Unit 5 Flashcards
Give the timeline of expansion of the franchise.
- Remove of property requirement: 1820s
- Birthright citizenship: 1868, 14th amendment
- Voting for men regardless of race: 1870, 15th amendment
- Direct election of senators: 1913, 17th amendment
- Voting for women: 1920, 19th amendment
- Poll taxes unconstitutional: 1964, 24th amendment
- No denial fo voting rights based on color race or language-minority status: 1965, Voting Rights Act of 1965
- Voting age lowered to 18: 1971, 26th amendment
What are the 4 models of voting?
- Rational Choice: Voters base their decision on self-interest
- Retrospective: Voter base their decision on past performance. How good did the incumbent (the candidate who is office) do?
- Prospective: Think about how well a person is going to perform
- Party ticket voting: voters based on party affiliation
What’s the trend with compaign spending?
Increasing
Can congress pass restrictions on how much politicians spend on their campaign? Why or why not?
They may not pass restrictions because it violates the first amendment of the Constitution.
Can Congress restrict the amount of money people can contribute to campaigns? Why/Why not?
Yes, to ensure fair elections.
Hard vs Soft Money
Hard money is money given directly to a canddiate. Soft money is money given to a party or interest group who can buy advertising on the candidates behalf. Not subject to campaign finance laws.
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act
Ts is wrong btw:
* * Increased the amount of hard money that could be donated by a candidate
* Tried to regulate the amount of soft money that could be donated to a candidate
* Stand by your ad provision
The second provision was struck down in court under Citizens United v. FEC.
Types of PAC
🏢 Connected PACs (also called “Separate Segregated Funds” or SSFs)
🔹 What they are:
Sponsored by a corporation, union, or trade association.
Can only solicit contributions from a restricted class: usually employees, members, or shareholders of the sponsoring organization.
🔹 Rules:
Cannot use general treasury funds for contributions; must raise money specifically for the PAC.
Can contribute directly to candidates and parties, within federal limits.
🧠 Example:
The Microsoft PAC can solicit contributions from its employees and donate to candidates.
🏛️ Unconnected PACs (Nonconnected PACs)
🔹 What they are:
Not sponsored by a business or labor group.
Often created by ideological groups, individuals, or interest organizations.
🔹 Rules:
Can solicit from the general public (not just a restricted class).
Can donate to candidates and parties within federal limits.
🧠 Example:
A PAC started by gun control advocates or environmental activists not tied to a company.
💸 Super PACs (Independent Expenditure-Only Committees)
🔹 What they are:
Cannot donate directly to candidates or coordinate with campaigns.
Can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money on independent political advertising.
🔹 Rules:
Can accept unlimited donations from individuals, corporations, and unions.
Must report donors and expenditures to the FEC, but cannot coordinate with candidates.
🧠 Example:
Priorities USA Action (pro-Democrat) or Americans for Prosperity Action (conservative/libertarian).
🔄 Quick Comparison Table:
Type of PAC Can Donate to Candidates? Can Accept Unlimited Donations? Can Coordinate with Candidates? Who Can Fund It?
Connected PAC ✅ Yes ❌ No ❌ No Employees/members of sponsor org
Unconnected PAC ✅ Yes ❌ No ❌ No General public
Super PAC ❌ No ✅ Yes ❌ No Anyone (including corps & unions)
Would you like a visual diagram showing how money flows between these PACs and campaigns?
Linkage Institution
Institutions that encourage political participation and utilize support to influence public policy. Political parties, special interest groups, and the media.
The interaction of linkage institutions results in …
A policy agenda by the candidates
24th amendment
Outlawed the Poll tax
Motor Voter Act of 1993
This law enabled people to register to vote at state motor vehicle departments.
Political views are primarily founded on
Parent’s views
Four main linkage institutions
Elections, interest groups, political parties. and the meda
What are the functions of political parties?
- Nominating candidates
- Running campaigns
- raising money
- Coordingating, in government, the implementation of policies they support
What is the national committee?
The governing body of a political party is the national committee, made up of state and national party leaders. This committee has limited power and responds to the direction of the national chairperson. The chairperson is selected by the presidential candidates nominated at the convention. In fact, the real party leader of the party in power is the president himself.
Federal Election Campaign Act
After being modified by the supreme court, it set limits for how much individuals could contribute to campaigns.
