AP Gov-Unit 5
24th Amend
Outlaws poll taxes
single-issue parties
Parties that concentrate on only one public policy matter that they wish to address or reform Ex: prohibition party
17th Amend
Popular Election of Senators; expands republic/elite democracy
bundling
Raising large sums of money from multiple donors for a candidate.
Professional Associations
Represent white-collar professions and are concerned with business success and laws that guide trade; most have defined membership and fees
think tanks
Research institutions, often with specific ideological goals
public interest groups
Seek a collective good, advocate for the public good
C-SPAN
The cable network that provides gavel-to-gavel coverage of congressional floor proceedings, committee hearings, and special events.
grassroots lobbying
When an interest group tries to inform, persuade, and mobilize large numbers of people (outsider technique)
19th Amend
Women's suffrage
political analysis
a form of journalistic expression that explores and provides opinions on a topic in depth to help citizens understand potential effects of policy
business roundtable
a group of the most influential business leaders in the US
pluralism
a multitude of views that ultimately results in a consensus on some issues; increases competition between interest groups
provisional ballots
a vote that is cast but not counted until determination is made that the voter is properly registered
national association of manufacturers
advocates for manufacturers; pushed for creation of US Chamber of Commerce to protect business interests
Citizens United v. FEC
allows corporations and unions to spend money on "electioneering communications" (political ads); overturned parts of the BCRA
blanket primary
allows voters to cast votes for candidates in multiple parties
open primary
allows voters to declare party affiliation on election day
winner-take-all system
an election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins; makes voting for independents feel like throwing your vote away
Super delegates
an unelected delegate who is free to support any candidate for the presidential nomination at the party's national convention regardless of who their state voted for in the primary (democrats)
autopsy report
analyses why the party failed to win elections
dark ads
anonymously placed status updates, photos, videos, or links that appear only in the target audience's social media news feeds but not in the general feeds to manipulate emotions and sway votes
prospective voting
anticipate the future and consider how candidates may affect their lives
lobbying
attempting to influence policy makers
Honest Leadership and Open Government Act
banned all gifts to congress from lobbyists; must report bundling
splinter parties
break away from one of the major parties; harms the party they leave
hard money
campaign contributions donated directly to candidates and subject to FEC regulations
Joint fundraising committees
can be created by two or more candidates, PACs or party committees to share the costs of fundraising, and split the proceeds
war chest
candidate funds
party realignment
change in electoral forces due to change in party identifications, marked by critical elections
national chairperson
chief strategist and spokesperson who runs the party machine
midterm elections
congressional elections that do not coincide with a presidential election and therefore have lower turnout
linkage institutions
connects the people to the government Ex: political parties, interest groups, elections, and media
Asian Voters
conservative values align with their business and ethical beliefs
republican party
conservative; strong national defense; decreased gov. spending and regulations
retrospective voting
consider candidate track records and accomplishments
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
created a superfund for environmental disasters
absentee ballots
decrease voting lines and employees needed, while increasing voter turnout
Hispanics voters
democratic Latinos, but more republican Cubans; have less turn out than African Americans
Speechnow v. FEC
determined superPACs should be unlimited
gender gap
difference in political views between men and women and how they're expressed; women are more democratic
investigative reporting
digs deep to expose corruption in government and other institutions, often causing citizens to call for new policy
voter registration
enrollment on the electoral roll; assigns voters a polling place
Office of Civil Rights
established by 1957 CRA and addressed discriminatory voting registration
Associated Press (AP)
established news bureaus (offices beyond headquarters) and standardized unbiased reporting
Federal Communications Act
established the FCC to regulate electronic media and prevent monopolies
McGovern-Fraser Commission
examines, considers, and rewrites convention rules to ensure minorities are represented by the democratic party
CNN (Cable News Network)
first 24 hour television news service launched by Ted Turner in 1980
Fairness Doctrine
former federal policy requiring television and radio broadcasters to present contrasting viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance.
astroturf lobbying
gains the appearance that people are concerned about an issue, but an interest group is really behind the impression
National Convention
gathers party leaders and vote for candidates
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
gov. agency that helps protect consumers by regulating financial products and services, like mortgages, credit cards, and student loans.
