AP U.S.
Government & Politics Review
Unit 5: Political Participation (20-27% Exam Weight)
5.1 Voting Rights and Models of Voting Behavior
Main Topics
● Voting Amendments
Amendment Description
Fifteenth ● Extended suffrage to African-American men
Seventeenth ● Established the popular election of US Senators by
the people
Nineteenth ● Extended suffrage to women
Twenty-Fourth ● Abolished poll taxes in federal elections
Twenty-Sixth ● Extended suffrage to people 18-20
● Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
● 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
5.2 Voter Turnout
Main Topics
● 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
5.3 Political Parties
Main Topics
● 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
5.4 How and Why Political Parties Change and Adapt
Main Topics
● Campaign Finance
○ Funds raised to support various political positions (ie. 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
5.4 How and Why Political Parties Change and Adapt (continued)
Main Topics (continued)
● Super PAC
○ “independent expenditure-only committee”
○ Can raise unlimited funds for a candidate or/ party
■ Cannot interact with those that funds are donated to
5.5 Third-Party Politics
Main Topics
● 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
Proportional System Two-Party System Winner-Take-All System
● Political parties earn ● Two-major parties ● Legislative seats are
legislative seats dominate voting at all awarded to the party
proportional to the levels that received the most
number of votes they votes during an
receive during an election
election
5.6 Interest Groups Influencing Policy Making
Main Topics
● “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
5.7 Groups Influencing Policy Outcomes
Main Topics
● 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
■ Ie. Civil Rights Movement
● Inside Strategies v. Outside Strategies
○ Inside Strategies = Interest groups attempt to influence policy by working
inside Washington D.C
■ Ie. direct lobbying and drafting legislation
○ Outside Strategies = Interest groups attempt to influence policy by
working outside Washington D.C
■ Ie. campaign contributions and reaching out to constituents
● Single-Issue Groups
○ Interest group devoted to a singular, specific issue
5.8 Electing a President
Main Topics
● 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
5.9 Congressional Elections
Main Topics
● Types of Elections
Primary Election ● Election to determine which candidate a party will send to
the General Election
● Candidates compete against other candidates from their
party
General Election ● Election to decide which candidates will hold office
● Candidates compete against candidates from other parties
Presidential Election ● Candidates run for President and Vice President
● Occurs every four years
Midterm Election ● Elections for Congress
● Occurs during the middle of a President’s term
5.10 Modern Campaigns
Main Topics
● 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
5.11 Campaign Finance
Important Cases
● 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
Main Topics
● 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
■ Ie. 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
5.12 The Media
Main Topics
● 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
SOURCES:
● “AP®︎ US Government & Politics (College-Level).” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, 2020,
[Link]/humanities/ap-us-government-and-politics.