● Voting Amendments
● Voting Rights Act of 1965
○ Legislation that made it easier for African-Americans to vote
○ Broke down barriers such as the poll tax and literacy tests
● National Voter Registration Act of 1993
○ “Motor Voter Act”
○ Made it easier for people to register to vote by being able to register when applying/renewing their driver’s license
● Types of Voting
○ Rational-Choice Voting = voting on what is in the citizen’s best interest
○ Retrospective Voting = voting based on a candidate’s past
○ Prospective Voting = voting based on a candidate’s future performance
○ Party-Line Voting = supporting a party by voting for all members of the political party
● Voter Turnout
○ Number of registered voters that vote in an election
● Compulsory Voting
○ Laws that require a citizen to register and vote in elections
● Political Efficacy
○ Belief that your vote matters and can influence policy
○ Belief that our actions have an influence over the government
● Presidential Elections
○ Election for the President and Vice-President
○ Occurs every four-years
● Midterm Elections
○ Elections for Congress
○ Occurs during the middle of a President’s term
● Demographics
○ Characteristics of a population
○ Information is used to study the population
● Political Party
○ An organization of people with the same ideologies
○ Influence public policy through elected officials
● Linkage Institutions
○ Informal organization
○ Connects the people to the government
○ Can influence the political agenda
● Campaign Finance
○ Funds raised to support various political positions (i.e. candidates, political party, etc.)
○ Regulated/ limited by laws
● Candidate-Centered Campaigns
○ Campaigns revolving around a candidate and their personality and political agenda rather than their party
● Critical Election
○ Election leads to a major party realignment
○ Supporters of one party may switch to another
● Direct Primary
○ Process of voters choosing a candidate to represent their party in the Presidential election
● Dealignment v. Realignment
○ Dealignment = an individual loses interest or loyalty to their political party
■ Does not realign w/ another party; become independent
○ Realignment = an individual switches voter preference from one political party to another
● Political Action Committee (PAC)
○ Organization representing an interest group o/ corporation
○ Raises money in support of their interest
■ Limits on how much money a PAC can donate during an election
● Super PAC
○ “independent expenditure-only committee”
○ Can raise unlimited funds for a candidate or/ party
■ Cannot interact with those that funds are donated to
● Third Party
○ Minor party
○ Parties that are not the major parties: Republican & Democratic
○ Rarely win election
■ But tend to have an influence by drawing attention to specific issues
● Independent Candidate
○ Candidate for office with no formal affiliation to a party
● Types of Electoral Systems
● “Free Rider” Problem
○ An individual uses a service o/ receives benefits without making a personal contribution (money or time)
■ Individual assumes other will pay for that service
● Interest Groups
○ Formal o/ informal
○ Group of people w/ the same interests attempting to influence policy
● Iron Triangle
○ Relationship between congressional committees, federal bureaucracy, and interest groups
○ Mutually beneficial
■ Maximizes gain over similar issues
● Iron Network
○ Group of people, interest groups, and public official that rally around a specific issue/ subject that they intend to support or defeat
● Lobbying
○ Seeking to influence a politician on a specific issue
● Direct Lobbying
○ Seeking to influence a politician on a specific issue by directly talking to bureaucrats or elected officials
● Protest Movement v. Social Movements
○ Protest Movement = public demonstrations or direct actions that raise awareness and bring attention to an issue
○ Social Movement = Groups that bring about and influence change in society
■ I.e. Civil Rights Movement
● Inside Strategies v. Outside Strategies
○ Inside Strategies = Interest groups attempt to influence policy by working inside Washington D.C
■ I.e. direct lobbying and drafting legislation
○ Outside Strategies = Interest groups attempt to influence policy by working outside Washington D.C
■ I.e. campaign contributions and reaching out to constituents
● Single-Issue Groups
○ Interest group devoted to a singular, specific issue
● Closed Primary v. Open Primary
○ Closed Primary = Primary election limited to registered party voters
○ Open Primary = Primary election not limited to registered party voters
● Caucus
○ Meeting of members of a political party to choose nominees for political office
● Electoral College
○ Electors chosen by the states to formally vote in the Presidential election
○ Electors vote based on the results of their state elections
● Incumbent
○ Official who already holds office
○ At an advantage due to experience, staff, and media exposure
● General Election
○ Election to decide which candidates will hold office
● Popular Vote
○ Total or % of votes won by each candidate
● Types of Elections
● Campaign Finance
○ Fundraising to support a candidate during their campaign
■ Campaign costs have increased since 1970
● Political Consultants
○ Advisers to candidates that helps promote the election of a candidate
● Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission (2010)
○ Supreme Court case that ruled that political spending is a form of free speech
○ Protected by the first amendment
● Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)
○ McCain-Feingold Act
○ Banned soft money & reduced attack ads
○ “Stand by Your Ad” Provision = Ads in support or opposition of a candidate were required to include: “I’m [candidate’s name] and I approve this message."
● Soft Money
○ Money spent on a campaign rather than directly donating
■ I.e. Paying for ads
● Political Action Committee (PAC)
○ Organization representing an interest group o/ corporation
○ Raises money in support of their interest
■ Limits on how much money a PAC can donate during an election
○ Super PAC =
■ “independent expenditure-only committee”
■ Can raise unlimited funds for a candidate or/ party
● Cannot interact with those that funds are donated to
● Types of Journalism
○ “Horse Race” Journalism = Focuses on reporting who is winning the polls or ahead in the election rather than actual policy agendas or candidate information
○ Investigative Journalism = Deep investigation into a specific subject over a long period of time; can reveal/ expose a secret
● Role of the Media
○ Draws public attention to certain topics or issues
○ Influences what the public cares about and similarly what politicians will carry out on their agenda