Unit 5: Political Participation

Question 1

Fifteenth Amendment

Answer 1

Extended suffrage to African American men.

Question 2

Seventeenth Amendment

Answer 2

Established the popular election of US senators.

Question 3

Nineteenth Amendment

Answer 3

Extended suffrage to women.

Question 4

Twenty-fourth Amendment

Answer 4

Declared poll taxes void in federal elections.

Question 5

Twenty-sixth Amendment

Answer 5

Extended suffrage to people aged 18-20 years old by lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.

Question 6

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Answer 6

Legislation designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African American suffrage.

Question 7

National Voter Registration Act of 1993

Answer 7

Also called the “Motor Voter Act.” Makes it easier for voters to register to vote by requiring states to allow citizens to register when applying for or renewing their driver’s license.

Question 8

Rational choice voting

Answer 8

Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen’s individual interest.

Question 9

Retrospective voting

Answer 9

Voting to decide whether the party or candidate in power should be re-elected based on the recent past.

Question 9

Prospective voting

Answer 9

Voting based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future.

Question 10

Party-line voting

Answer 10

Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices at the same level of government.

Question 11

Poll tax

Answer 11

A fixed-sum tax payable by all relevant individuals, such as all residents of a state; used historically by some US states as a precondition to registering to vote in order to discourage certain groups from participation (for example, African Americans).

Question 12

compulsory voting

Answer 12

Laws that require citizens to register and vote in local and national elections.

Question 13

midterm elections

Answer 13

The congressional elections that occur in even-numbered years between presidential elections, in the middle of each presidential term.

Question 14

political efficacy

Answer 14

A citizen’s belief that their vote matters and can influence government policies.

Question 15

presidential elections

Answer 15

Elections that take place every four years, in which voters elect the president and the vice-president.

Question 15

voter registration

Answer 15

A requirement that eligible voters enroll on an electoral roll before they can vote.

Question 16

demographics

Answer 16

Characteristics of a population, like age, race, and education. Political scientists use demographic information to study changes in the makeup of a population.

Question 16

voter turnout

Answer 16

The number of registered voters who vote in an election.

Question 17

linkage institutions

Answer 17

Groups in society that connect people to the government and facilitate turning the people’s concerns into political issues on the government’s policy agenda.

Question 17

political party

Answer 17

An organization of people with similar political ideologies that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected.

Question 18

party platform

Answer 18

A list of goals outlining a party’s positions on issues and political priorities.

Question 19

campaign finance

Answer 19

Funds raised to promote candidates, political parties, or policy initiatives. There are complex laws regulating who can contribute to campaigns and how much they can contribute.

Question 20

candidate-centered campaigns

Answer 20

Political campaigns that focus on the candidates for office—their personalities and issues—rather than the parties they represent. Since the 1930s, candidate-centered campaigns have predominated in American politics.

Question 21

critical election

Answer 21

An election that leads to a major party realignment. After a critical election, a number of key supporters of one party (for example, southern white voters) switch to the other party.

Question 22

dealignment

Answer 22

The process by which an individual loses his or her loyalty to a political party without developing loyalty to another party.

Question 22

direct primary

Answer 22

The current process by which voters choose their party’s candidate for national office. Direct primaries have replaced party-controlled mechanisms for choosing candidates.

Question 23

political machine

Answer 23

A party organization with the goal of enriching party leaders, party workers, and citizen supporters through government contracts and jobs.

Question 23

micro-targeting

Answer 23

The growing practice of using computer models to identify voters who might support a candidate. Campaigns pay firms to mine consumer data, census records, and voting behavior in order to supply them with names of potential voters.

Question 24

political action committee (PAC)

Answer 24

An organization, usually representing an interest group or corporation, that raises money with the goal of supporting or defeating candidates, parties, or legislation. There are limits to the amount of money a PAC can donate to a candidate or party in each election.

