AP Gov Unit E (Non edited) Flashcards
(81 cards)
1
Q
- Political participation: The various ways in which individuals take part in politics and governance
A
including voting
2
Q
- Political Action Committee (PAC): Organizations that collect funds to donate to political campaigns or spend on behalf of political causes.
A
3
Q
- Linkage Institution: Structures in society that connect the government to its citizens
A
such as political parties
4
Q
- Social Movement: A wide alliance of people connected through their shared interest in social change.
A
5
Q
- Franchise or Suffrage: The right to vote in public elections.
A
6
Q
- 26th Amendment: Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years old.
A
7
Q
- 24th Amendment: Abolished the poll tax for all federal elections.
A
8
Q
- Poll tax: A tax levied as a prerequisite for voting
A
historically used to prevent African Americans from voting.
9
Q
- Voter Turnout: The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election.
A
10
Q
- Demographic Characteristics: The statistical aspects of populations
A
such as age
11
Q
- Socioeconomic Status (SES): An individual’s or group’s position within a hierarchical social structure
A
determined by occupation
12
Q
- Political Efficacy: The belief that one’s political participation makes a difference.
A
13
Q
- Political Mobilization: The process by which large numbers of people are organized for a political activity.
A
14
Q
- Registration Requirements: The rules governing who is eligible to vote and how they must register.
A
15
Q
- Absentee Ballot: A vote cast by someone who is unable or unwilling to attend the official polling station.
A
16
Q
- Rational Choice Voting: Voting based on what a voter believes is in their best personal interest.
A
17
Q
- Retrospective Voting: Voting made after taking into consideration factors like the performance of a political party or incumbent during their last term.
A
18
Q
- Prospective Voting: Voting based on the predictions of how a candidate will perform in the future.
A
19
Q
- Party-Line Voting: Casting ballots for all candidates of one’s preferred political party.
A
20
Q
- Electoral College: The body of electors chosen from each state to elect the president and vice president of the U.S.
A
21
Q
- Winner-Take-All System: An electoral system in which the candidate who receives the most votes wins all of a state’s electoral votes.
A
22
Q
- Battleground State: A state where the election outcome is uncertain and both candidates have a good chance of winning.
A
23
Q
- Swing State: A state that does not consistently vote for the same party and is highly sought after in elections.
A
24
Q
- Get out the vote (GOTV): Efforts by political parties to encourage their supporters to vote.
A
25
- **Super PAC:** A type of PAC that is allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from corporations
unions
26
- **501(c) groups:** Nonprofit
tax-exempt groups organized under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code that can engage in varying levels of political activity
27
- **Soft money vs. hard money:** Soft money refers to unregulated funds donated to political parties for general "party-building" activities
while hard money is regulated donations directly to political campaigns.
28
- **Primary vs. General Election:** A primary election is used to select a party’s candidate for the general election
where the final election for office occurs.
29
- **15th Amendment:** Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race
color
30
- **19th Amendment:** Grants women the right to vote.
31
- **Political Party:** An organized group seeking to achieve power within a government
usually by participating in electoral campaigns.
32
- **Party Identification:** A person's affiliation with a political party
reflecting their political preferences.
33
- **Straight-Ticket Voting:** Voting exclusively for the candidates of one party for all positions in an election.
34
- **Split-Ticket Voting:** Voting for candidates from more than one party in the same election.
35
- **Party Platform:** The official statement of a political party’s principles
beliefs
36
- **Recruitment:** The process by which political parties identify and encourage candidates to run for office under their banner.
37
- **Party Coalition:** An alliance of distinct interest groups and demographics that support a political party over time.
38
- **Realignment:** Significant and lasting shifts in the political landscape
often marked by changes in party allegiance among voters.
39
- **Critical Election:** An election that reflects a significant change in the way large groups of citizens vote
leading to a new political era.
40
- **Party Era:** A period during which one political party is the dominant force in American politics.
41
- **Era of Divided Government:** A period in which the presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress.
42
- **Nomination:** The process through which political parties select their candidates for election to public office.
43
- **Delegate:** A person authorized to represent others
particularly in a political convention.
44
- **Primary Election:** An election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election.
45
- **Open Primary:** A primary election where voters are not required to declare party affiliation.
46
- **Closed Primary:** A primary election where only registered party members can vote to choose their party's candidates.
47
- **Caucus:** A meeting of supporters or members of a specific political party or movement to select candidates or decide policy.
48
- **Superdelegate:** A party leader or elected official who is given the freedom to choose any candidate at the party's national convention.
49
- **Front-Loading:** The practice of scheduling state party caucuses and primary elections earlier in the calendar year to maximize the impact on the presidential nomination.
50
- **National Convention:** A convention of a major political party
especially one that nominates a candidate for the presidency.
51
- **Candidate-Centered Campaign:** Political campaigns focused on the candidates themselves rather than party affiliations.
52
- **Two-Party System:** A political system dominated by two major parties.
53
- **Proportional Representation System:** An electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them.
54
- **Single-Member Plurality System:** An electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes in a electoral district wins the election.
55
- **Third Party:** A political party organized as an alternative to the major parties in a two-party system.
56
- **Interest Groups:** Organizations that seek to influence public policy
often by lobbying government officials.
57
- **Social Movements:** Large groups of people who seek to achieve political or social change.
58
- **Theory of Participatory Democracy:** A theory that emphasizes the broad participation of constituents in the direction and operation of political systems.
59
- **Civil Society:** The aggregate of non-governmental organizations and institutions that manifest interests and will of citizens.
60
- **Pluralist Theory:** A theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of diverse and potentially competing interest groups
each pressing for its own preferred policies.
61
- **Elitist Theory:** A theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process.
62
- **Policy Agenda:** The list of issues that the federal government pays attention to at a given time.
63
- **Collective Action:** The action taken together by a group of people whose goal is to enhance their status and achieve a common objective.
64
- **Collective Good:** Goods that are collectively produced and freely available for anyone's consumption.
65
- **Free Riders:** Those who benefit from resources
goods
66
- **Selective Benefits:** Benefits that a group can restrict to those who actually join.
67
- **Economic Interest Groups:** Groups that organize to influence government policy for the economic benefit of their members.
68
- **Public Interest Groups:** Organizations that seek a public good
which benefits the largest number of people.
69
- **Single-Issue Groups:** Groups that have a narrow interest
tend to dislike compromise
70
- **Government Interest Groups:** Groups that represent the interests of governmental bodies and officials.
71
- **Lobbying:** Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials
especially legislators
72
- **Revolving Door:** The movement of individuals between positions in government and employment in the private sector
often in industries related to their government work.
73
- **Amicus Curiae Brief:** "Friend of the court" briefs by non-litigants to advise on a matter pending before the court.
74
- **Iron Triangle:** The policy-making relationship among the congressional committees
the bureaucracy
75
- **Issue Network:** An alliance of various interest groups and individuals who unite in order to promote a single issue in government policy.
76
- **Grassroots Lobbying:** Efforts by groups and associations to influence elected officials indirectly
through constituents.
77
- **Protest:** A statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something.
78
- **Civil Disobedience:** The active
professed refusal to obey certain laws
79
- **Hyperpluralism:** A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.
80
- **Amicus Curiae Briefs:** Briefs submitted by a "friend of the court" for the purpose of raising additional points of view and presenting information not contained in the briefs of the formal parties.
81
- **Electioneering:** Direct group involvement in the electoral process
including by contributing money to political campaigns or even running their own candidates for office.
