Questions and Answers
What are 527s and 501(c)(4)s?
A 527 organization is a tax-exempt group organized to influence elections; a 501(c)(4) is a tax-exempt organization for social welfare.
Ballot measures include ______ and ______.
initiatives, referendums
What principle was established in the case Baker v. Carr?
One person, one vote.
What did the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 accomplish?
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What was the outcome of Buckley v. Valeo?
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What did the Campaign Reform Act of 1974 establish?
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Who is a campaign manager?
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What was the ruling in LULAC v. Perry (2006)?
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What is casework in the context of Congress?
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What was the significance of Citizens United v. FEC?
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What is the coattail effect?
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What role do delegates play?
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What is the Electoral College?
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What is the franking privilege?
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What does racial gerrymandering entail?
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What are majority/minority districts?
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What is front loading in the electoral context?
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What case is associated with Shaw v. Reno?
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Study Notes
527s and 501(c)(4)s
- 527 organizations are tax-exempt under Section 527 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
- Primarily aim to influence elections and candidate selections at local, state, and federal levels.
- 501(c)(4) organizations emerged from the Revenue Act of 1913, focused on social welfare.
Ballot Measures: Initiatives, Referendums
- Initiatives allow citizens to propose legislation or constitutional amendments.
- Referendums enable voters to approve or reject laws passed by the legislature.
Baker v. Carr
- Landmark case establishing "one person, one vote" principle.
- Requires that legislative districts have equal numbers of eligible voters to ensure equitable representation.
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
- Prohibited soft money contributions to national political parties; only "hard" money is permitted.
- Introduced by Senators John McCain and Russ Feingold.
- Set maximum individual contributions to campaigns at $2,700 (as of 2016).
Buckley v. Valeo
- Ruling deemed that independent spending by individuals or political committees is a form of free speech.
- Claimed such expenditures cannot be restricted under the First Amendment.
Campaign Reform Act of 1974
- Established the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
- Required disclosure of contributions over $100 and prohibited foreign contributions.
- Introduced Political Action Committees (PACs) with a limit of $5,000 per candidate.
- Allowed for federal matching funds in presidential primaries.
Campaign Staff Roles
- Campaign Manager coordinates the overall campaign and travels with the candidate.
- Consultant provides strategies and services to facilitate the candidate's election campaign.
LULAC v. Perry (2006)
- Court ruled Texas's 2004 redistricting plan violated the Voting Rights Act by disadvantaging Hispanic voters.
- Affirmed the ability to partisan gerrymander during mid-cycle legislative changes.
Casework
- Involves congressional activities that assist individual constituents, often involving navigating bureaucracy to aid rights or services.
Citizens United v. FEC
- Supreme Court decided corporations and unions can exercise free speech through independent political expenditures.
- Overturned previous restrictions on corporate spending established by Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce and McConnell v. FEC.
Coattail Effect
- Refers to the electoral advantage candidates gain from the popularity of leading candidates, particularly presidential candidates.
Delegates
- Elected representatives who vote in a manner reflecting the wishes of their constituents over personal beliefs.
Electoral College
- A body of representatives from each state that formally elects the president.
Franking Privilege
- Allows members of Congress to send mail and materials without incurring postage costs.
Racial Gerrymandering
- Prohibits the division of minority votes to dilute their political power.
- The Voting Rights Act of 1965 forbids creating districts based solely on race, labeling such actions unconstitutional.
Majority/Minority Districts
- Often created to manage electoral outcomes, potentially leading to packing minorities into specific districts to minimize their overall influence.
- Republicans are often identified as instrumental in promoting this practice.
Front Loading
- Refers to the trend of states scheduling their primary elections earlier in the nomination calendar to gain influence.
Shaw v. Reno
- A significant Supreme Court case addressing the constitutionality of racially motivated redistricting.
- Further defined the parameters for drawing electoral district boundaries based on racial demographics.
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Description
This quiz features flashcards for Unit 3 of AP Government, focusing on 527 organizations and 501(c)(4) groups. Test your knowledge on how these organizations influence elections and public office candidates in the United States.