AP GOVERNMENT REVIEW: Test #2
LINKAGE INSTITUTIONS
I. Elections
Why Many Americans Don’t Vote
Difficult to register to vote
Apathy
Too many elections
Unappealing politicians
Decline in political parties
Lack of political efficacy
Two Step Voting Process
1. Registration
2. Vote
Voter turn-out Variables
Income (More $ more likely to vote)
Age (Oldies most likely to vote)
“Gender Gap”
Race
Education: (More educated, more likely
to vote)
Suffrage
15th, 19th and 26th
amendments
Definition of politics
Political efficacy
Political culture
Who was Tocqueville?
Voting Groups
Whites
African-Amers
Hispanics
Asians
Jews
Southerners
Terms
Blue Dog Democrat
RINO Republican
History of Political Parties
Source: Feds vs Anti-Feds
1896: Parties “switched”: GOP:
1932: New Deal Coalition
1970s: “Southern Strategy”
1980s: “Reagan Revolution”
POLLS
Polls
Straw
Random Sampling
Exit Polls
IV. POLITICAL PARTIES
Independent Parties
Ideological
Splinter
Protest
Democrats
Active, large gov’t
Spend lots to improve
Look out for “little” people
Personal freedoms
Republicans
Small gov’t
Cut taxes
Christian Morality
Functions
Recruit candidates
Inform the public
Manage government
V. *The Road to the White House
VI. Electoral College: How it works
Arguments for and
against
VIII. The Media (Symbiotic Relationship: why?)
Functions: Gatekeeper, Watchdog and Scorekeeper
Problems: Media is privately owned for profit….leads to biased news
and superficial coverage
Terms: Background story, leak, trail balloon, etc.
History of
Independents
Bull Moose Party
Ross Perot
Ralph Nader
Superdelegate
Open/closed primaries
Caucus primary
Brokered convention
VII. Interest Groups
What are they?
5 powers
Why controversial?
Good things about them