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Define Suffrage

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-Right to vote -Fundamental principle of democratic government

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Define Universal Suffrage

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-The extension of right to vote for all adult citizens -Principe widely accepted in the U.S. today, but universal suffrage did not exist in the U.S. at the time the Constitution was written

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How does the Constitution address suffrage?

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-Leaves voter eligibility to states but specifies that all voters qualified to vote for the largest house state legislature can vote for House of Representatives -When Constitution was written, all states restricted voting to white male property owners

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How was suffrage expanded before Civil War?

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-Suffrage has been gradually extended since the founding of the U.S. -Property ownership and payment of taxes were gradually eliminated as requirements to vote state by state between 1800 and the Civil War

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How was suffrage expanded after Civil War?

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-Racial restrictions eliminated in 1870 with the Fifteenth Amendment -Women were granted suffrage in 1920 with the Nineteenth Amendment -Minimum age for voting lowered to 18 in 1971 with the Twenty-Sixth Amendment

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Define Fifteenth Amendment

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-Guarantees right to vote to all races -Passed in 1870, shortly after Civil War, to prevent states from making laws keeping freed slaves from voting

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Define Nineteenth Amendment

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-Extends the right to vote to women -Enacted in 1920 as a result of Woman Suffrage Movement

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Define Woman Suffrage Movement

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-Organized in mid 19th century to gain right to vote for women -First success: Wyoming Territory grants right to vote to women -Final Success: Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 which granted women suffrage throughout the U.S.

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Define Twenty-Sixth Amendment

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-Lowered age requirement to vote to 18 in all states in 1971 -Previously each state had set its own minimum age requirement (between 18 and 21)

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Define Twenty-Third Amendment

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Granted suffrage in 1961 to Washington, D.C. residents in presidential elections

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Define Literacy Test

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-A reading test citizens were required to pass in order to vote -Widely used in the South to discourage blacks and poor whites from voting -Banned by the Voting Rights Act in 1956

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Define Poll Tax

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-A tax levied on voting -Widely used in South to discourage blacks and poor whites from voting -Eliminated in federal elections by the Twenty-Fourth Amendment in 1964 -Eliminated by Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections in 1965

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Define Popular Vote

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-Direct vote of the people -Popular vote determines the winner of races for Congress, but not the President

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Define Electorate

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The voters of a nation, state, city, country, or other district referred to collectively

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Define Issue/Policy Voting

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-Vote on proposed laws, not candidates -Referendums and initiatives allow direct vote of people on proposed laws or constitutional amendments -Only exist at state level and only in some states—no referendum or initiative at federal level

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Define Referendum

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-Proposed law or state constitutional amendment referred by the state legislature to the people for a vote -Result of Progressive Movement to foster more democratic government -Only at state level, only in some states

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Define At-Large

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All the votes of a state or county elect their representative

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Define Initiative

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-Proposed state law or constitutional amendment by citizens through a petition process -Enacted by majority vote of people; Result of Progressive Movement to foster more democratic government -Only at state level, only in some states

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Define Candidate Voting

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-Voting for a candidate to represent the district rather than voting directly on an issue or policy -Most U.S. elections are candidate elections -Voting for candidates is most common form of political participation in U.S.

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What ways can people participate in elections?

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-Voting -Campaigning (talking to voters, registering voters, etc.) -Contributing money -Running for office

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Define Sampling Error

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Percentage of possible errors in the polling process

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What are the two types (or \"rounds\") of elections?

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Primary Election and General Election

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Define Primary Election

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-Election in which voters choose their party's candidates for offices, also known as \"direct primary\" -Result of Progressive Movement which made government more democratic -All states now use primary elections to choose candidates for state offices

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What are the types of Primary Elections?

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-Closed Primary: Only voters registered in the party may vote in a party's primary -Open Primary: Votes choose which party's primary ballot they want -Blanket Primary: Only one ballot so voters may for candidate of either party and split votes between parties

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Define Front-Loading

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Choosing an early date to hold the primary election

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Define General Election

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-Election in which candidates for elective offices are selected -General elections for federal offices are held first Tuesdays after first Monday of November in even-numbered years -Most states combine federal and state general elections

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Define Run-off Election

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-Election between top 2 winners held when no candidate receives a majority -Most states select winners based on a plurality, not a majority, so no run-off is necessary

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What is the difference between Majority and Plurality in relation to elections?