Question 24

realignment

Answer 24

A major change in the composition of party coalitions, often brought on by a new or pressing issue (often economic trouble or war). For example, the Great Depression led many African Americans to leave the Republican Party and join the Democratic Party in the 1932 election, permanently changing each party’s base of supporters.

Question 25

super PAC

Answer 25

Also called an "independent expenditure-only committee," a super PAC may raise unlimited funds in support of a candidate or party as long as they do not coordinate in any way with the candidate or party.

Question 26

independent candidate

Answer 26

A candidate for office who does not have a formal affiliation with a political party.

Question 27

proportional system

Answer 27

An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded in proportion to the percentage of votes garnered by a party in an election. This system is common in Europe and benefits minor political parties, who may win a small number of legislative seats even if a mainstream party wins most seats.

Question 28

third party

Answer 28

Also called a minor party, a third party is a US political party other than the two major parties (the Republican Party and the Democratic Party). Third parties rarely win elections in the United States, but frequently influence national politics by drawing attention to issues previously neglected by the major parties.

Question 29

two-party system

Answer 29

An electoral system in which two major parties dominate voting at all levels of government.

Question 30

"free rider" problem

Answer 30

A problem of group behavior that occurs when an individual can receive a public benefit without making a personal contribution of money or effort. For example, a person might listen to public radio but never contribute to the station, assuming that other donors will pay to keep it operating.

Question 30

winner-take-all system

Answer 30

An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the party who received the most votes in an election. This is the most common system in the United States, and it does not benefit minor political parties, since third-party candidates rarely win the majority of votes in an election.

Question 31

interest group

Answer 31

A formal or informal association of people seeking to influence governmental policy in favor of their interests; interest groups may represent social causes, economic and corporate interests, or religious and ideological interests.

Question 32

iron triangle

Answer 32

A longstanding, mutually-beneficial relationship between an interest group, congressional committee, and bureaucratic agency devoted to similar issues; for example, the American Association of Retired Persons, the Congressional Subcommittee on Aging, and the Social Security Administration all work closely together on issues related to senior citizens.

Question 33

issue network

Answer 33

A group of individuals, public officials, and interest groups that form around a particular issue, usually a proposed public policy that they wish to support or defeat.

Question 34

lobbying

Answer 34

Seeking to influence a public official on an issue; an interest group with a particular agenda may be known as its "lobby," for example "the tobacco lobby."

Question 35

direct lobbying

Answer 35

Interest groups' attempts to influence policy by speaking directly with bureaucrats or elected officials.

Question 36

outside strategies

Answer 36

Interest groups' attempts to influence policy outside of Washington DC, by using strategies like campaign contributions, media coverage, or encouraging constituents to contact their elected officials.

Question 36

inside strategies

Answer 36

Interest groups' attempts to influence policy by working within Washington DC. This includes strategies like direct lobbying, drafting pieces of legislation for elected officials, and suing the government.

Question 37

protest movement

Answer 37

A group that brings attention to a social problem through public demonstrations or other forms of direct action.

Question 38

salience

Answer 38

The degree to which the general public is aware of a policy issue. Policymakers are less likely to accommodate the demands of interest groups on issues with high salience, like gun rights or abortion rights, as they risk alienating voters.

Question 39

single-issue group

Answer 39

An interest group devoted to one particular issue rather than a larger category of interests; for example, EMILY’s List supports pro-choice female candidates, and the National Rifle Association (NRA) opposes gun regulations.

Question 40

social movements

Answer 40

Groups that work to bring about change in society, such as the Civil Rights Movement or the Environmental Movement; these groups support policies and elected officials that align with their beliefs.

Question 41

caucus

Answer 41

A meeting in a voting precinct at which party members choose nominees for political office after hours of speeches and debates. Caucuses tend to promote the views of dedicated party members since participating requires a large time commitment.

Question 42

closed primary

Answer 42

A primary election limited to registered members of a political party. For example, in a state with closed primaries, only registered Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary to choose candidates for local, state, and national office.