Public Citizen
group of lawyers founded by Ralph Nader for consumer support and open government
voting blocs
groups that tend to vote in noticeable patterns
ideological parties
have a consistent ideology and set of beliefs across issues Ex: libertarians
young voters
have a lower turnout and a lack of strong views, while older voters are more reliable and conservative
Catholics voters
historically democratic; straddle liberal and conservative
Americans for Democratic/Conservative Action
ideological organizations that rate members of congress
super PACs
independent PACs formed by anyone and can collect funds from anyone to make unlimited donations, but cannot directly donate to candidates or parties
trade associations
interest groups composed of businesses in specific industries
issue networks
interest groups temporarily work together for a specific issue and dissolve when it's solved
American Federation of Labor
labor union that supports fair and safe labor; democratic
voter apathy
lack of concern for election outcome
Evangelical voters
largest religious group; conservative; republicans
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
limits how much party organizations can give candidates
rational choice voting
making decisions based on their own benefit, carefully weighing all choices
platform committee
members appointed by candidates and runner ups write the party platform at the national convention
primary elections
members of the same party running against each other for the nomination
1965 Voting Rights Act
most effective legislation for Black voting; states with low turnout are monitored by the Department of Justice; required preclearance for new voting laws
hyperpluralism
multiple competing interest groups cause gridlock and grants more power to large funded groups (elitism)
grassroots campaigning
narrowly targeting opinion leaders and those connected to lawmakers to influence others
Nonconnected PACs
no sponsoring organization and often form around a single issue that can solicit funds from anyone to donate directly to candidates
rank and file voters
nominate candidates for the primary
501c3 organizations
nonprofit group that may legally address political matters but may not lobby or campaign; donations to it are tax deductible
Jews voters
not many of them, but they have high participation and are more liberal
political reporting
objectively reports just the facts for the general public
political commentary
opinion based news on political issues, building arguments on evidence and assumptions Ex: editorials, op-eds
caucuses
party members select the best candidate through a series of discussions and votes
free riders
people who benefit from an interest group without making any contributions
voter turnout
percent of voters who actually vote
Gov printing office (GPO)
permanent federal agency that prints government publications
connected PACs
political action committees funded separately from the organization's treasury through donations from members; can donate directly to candidates
candidate centered
politics that focuses directly on the candidates, their particular issues, and character, rather than on party affiliation; candidates less dependent on party elites
party line voting
process in which voters select candidates by their party affiliation (party identification)
Common Cause
public interest group that sought to create a "true citizen's lobby"
suffrage
qualifications for voting
McCutcheon v. FEC
removed BCRA limit on how much individuals could donate to multiple candidates in a 2yr cycle; increased Joint Fundraising Committee donations
adversarial press
reporters continually question government officials, their motives, and their effectiveness
Role of Media
scorekeeping, gatekeeping, and digging for the truth
political efficacy
sense that your vote makes a difference
Help America Vote Act (HAVA)
set national voting and election standards, such as electronic voting and handicap accessibility
501c4 organizations
social welfare organizations can lobby and campaign, but can't spend more than half of expenditures on political issues
front-loading
states schedule primaries and caucuses earlier to boost political clout and tourism
Shelby County v. Holder
struck down voting rights act preclearance requirement
democratic party
support environmental protections, strong minority rights, and increased government services
narrowcasting
targeting media programming at specific populations within society
franking privilege
the ability of members to mail letters to their constituents for free
coattail effect
the added votes received by congressional candidates of a winning presidential party
electorate
the large percentage of citizens who vote
voting eligible population
the number of citizens eligible to vote
franchise
the right to vote
revolving door
the tendency of public officials, journalists, and lobbyists to move between public and private sector (media, lobbying) jobs
Protest Parties
third parties that arise in response to issues of popular concern that have not been addressed by the major parties Ex: Greenback party
Federal Election Campaign Act
tightened reporting requirements and limited candidates' expenditures
leadership PACs
type of nonconnected PAC started by any current or former elected official and can raise money from the general public to directly donate to other candidates
psychographic segmentation
uses personality, lifestyle, and social class data to group people and understand WHY they vote a certain way
closed primary
voters must declare their party affiliation in advance of the election, typically when they register to vote
Oregon v. Mitchell
voting age requirement doesn't reply to state elections
super tuesday
when the race narrows on fewer nominees and lots of primaries take place
platform
written list of beliefs that take voter opinions into account
National Voter Registration Act
"Motor voter Act" decreased the effort it takes to register by increasing the number of locations for voting
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act
- Banned soft money donations to political parties - increase limits on hard money donations - PACs can't pay for ads near election time - candidates must state they approve the message
1932 Realignment
- New Deal Coalition - Democrats finally take over the federal government - first time most AAs voted democrat
Buckley v. Valeo
- agreed that unlimited donations cause unfair elections - congress can't limit campaign spending or how much candidates donate to themselves
1968 Realignment
- begins era of divided government - Democrats lost the south with CRA of 1964 - party dealignment increases number of independents
1800 realignment
- formation of the National Republican Party - Jacksonian democracy
1896 Realignment
- realigned voters along economic lines - Dems favored Big Business regulation while Repubs opposed regulations
1860 Realignment
- republicans split on slavery - Lincoln (3rd party) wins presidency - free soil party - GOP dominated politics with AA support - Dems. strong in the south
purpose of political parties
1. Mobilization and education of voters 2. Creation of party platforms 3. Candidate recruitment and campaign management 4. Implement public policy
26th Amend
18 year olds can vote
US v. Harris
1st amendment ensures any group the right to lobby
Australian ballot
A secret ballot printed by the state.
Big 3 Networks
ABC, CBS, and NBC set the tone for TV journalism
American civil liberties union
An organization formed during the Red Scare to protect free speech rights, fair trials, and racial justice
Whigs
Anti-Jackson political party that supported loose interpretation and abolitionist; became the eary "republican party"
15th Amend
Black men can vote; first constitutional mandate affecting state voting requirements
soft money
Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.
democratic/republican national committee
Complex network dedicated to furthering party goals and meet every 4 years at national conventions to sharpen policy and increase influence
23rd Amend
DC can vote in presidential elections
New Deal Coalition
Democratic group of the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals.