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-Majority is more than half the votes -Plurality is the number of votes obtained by the leading candidate, although it may not be a majority -Most elections require a plurality vote, but a few states have run-off elections when no candidate wins a majority

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Define Special Election

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-An election outside the regular schedule of elections -Called when an office (such as a U.S. senator) is vacant due to death or resignation and must be filled mid-term -Can also be called to vote on referendum, initiative, or recall effort

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Define Nonpartisan Elections

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-Elections in which candidates have no party affiliation identified on the ballot -Some states use nonpartisan elections to select judges -Only Louisiana holds nonpartisan elections for members of Congress

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Define Mid-Term or Off-Year Election

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-Federal election held in the middle of the President's term of office -All congressmen/women and 1/3 of senators are elected in each mid-term election -President's party generally looses seats in Congress in mid-term elections

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Coattail Effect

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-When the popularity of the victorious president candidate helps his party's candidates for Congress win as well -Not a factor in mid-term elections since President is not on the ballot

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Define Recall Election

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-Special election initiated by petition that allows citizens to remove an official before his/her term has expired -If recall is successful, another special election is held to elect a successor -Used in some states only—not an option for President or Congress

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Define Progressive Movement

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-Reform movement of late 19th and early 20th centuries that sought to make government more democratic -The referendum, initiative, direct primary, and recall election are results of the Progressive Movement

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What are Federal Election Laws?

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-Set uniform date for elections in all states for federal offices -Other election issues, including voter registration procedures and the voting process, are decided by state laws

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What are State Election Laws?

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-Each state makes its own laws regarding elections, including whether or not to allowed referendums, initiatives, recall elections, direct primaries, etc. -Considerable variation among states as to how voters register, the voting process, scheduling of elections, etc.

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Define Voter Turnout

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-The percentage of voting-age citizens that actually vote -In presidential elections of 2004 and 2008, voter turnout was 64%

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What are some trends in U.S. voter turnout?

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-Turnout has been gradually decreasing in the U.S. -U.S. voter turnout lower than in nearly all the world's other democracies

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What are contributing factors to low voter turnout?

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-Political apathy: lack of interest -Mistrust of government: all candidates deemed untrustworthy or unresponsive -Lack of political efficacy: belief that their vote will not make a difference -No perceived differences between candidates

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Define Political Efficacy

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-Belief that a person can influence politics and public policymaking -Lack of political efficacy often given as one reason for low voter turnout

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Define Political Apathy

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-Lack of interest or concern regarding politics and policymaking -Often given as one reason for low voter turnout in U.S.

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What groups have below average voter turnout?

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-Younger people, racial and ethnic minorities, males, persons with lower incomes -2008 was first presidential election in which racial minority turnout was nearly equal to that of whites

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What groups have above average voter turnout?

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-Those with high levels of education and income -Those more active in community organizations, religious institutions, labor unions -Those with strong party identification

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What is the voter registration process?

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-Registration required in order to vote -Each state determines its own voter registration process -About 90% of registered voters voted in 2008 presidential election, but only 71% of eligible citizens were registered

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What are efforts made to increase voter turnout?

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-Focus on making both voter registration and voting easier -Motor Voter Law allows citizens to register at state driver's license offices -Many states experimenting with extended voting period and alternative voting methods such as mail-in ballots

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Define Get-Out-the-Vote movement

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A campaign near the end of an election to get voters out to the polls

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Define Motor Voter Law

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National Voter Registration Act of 1993 requires states to allow voter registration when qualified voters renew driver's licenses or apply for social services

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Define Campaign Finance

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-Campaigning for federal office in U.S. is costly and increasing -Danger: Winning candidates will be beholden to special interests that fund their campaigns -Congress has passed campaign reform acts that attempt to limit this danger

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Define Campaign Finance Reform Laws

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-Series of campaign finance reforms enacted from 1971 to 2002 -Limited campaign contributions -Required full disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures -Established public funding of president campaigns

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Define Federal Election Campaigning Act (FECA)

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-1971 act requires disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures -Limited expenditures on advertising and money a candidate could contribute to his/her own campaign—these limits were declared unconstitutional

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Define Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

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-Supreme Court ruled that FECA campaign spending limits and limits on the candidates' own donations violated the First Amendment's guarantees of freedom of expression -Let stand other parts of FECA, such as limits on campaign contributions

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Define Federal Election Commission (FEC)

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-Independent regulatory agency founded in 1975 that enforces federal campaign finance laws -Administers public financing of presidential campaigns

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Define Political Action Committee (PAC)

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-An organization created to raise campaign funds for candidate(s) for federal office—regulated by FEC -Corporations, labor unions, interest groups cannot make direct campaign contributions, but can form a PAC to raise money for candidates

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What are the limits on campaign contributions?

