Chapter 6 Flashcards
Voter qualifications?
Citizenship, resident of that particular state, 18 years old, registered.
Who is allowed to set voter qualifications?
The states
Who decides if aliens can vote?
The state
Voter requirements of the PAST
Literacy, poll tax
Who is denied the right to vote today?
Mentally impaired (all states), people who have committed a serious crime (1/4 of the states), peron dishonorable discharged from armes forces (few states)
Set up the U.S. Civil Rights Commission– inquire into claims of voter discrimination
Civil eights of 1957
Appointed federal voting referees who helped qualified persons register and vote in federal elections
Civil rights act of 1960
Prohibits the use of voter registration or literacy requirement in an unfair or discriminatory manner
Civil rights act of 1964
Made the 15th amendment truly effective- it applied to ALL elections not just some
Civil rights act of 1965
What were people who chose not to vote called?
Idiotes
Resident aliens, ill or physically disabled, unexpectedly traveling, mental health care facilities, those in jail or prison, religious reasons, and racial
Cannot voters
Believe it makes little difference if they vote
Actual nonvoter
Why dont people vote?
Cannot voters, actual nonvoters, hard registration requirements, long ballots, long lines at polling places, bad weather, time zones, lack of interest
Characteristics of those who usually vote
Higher income, long-time residents, strong sense of party identification, live in area with competition between parties, women (democrats)
Characteristics of those who DONT vote usually
Younger than 35, unmarried, unskilled (democrats), live in the south, live in rural areas
Group of people joined together on the basis of common principles who seek to control gov. in order to affect certain public policies and programs (election oriented in america)
Political parties
Two major parties are:
Democratic and republican
Major functions of political parties
Nominate candidates, informing and activating supporters, bonding agent, governing, watchdog
Nominate candidates and then gather support for them
Nominate candidates
Present their candidate in the best way possible and educate people
Informing and actuvating supporters
Make sure candidates are of good character and qualified for the job
Bonding agent
Political parties govern through their elected members
Governing
Part out of power critisizes the policies and behavior of the party in power
Watchdog
Several major parties and manh lesser parties
Multiparty system
Only the political party of the dictator is allowed to exist
One-party system
Higher income grouos generally join the…
Republican party
Lower income groups generally join the…
Democratic party
Memebership in a party is voluntary. Factors like age, place of residence, level of education affect decision.
Party membership patterns
First political parties
Federalist party and jeffersonian republicans/ democratic republicans
1800-1860
Republicans won 13/15 elections
1860-1932
Republicans won 14/18 elections
1932-1968
Democrats won 7/9 elections
1968 to present
Republicans won 7/10 elections
