Political Participation Cheat Sheet

The core ideas of Political Participation distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.

PiqCue — piqcue.com/political-participation/cheatsheet

Quick Reference

Electoral College

The system established by the Constitution for electing the president. Each state receives electors equal to its total congressional representation. A candidate needs 270 of 538 electoral votes to win. Most states use winner-take-all allocation.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who actually cast ballots in an election. U.S. turnout is lower than most democracies, typically 55-65% in presidential elections and 35-45% in midterms.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

An organization that raises and spends money to elect or defeat candidates. Traditional PACs can contribute directly to candidates with limits ($5,000 per candidate per election). Super PACs can raise unlimited funds but cannot coordinate with candidates.

Interest Group

An organized group that seeks to influence public policy without running candidates for office. Interest groups lobby, litigate, mobilize members, and fund campaigns to advance their goals.

Political Efficacy

A citizen's belief that their political participation can make a difference. Internal efficacy is confidence in one's own ability to understand and engage in politics. External efficacy is belief that the government responds to citizens.

Two-Party System

A political system dominated by two major parties. In the U.S., the winner-take-all electoral structure and single-member districts create strong incentives for two dominant parties rather than multiple competitive parties.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Supreme Court ruling that political spending by corporations and unions is protected speech under the First Amendment. This decision led to the creation of Super PACs, which can raise unlimited funds for independent expenditures.

Primary Election

An election in which party members select their nominees for the general election. Open primaries allow any registered voter to participate; closed primaries restrict voting to registered party members.

Key Terms at a Glance

Electoral College:Constitutional system for electing the president through state-level electoral votes rather than the national popular vote. Each state receives electors equal to its total congressional representation, and most states use winner-take-all allocation.

Super PAC:An independent expenditure-only political action committee that can raise unlimited funds from individuals, corporations, and unions but cannot contribute directly to candidates or coordinate with their campaigns.

Voter Turnout:The percentage of eligible voters who cast ballots in an election. U.S. turnout is typically 55-65% in presidential elections and 35-45% in midterms, lower than most established democracies.

Political Efficacy:A citizen's belief that political participation can make a difference. Internal efficacy is confidence in personal political competence; external efficacy is belief in government responsiveness.

Lobbying:The practice of attempting to influence government decisions through direct contact with legislators and officials, providing information and expertise, organizing campaign contributions, and mobilizing grassroots support.

Dark Money:Political spending by nonprofit organizations that are not required to publicly disclose their donors, allowing anonymous influence on elections through issue ads and other expenditures.

Primary Election:An election in which voters select a political party's nominee for the general election. Open primaries allow any voter to participate; closed primaries restrict voting to registered party members.

Duverger's Law:The political science observation that winner-take-all single-member district elections tend to produce two-party systems, while proportional representation tends to produce multiparty systems.

Get study tips in your inbox

We'll send you evidence-based study strategies and new cheat sheets as they're published.

We'll notify you about updates. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.