Chapter 8 Key Terms: Political Participation

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The total number of people in a country who are of legal age to vote, regardless of whether they are registered or eligible to vote.

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Voting-Age Population (VAP)

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The group of people who are eligible to vote in an election, excluding those who are not legally permitted to vote.

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Voting-Eligible Population (VEP)

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A test of a person's understanding of a particular language, often used historically to restrict voting rights.

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Literacy Test

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A tax levied as a prerequisite for voting, historically used to prevent certain groups from voting.

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Poll Tax

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A provision that allows people to follow old rules that once governed their activity instead of newly implemented ones, often used to exempt certain people from voting restrictions.

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Grandfather Clause

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The practice of keeping African Americans from voting in the southern states' primaries through arbitrary use of registration requirements and intimidation.

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White Primary

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A voting method in which a voter's choices are confidential, used to prevent voter intimidation and ensure privacy.

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Australian Ballot

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Laws requiring individuals to present some form of identification before they are permitted to register to vote, receive a ballot for an election, or to vote.

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Voter Identification Laws

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Individuals who actively promote, impede, direct, or intervene in social, political, economic, or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society.

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Activists

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The many different ways that people take part in politics and government.

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Political Participation