The Right to Vote
Who was the generally included electorate at the time of the original Constitution?
White male property owners
What term describes a channel that connects people with the government, such as a political party?
Linkage institution
What is another term for interest groups, as discussed in Federalist #10?
Factions
What type of election is used by political parties to nominate candidates?
Primary
What is one key role of the media regarding government actions?
Watchdog of government
Which constitutional amendment prohibits denying the right to vote based on race?
15th Amendment
What is the primary goal of political parties?
Get their candidate elected
What is the main objective of interest groups?
Influence policy
What type of primary election limits participation to registered party members?
Closed primary
What type of media content focuses on news about campaigns and candidates?
Election coverage
What key congressional act outlawed discriminatory voting practices like literacy tests?
Voting Rights Act of 1965
What is one method political parties use to mobilize voters at the grassroots level?
Voter registration drives
What is the primary method of influence used by interest groups?
Lobbying
What characterizes the party nomination process for president across the states?
Decentralized races in each state
What "A" term is a critical factor in deciphering bias in the news, asking if content can be verified?
Accuracy
What general trend has the U.S. experienced in voter turnout despite expanded suffrage?
Declining since the late 19th century
What term describes a significant and lasting shift in party identification among voters?
Party realignment
What term describes the close relationship between interest groups, bureaucratic agencies, and congressional committees?
Iron triangle
What system do most states use to allocate their Electoral College votes?
Winner-take-all
What FCC rule requires broadcast stations to provide equal opportunity to opposing political candidates who request it?
Equal Time Doctrine
What are the two main ways the right to vote has been expanded in the U.S.?
Constitutional amendments and congressional legislation
What is a key characteristic regarding who can join a political party in the U.S.?
No restrictions on membership
What type of lobbying involves mobilizing citizens to contact their representatives?
Grassroots lobbying
What term describes the tendency of states to schedule their primaries early in the election year?
Frontloading
What term describes the current media environment where individuals often consume biased news from a single perspective?
News silos