, short election cycles, the use of propaganda, the decision to "go negative," and the impact and reliance on social media for campaign communication.

Benefits: Easier to contact base, easier to reach out to undecided voters. Drawbacks: Candidates have depended upon professional consultants instead of their own decisions, rising campaign prices block hopeful individuals, people are expected to donate more to campaigns, intrusion of privacy, frequent use of negative ads and propaganda. Negative ads split us and cause divisions, are often viewed poorly as well, but work wonders. Impact of Social Media: Social Media makes it easier for candidates to communicate with their base and many almost rely on it, however, it also makes their words public, and they can sometimes post things off the fly without think (think Trump).

Explain the important role that campaigns and elections play in linking Americans to their government.

Campaigns and elections allow citizens to influence the democratic process through casting their vote and participating and aiding the political process as well.

Explain how demographic characteristics can help parties and campaigns predict whether an American will be likely vote.

Characteristics that Determine who Will Vote More Often: Long Term White Americans Higher Education Higher Income Older Americans Union Households Republicans Modern Trends More Women More Non-White Americans

Explain why there is concern over the amount and sources of campaign financing in our election system and how that might jeopardize our system of competitive and fair elections.

MONEY=POWER It is believed that $ spent on a campaign (hard or soft) will give the contributor an unjust and inappropriate influence over the politician and possibly politics

Describe the use of modern communication technology and voter-data management by political parties to disseminate, control and clarify political messages to enhance outreach to voters.

Modern communication technology groups, sorts, and identifies groups of people based on all sorts of factors such as their internet usage, social media, location, environment, and data in order for campaigns to target them and find people who may be undecided to swing to their side.

Describe typical modern campaign strategies, tactics and activities used during a presidential primary and general election, and explain how and why the strategies will change after the nominee for each party is selected.

Primaries Strategies/Tactics: Mobilize activists/ideological voters, media coverage is sought and so is name recognition, also, candidates seek interest group $ and private $. Candidates seek early victories to get momentum and focus on issues unique to states/geography. After nominee is selected: Candidates move to the center to appeal to moderates/independents. They focus on the center. Why?: To attract uncertain voters and those who need to vote on a major party General: Strategies/Tactics: Same as above. Get $, appeal to moderates, make ads. Activities: Traditional Events(Parades, etc.), Paid Advertisements, TV News Coverage, Debates, Mailing/Contacting/Emails/Social Media, GOTV(Getting your people to the polls)

Explain the process by which our government reapportions and redistricts House districts. Describe the controversies that surround this process including malapportionment, gerrymandering and majority-minority districts.

Process Pregame: Census every 10 years determines a state's population. States are guaranteed 2 Senators and 1 House Member. Reapportionment: Congress awards states House seats based on their population. States can lose seats or gain them depending on their population growth. Redistricting: States take the number of seats granted to them by Congress and draw congressional districts to determine representation in a state. This happens every 10 years, and makes elections on these years SUPER important. Controversies Gerrymandering: When the political party in control of the state redistricts in a way that gives their party an advantage for the next 10 years. Leads to less moderates and more partisanship. Cracking & Packing: Gerrymandering techniques used to create as many easy to win/safe districts as possible. Majority-Minority Districts: A congressional district designed to make it easier for minority citizens to elect minority reps; created to comply with voting rights act.

Describe why an American voter might cast a prospective vote, a retrospective vote, party-line vote, or an individual rational-choice vote. Explain how other factors might also impact voter choice, such as candidate appeal, current political issues and demographic characteristics.

Prospective Vote: Voting based on what the candidate promises to do Retrospective Vote: Voting based on what the candidate HAS done Party-Line Vote: Voting only for candidates who align with the same party that the voter identifies with Individual Rational Choice Vote: Voting considering the direct implications, voting true to your morals Other Impactful Factors: The candidate, major political events/issues, demographics/religion, straight-ticket v. split-ticket mindset

Explain the difference between public and private campaign financing, and cite the requirements for a presidential candidate to receive public financing. Explain the difference between soft and hard money in contribution reporting and the kinds of contributions legally made by individuals and PACs.

Public Financing: Funds given by a federal, state, or publicly funded agency. Private Financing: Funds given by a private groups or individuals, like PACs. Requirements: Candidate must earn $5000 across 20 states, political party must have 5% of vote in election, and candidate must disclose all hard money donations. After this, the government matches donations of $250 or less. Soft Money: A contribution to a campaign that is not counted as going directly to a certain candidate, therefore dodging restrictions Hard Money: Money contributed directly to campaigns, at the discretion of campaign finance laws PACs: Political Action Committees that represent certain interest groups.

Explain the purpose and process of the Electoral College and describe the examples in history when the system produced a different outcome than the popular vote, which raises questions about whether the Electoral College facilitates or impedes democracy. Explain how the Constitution provides for a system to select a president if no candidate earns a majority of the electoral votes.

Purpose: To allow a group of educated electors to use the guidance of the people to elect the pres. Process: As a result of a victory in a state, the candidate receives their electoral votes (ME/NB exceptions). After the general election is over, electors meet later and cast their votes, representing the people, of who they think should be pres. Whoever wins majority of votes is elected If No Majority: The House chooses among the top 3 candidates and Senate chooses among top 2 candidates Examples: Election of 2000, votes were heavily debated from Florida, so S.C. had to declare a winner. Also, one can win without having popular vote, and faithless electors can be present as well

Explain the purpose, processes and outcomes of presidential state primaries (open, closed and modified) and caucuses. Describe the role of earning delegates in presidential primary elections, including superdelegates for Democratic candidates.

