AP U.S. Government and Politics · Summary

Unit 5 summary

  1. The Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-fourth and Twenty-sixth Amendments barred denying the vote by race, by sex, by poll tax in federal elections and by age for those 18 or older.
  2. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 suspended literacy tests where it applied and required preclearance; Shelby County v. Holder (2013) struck down the coverage formula.
  3. Turnout is higher in presidential years and among older, more educated and wealthier citizens; easier registration and voting raise it, and added steps lower it.
  4. Winner-take-all elections keep the two-party system in place; third parties shape debates and can act as spoilers.
  5. Interest groups lobby, sue, file amicus briefs and give through PACs, and they fight the free-rider problem with members-only benefits.
  6. A president needs 270 of 538 electoral votes; if no one gets 270, the House picks, one vote per state delegation.
  7. Contributions to candidates can be limited, but independent spending cannot after Buckley v. Valeo (1976) and Citizens United v. FEC (2010).