Question 43

Electoral College

Answer 43

The group of electors chosen by each state to formally vote for the next US president based on the result of voting in the state.

Question 43

general election

Answer 43

An election that decides which candidate will fill an elective office. General elections usually pit candidates from opposing parties against one another.

Question 44

incumbency advantage

Answer 44

The tendency of incumbents (officials already holding a political office) to win reelection. Incumbents have advantages in media exposure, fundraising, and staffing.

Question 44

open primary

Answer 44

A primary election that is not limited to registered party members. For example, in a state with open primaries, independent voters or Republicans can vote in the Democratic primary to choose candidates for local, state, and national office.

Question 45

party convention

Answer 45

A meeting of delegates from one political party to vote on policy and select party candidates for public office.

Question 46

primary election

Answer 46

An election that decides which candidate a party will send on to a general election. Primary elections pit candidates from the same party against one another.

Question 46

popular vote

Answer 46

The total or percentage of votes won by each candidate.

Question 47

winner-takes-all

Answer 47

An electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes is elected, or, in the case of the US Electoral College, gains all the votes of a state or district’s electors.

Question 48

Presidential Election Timeline: Spring-summer before election year

Answer 48

Most serious candidates declare their intention to run for president.

Question 49

Presidential Election Timeline: Summer, election year

Answer 49

Parties hold national conventions to formally nominate their presidential and vice-presidential candidates, typically choosing the candidate with the most votes from state primaries and caucuses.

Question 49

Presidential Election Timeline: January-June, election year

Answer 49

States hold primaries and caucuses to vote for party nominees.

Question 50

Presidential Election Timelines, November, election year

Answer 50

The presidential election takes place on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November.

Question 51

Presidential Election Timeline, December, election year

Answer 51

The Electoral College casts votes, at which the president and vice president are formally elected.

Question 52

political consultants

Answer 52

People who promote the election of candidates for political office by helping advise candidates on how best to present their ideas to the public.

Question 53

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Answer 53

Also known as the McCain-Feingold Act. Banned soft money and reduced attack ads.

Question 54

“Stand by Your Ad” provision

Answer 54

A provision of the Bipartisan Campaign Act of 2002 which requires ads used to support or oppose a candidate to include this line: “I’m [candidate’s name] and I approve this message."

Question 55

soft money

Answer 55

Money spent in support of a candidate without directly donating to their campaign, such as paying for ads or campaign events, or giving to the candidate’s party.

Question 56

Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission (2010)

Answer 56

A Supreme Court case which ruled that political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment.

Question 57

“horse race” journalism

Answer 57

Journalism that focuses on who is winning or ahead in the polls rather than on candidates' policy agenda or debates.

Question 58

investigative journalism

Answer 58

Deep, original investigation on a specific topic, often conducted over a long period of time and sometimes involving the exposure of secret information.

Question 59

"media as a gatekeeper"

Answer 59

The media’s role in setting the political agenda by drawing public and government attention to certain issues.

Question 60

agenda-setting Media

Answer 60

The way the media influences what issues the public considers important enough to address through the government.

Question 60

citizen journalist

Answer 60

A person who reports on current events who is not trained in journalism or affiliated with a news outlet. Social media and smartphones have facilitated the rise of citizen journalists.

Question 61

framing

Answer 61

The way the media defines and portrays an issue, which affects public perception of that issue.

Question 62

ideologically-oriented programming

Answer 62

TV and radio news programs that cater to audiences with a particular ideological perspective.

Question 62

media consolidation

Answer 62

The process by which a few large companies have acquired the majority of news sources in the United States. Today, six companies (CBS, Comcast, Disney, News Corporation, Time Warner, and Viacom) control 90% of American media outlets.

Question 63

partisan news sites

Answer 63

Websites and blogs that cater to audiences with a particular ideological perspective.