Purpose: To allow people of a state to select a party nominee candidate through granting them delegates Primary Process: People go to voting booths to cast their vote for a potential nominee Open Primary: Voters can choose their party at the time of voting Closed Primary: Voters must register with a party before voting Modified: Voters are automatically registered with their selected party after choosing their ballot Blanket: Voters choose 1 candidate from each party Caucus Process: People meet with other party members and choose a candidate together Outcomes: Winner of each party receive a group of electors that attend their convention and vote on their behalf to select the party presidential candidate. Super Delegates(D. only): "Uncommitted" delegates, chosen by D. leaders, that can choose their candidate at the convention

Explain the main purpose and limits of major campaign finance laws that are enforced by the Federal Elections Commission. Describe how the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 was meant to address soft money and truth in advertising, but groups such as SuperPACs have found their way around these limits.

Purpose: To limit campaign contributions/use of funds Limits: Corporations/Unions/Interest Groups must give money through PACs, hard money donations must be disclosed, personal funding of a presidential campaign is limited if they accept public $ BCRA: Prohibited issuing ads on television and radio that mentioned a candidate's name, were paid for by corporations or unions, and aired thirty days before a primary election and sixty days before a general election. Tried to strike down soft money. Loopholes: Independent supporting groups, or SuperPACs, that create independent expenditure ads and "Dark Money", which is essentially support that has no name attached. Individual money is "bundled" to represent one interest group. Political parties can spend money on election activities that don't directly support a candidate, bu basically do.

Explain the purpose and process of a party convention and describe the activities that take place there, including the official nomination, the role of delegates, writing the party platform, providing free media coverage for party candidates and leaders.

Purpose: Write/Vote on party platform, grant free media coverage, display campaign themes to audience, offer a stage to younger party members, NOMINATE VP/P CANDIDATES AND SHOWCASE THEM. Activities: Delegates gather to officially cast their votes for their respective candidates. Stages are given to party officials and speeches are made. VP/P candidates and party platform are announced.

Cite the qualifications for voting in most states, including Ohio. Describe state initiatives to make voting more accessible, such as no-fault absentee voting and laws that create barriers, such as voter purges and strict registration laws. Describe how different state voting procedures (how, when, and where to vote) and the type of election (mid-term vs. presidential) will affect voter turnout.

Qualifications: U.S. Citizen, 18 years old, not currently incarcerated for a felony, register 1 month in advance, have no violated an election law, resident of the state for 30 days. Initiatives: Early voting/Online registration, Australian Secret Ballot, Motor Voter Bill (Citizens can register to vote when getting a drivers license), Help America Vote Act (Implemented electronic voting by 2008 and restricted ballot formatting), No-Fault Absentee Voting(Voting by mail) Barriers: Stricter voting laws, such as registering through mail only, registering farther in advance, Georgia's exact match requirements(now unconstitutional). More barriers include poll location closures, limiting early voting/polling hours, voter ID laws, registration purges based on past participation. What Affects Voter Turnout: Easier Registration/Procedures = Greater Turnout. Also, magnitude of voters in presidential election is leagues bigger than that in mid-term elections.

Explain how Congressional elections are similar and different from Presidential elections. Describe the tremendous incumbency advantage for members of Congress, and the primary vs. general election for congressional candidates. Explain how down-ballot races including Congressional and state elections can be impacted by a presidential race.

Similarities: People vote in both, elections at the start of Nov. occur for each, an election is necessary to win in both. Differences: Less voter turnout in Cong., Cong. elections are less competitive, Cong. are funded privately. Congressional candidates need to have experience at a lower level, cultivate a following, get 50 signatures, and get the party endorsement to run. Term limits only on pres. Congressional campaigns are only funded by private funds, while Pres. campaigns are funded privately in primaries, and publicly after. Incumbency Advantages: Name recognition, public/popular events, free media access, franking privilege(mailing paid for by nat'l gov), Casework services, money Primary v. General: Same strategy as Presidential election Down-Ballot Races: During presidential election years, congressional elections see a much higher turnout and often different results as people who vote for pres. also vote for Congressmen/women. These races are usually more competitive than the super uncompetitive midterm elections.

Explain how the Supreme Court decision Baker v. Carr (1962) opened the door to equal protection challenges to redistricting and stated the "one person, one vote" doctrine.

What: Baker and others claimed that a 1901 law designed to apportion seats for TN general assembly was ignored Why: Did Supreme Court have jurisdiction over questions of legislative appointment Decision: S.C. did have this power. Also, the court claimed that in this case, the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment was infringed upon. This case expanded supreme court power and enabled them to intervene in state affairs. It also reaffirmed the "one-person, one-vote" doctrine through the EPC of the 14th Amendment.

Explain how the Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) expanded the ability of corporations, labor unions and associations to engage in more political spending, as protected as a form of speech.

What: FEC denied Citizens United, a conservative group, from broadcasting a negative documentary about Hillary before her 2008 primary election. Why: Did the terms of BCRA violate the protections within the 1st Amendment Decision: Sided with Citizens United, essentially stated that the government cannot restrict independent expenditures by corporations, such as nonprofits, labor unions, and other associations, as they were viewed as people and were therefore protected by the 1st Amendment's free speech clause. Allowed corporations and unions to make unlimited contributions to campaigns.

Explain how the Supreme Court decision Shaw v. Reno (1993) established the no-racial gerrymandering decision.

What: NC unequally gerrymandered districts in a way that created only 2, very small, black majority districts Why: Did the extreme gerrymandering violate the EPA of the 14th Amendment Decision: Yes, the gerrymandering was so strange that it suggested that NC tried to separate voters based on race. This case allowed S.C. to intervene in extreme cases of gerrymandering, possibly discouraging it. It also allowed for the cancellation of majority-minority districts that were "too strange"