AP US Government & Politics
Chapter 8 Reading Guide – Political Participation
Make sure that you are familiar with the terms below and make sure to make study
cards:
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political participation
voting-age population
voting-eligible population
registered voters
Motor-Votor Law
Fifteenth Amendment (1870)
literacy test
poll tax
grandfather clause
white primary
Voting Rights Act (1965)
Nineteenth Amendment (1920)
Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971)
Australian ballot
Complete Study Guide Questions below:
Trend #1 – How has the difference between the VAP and the VEP changed since 1948?
Trend #2 – How does the US compare to other democratic nations in terms of VAP
turnout and in registered voter turnout?
1. List three reasons are most commonly given by registered voters who do not turnout
to vote?
Trend #3 – How have measures increasing flexibilty & convenience for voting changed
voter turnout?
2. What impact has the Motor Voter Law had on voter turnout?
3. Of all tactics used in get-out-the-vote efforts, which two have shown statistically
significant results in increasing voter turnout?
4. Describe two signals that the US actually is healthy politically, even considering its
relatively low voter turnout.
5. Describe the effects of the Nineteenth Amendment’s addition of women to the
electorate.
Trend #4 – What have been the trends in the youth vote since the 1972 presidential
election?
Trend #5 – What have been the voter turnouts in presidential elections during different
years and eras in US history since the mid-1800s?
6. Describe the two views of the meaning of the decline in voter turnout since the 19th
century in the US.
7. List reasons for lower voter turnout after the 1890s.
8. Would universal voter turnout change election outcomes and public policy?
9. Describe the meaning of each of the following categories of US citizens in terms of
political participation and describe their typical demographic make-up.
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Inactives:
Activists:
voting specialists:
campaigners:
communalists:
parochial participants:
10. List the demographic characteristics of those who are more likely to be voters and
participate in political activities.
11. How can the number of elections in the US, as compared to many European
nations, impact voter turnout?
Trend #6 – List the various trends stating the impact of religion on voting and political
participation.
Trend #7 – Describe the recent trends in Latino voting and political participation.
12. Describe the role of apathy in the lack of American voter participation.