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-Campaign contributions can be made only by individuals and PACs -$5,000 per candidate per election limit for PACs -$2,400 limit for individuals -Goal: Candidates raise a little money from a lot of people, rather than a lot of money from a few special interests

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Define Soft Money

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-Money donated to a political party rather than candidate to avoid limits imposed by campaign finance reform laws—this loophole closed in 2002 -Since 2002, refers to money given to a 527 organization focusing on issue advocacy, not candidate advocacy

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Define Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act (BCFRA)

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-Also known as McCain-Feingold Act -2002 act regulating contributions to political parties as well as candidates -Resulted in formation of 527 political organizations, unregulated groups that focus on an issue (not a candidate) in attempt to influence an election

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Define 527 Political Organizations

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-Nonprofit organizations that engage in issue advocacy, not candidate advocacy—a fine line often blurred -Not subject to limitations imposed by campaign finance reform; Attempt to influence voters, sometimes with controversial attack ads

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How are presidential campaigns financed publicly?

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No longer publicly funded. Persons could donate $1 of tax refund to public presidential election fund. After Citizens United case, changes to campaign finance made it so that candidates did not take public funding and the process was eliminated.

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What are the limits on Campaign Fund-Raising?

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-Candidates can only accept money from individuals and PACs, not interest groups, corporations, etc. -$2,400 limitation per candidate per election for individuals, $5,000 for PACs -Donations and expenditures must be made public

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How is election of President unique?

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-President (with Vice President running mate) is the only nationally elected office -Unique process for selecting the President and Vice President, unlike other campaigns and elections

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How does one begin a campaign for President?

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-Set up an exploratory committee to begin lining up support and money; If things look good, announce candidacy -Win delegates in state presidential primaries and caucuses -Success in early primaries and caucuses is crucial

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Define National Convention

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-Each party holds national convention every four years to select its presidential candidate -Composed of delegates from each state selected by state presidential preference primaries or caucuses -Held summer prior to general election

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How are delegates selected to National Convention?

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-Each state determines how it will select its delegates to Democratic and Republican national conventions -Some states select delegates through local party caucuses while others use presidential preference primaries

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Define Caucuses

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-Local party meetings to select delegates to state convention, which selects delegates to party's national convention -Caucuses open to all the party's registered voters -Iowa holds first presidential caucuses

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Define Presidential Preference Primary

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-Most states now use primaries, rather than caucuses, to select delegates to party's national nominating convention -New Hampshire holds first presidential preference primary

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How do candidates campaign for the Presidency?

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-Candidates focus on swing states with large populations (due to winter-take-all rule in Electoral College) -Generally candidates moderate their views and move to the political center to win over a wider spectrum of voters

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Define Swing States

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-States that could \"swing\" to either the Democratic or Republican candidate in the general election -Identified by public opinion polls and historical experience -Candidates spend much of their time campaigning in these states

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Define Popular Vote for President

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-General election identifies the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote in each state -Slate of electors pledged to the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote are choose to cast the state's votes in the Electoral College

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Define Electoral College

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-Sole function is to elect the President and Vice President of the U.S. -Usually Electoral College elects candidate who won popular vote -However, 4 times Electoral College has chosen a President who got fewer popular votes than his/her opponent

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What is the make up of the Electoral College?

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-538 members -Each state is entitled to the same number of electors that is has Senators and Congressmen -District of Columbia gets 3 electoral votes even though it has no vote in Congress

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Define Winner-Take-All System

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-All of a state's electors vote as a block for winner of popular vote in the state -Reform Proposal: Allocate electors on basis of vote in each congressional district (Nebraska does)—then Electoral College would reflect popular vote, but large states lose clout

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What is the Electoral College Process?

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-Presidential candidates choose slates of electors in each state; Popular vote in state decides which candidate's electoral state wins -Elector's ballots counted in Congress -Congress declares winner, or refers to House if no candidate has majority

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What happens if the House of Representatives picks the President?

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-If no candidate has a majority in the Electoral College, the House of Representatives elects President from top 3 candidates -When choosing the President, each state gets one vote regardless of the number of representatives it has

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What are the advantages/disadvantages of the Electoral College?

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-Avoids prospect of national recount of popular vote which may take months and produce no conclusive winner -But winner may not be the person who won the popular vote

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Define Maintaining Elections

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Elections that maintain the status quo regarding the balance between majority and minority parties

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Define Deviating Elections

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Elections in which the minority party takes power for a short period, but there is no long-term realignment that makes the minority party the majority party

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Define Realigning Elections

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-Critical elections that change existing patterns of party loyalty, usually a result of a watershed event like the Great Depression in 1932 or the Civil War in 1860 -Minority party becomes the new majority party and a new governing coalition is formed

AP Government- Elections and Campaigns

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