AP Gov Unit 5 Flashcards
What does the Fifteenth Amendment prohibit?
It prohibits federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on ‘race, color, or previous condition of servitude’ (1870).
First major expansion of suffrage to Black men.
What is established by the Seventeenth Amendment?
It established the direct election of U.S. Senators by the people rather than by state legislatures (1913).
Made senators more accountable to voters.
What did the Nineteenth Amendment grant?
It granted women the right to vote (1920).
Huge suffrage expansion after decades of activism.
What does the Twenty-Fourth Amendment prohibit?
It prohibited poll taxes in federal elections (1964).
Poll taxes were often used to suppress African American voters.
What change did the Twenty-Sixth Amendment make?
It lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 (1971).
Passed in response to arguments that 18-year-olds could be drafted into war but couldn’t vote.
What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
A landmark law prohibiting racial discrimination in voting, banning literacy tests, and providing federal oversight in areas with a history of discrimination.
What is Rational Choice Voting?
Voters make decisions based on their own best interest — voting for the candidate that most benefits them personally.
What is Retrospective Voting?
Voting based on whether the party/candidate in power has performed well in the past.
What is Prospective Voting?
Voting based on predictions of how a candidate or party will perform in the future.
What is Party-Line Voting?
Voting exclusively for candidates from one political party on the entire ballot.
What is Voter Turnout?
The percentage of eligible voters who actually cast a ballot in an election.
What is Vote Choice?
The decision of which candidate or party a voter selects.
What is Political Efficacy?
The belief that one’s political participation matters — that your vote can make a difference.
What is Voter Registration?
The requirement to register in advance of an election to be eligible to vote.
What is Compulsory Voting?
A system where citizens are required by law to vote, used in countries like Australia to boost turnout.
What are Mid-Term Elections?
Elections held halfway through a president’s term (every 4 years, but no presidential election).
What are Presidential Elections?
Elections held every 4 years where voter turnout is higher because the presidency is on the ballot.
How do demographics relate to Voter Turnout?
Older, wealthier, and more educated voters turn out at higher rates.
How do demographics relate to Vote Choice?
Demographics like race, gender, income, and education correlate with party preference.
What are Linkage Institutions?
Structures that connect citizens to the government (political parties, interest groups, elections, media).
What are Political Parties?
Organized groups that seek to influence government by electing their members to office.
What are Party Platforms?
The official statement of a political party’s principles, goals, and policy positions.
What is the role of Committee and Party Leadership in Legislatures?
Party leaders and committee chairs have significant influence over legislative agenda and lawmaking.
What are Candidate-Centric Campaigns?
Campaigns that focus on the candidate rather than the party platform.
