AP Unit 5 Flashcards
Political Efficacy:
The belief that your vote matters and you can influence government.
Structural Barriers:
Rules or laws that make it harder to vote (example: strict ID laws, limited polling places).
Rational-Choice Voting:
Voting based on what benefits you personally.
Retrospective Voting:
Voting based on how well you think a party/candidate has done in the past.
Prospective Voting:
Voting based on what you think a candidate/party will do in the future.
Party-Line Voting:
Voting for only one party across all elections (Example: only Democrats or only Republicans).
Party Identification:
Loyalty to a political party (like saying “I’m a Democrat” or “I’m a Republican”).
Ideological Orientation:
Your personal political beliefs (liberal, conservative, libertarian, etc.).
Candidate Characteristics:
Things about the candidate (personality, experience, honesty) that affect your vote.
Contemporary Political Issues:
Current hot topics (like abortion, healthcare, immigration) that influence how people vote.
Linkage Institutions:
convince your opinion on who you vote
Political Parties
Interest Groups
Elections
Media
Interest Groups:
Organizations that influence government on specific issues (like the NRA, AARP).
Free Rider Problem:
People who benefit from an interest group’s work without joining or contributing.
Incumbency Advantage:
Current office-holders (like a president running for re-election) have a big advantage because they’re already known and trusted.
Open Primaries:
Any voter (no matter their party) can vote in a party’s primary.
Closed Primaries:
Only registered party members can vote in their party’s primary.
Caucuses
Meetings where voters gather and discuss before choosing candidates.
Party Conventions:
Big official events where parties formally nominate their candidates.
Professional Consultants:
Experts hired to help run campaigns (ads, fundraising, strategies).
Rising Campaign Costs:
Campaigns are getting more expensive every election cycle.
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA):
Tried to ban “soft money” (unregulated donations)
Introduced the “Stand by Your Ad” rule (“I’m [Name], and I approve this message”).
PACs (Political Action Committees):
Organizations that raise and spend money to influence elections.
“Horse Race” Journalism:
Focusing on who’s winning or losing instead of the candidates’ ideas or qualifications.
