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A Level Politics USA > Electoral Process & Direct Democracy > Flashcards

Electoral Process & Direct Democracy Flashcards

(60 cards)

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1
Q

What are the three functions of elections

A

1) sort public opinion
2) establish and produce a strong stable government
3) give voters a voice over who makes decisions of their behalf

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2
Q

What’s the function of a primary

When do they occur

A

Shows popularity of candidates
Here they choose delegated for conventions

January- June

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3
Q

What is the function of a national party convention

When do they occur

A

Chooses president and Vice
Decide on party platform (manifesto)

July/ August- early sept

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4
Q

When does campaigning occur in a general election

A

September, October, first week of November

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5
Q

How are sears allocated in the House of Representatives

A

Seats allocated to each stage based on size of population

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6
Q

When does reapportionment in the house of reps occur

A

Following a census taken every 10yrs

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7
Q

How long is the term in HoR

A

2 years

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8
Q

What is the term length for seats in the senate

A

6 years

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9
Q

What type of elections are there in the senate

A

Staggered elections: 1/3 voted on every 2yrs

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10
Q

How long are the terms for the president

A

4 years

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11
Q

How many electoral college votes are there

A

538 votes

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12
Q

How are states allocated votes

A

Based on the population size

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13
Q

3 ways how congressional elections are different to presidential elections

2 ways they are similar

A

Presidential elections are more competitive

Lower turnout

Mid term elections happen at a different time

————-
Very expensive
2 parties dominate - 3rd parties and independent candidates struggle

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14
Q

Give two examples of strong democratic states

A

Oregon

New York

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15
Q

Give two examples of strong republican states

A

Alabama

Oklahoma

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16
Q

What are some of the constitutional requirements to be a member of Congress

A
  • Must be at least 25yrs old
  • must been a citizen of USA for last 7 yrs
  • be living in the state they represent
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17
Q

Define locality rule

A

Refers to a principle that candidates must live in the representative state

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18
Q

Define coattails effect

A

the tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election.

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19
Q

To what extent do national or local issues decide mid term congressional elections

A

Very influential- in Kansas farm susidies decide votes whereas in Texas and New Mexico issues of illegal immigration are key issues

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20
Q

What usually happens to a presidents party in mid- term congressional elections

What did the democrats do during campaigning in 2006 mid term elections

A

Presidents party usually loses seats in both houses

Voters usually release disappointment in president at this time

——————-
2006 mid term election: democrat party focus on 1) republican incompetence 2) republican scandals 3) events like Iraq war

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21
Q

What is a proposition

A

A statement or expression that expresses a judgment or opinion, a political idea proposed by a citizen

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22
Q

Give an example of a proposition passed

A

Proposition 83- requires sex offenders to wear a GPS device after being released from prison

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23
Q

Give an example of a proposition that failed

A

Proposition 82- tax increase on higher income individuals

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24
Q

Evaluate propositions

A

✅increase state legislatures accountability
✅increase citizen interest in state issues
❌propositions lack flexibility

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25
How does a referendum work in the states
Voters can veto a bill passed by state legislatures Citizens take initiative
26
What is a recall election, give a recent example
Where voters can remove an elected official from office before the term expires, eg removal of democrat governor gray Davis in 2003
27
One advantage and one disadvantage of recall elections
✅increases democrat accountability | ❌demeaning of democratic process ‘buyers regret’
28
Give an example of a republican and Democrat senator
🔴Ron Johnson | 🔵Elizabeth Warren
29
Give an example of a republican and Democrat house of representative
🔴Steve Scalise | 🔵Barbara lee
30
3 reasons why congressional elections are important
- popularity test. Popularity of president can he gauged by how his party do - offers a guide as to how a president may do if they stand for re-election - cause a president to reverse his policies, eg. Reagan forced to soften his economic policies after the ‘86 mid term defeats
31
How do u run in a congressional election
1) secure the nomination after a congressional primary 2) run a campaign in your district or state 3) defeat the candidate from the other party
32
Why do some people split ticket vote
People vote for candidates from different political parties for different voters offices Some people do it deliberately as a form of checks and balances
33
What are the statistics that show that number of competitive seats have fallen
1992= 111 races decided by a margin of less than 10 percent 2004= 31 seats decided by a margin of less than 10 percent
34
What mainly influences voting in congressional elections
Voters cast their ballots upon local issues Eg Kansas farm subsidies New Mexico- illegal immigration
35
Define invisible primary
A stage which runs up to the first formal primary in the USA, candidates position themselves to run for the presidency with the purpose to gain media coverage and secure funding
36
When did Obama announce candidacy
Almost a year before the first primary
37
Define front loading
When states have their primaries as early as possible
38
Why are early primaries important
To signal to the nation which candidates are popular, this is known as the bandwagon effect
39
Evaluate front loading
Pros= endorsement from party leaders have a stronger effect - high pressure so are a good test of who would make a good president Cons= early momentum must be generated going into supper Tuesday -candidates are not able to build on thief success due to little time
40
What did bill brock say in relation to front-loading
‘Over before they begun’
41
Define primary
An election to choose a candidate for elective office
42
What is a caucus
A meeting for the selection of a party’s candidate for elective office
43
What is the function of a caucus
Local party members meet to discuss a candidate | Debate issues, choose delegates for the national party convention
44
Compare turnouts at a caucus
Iowa 2012 6.5% of eligible voters turned out
45
What is the function of a primary
Show popularity of presidential candidates | -choose delegates to go to national party convention
46
3 advantages of primaries
- there is a significant choice of candidates to choose from so all members of the broad political parties are represented - gruelling race is a fitting test for the demanding job of presidency - weighting the votes of elected politicians at national party conventions would allow for 'peer review'
47
3 disadvantages of primaries
- primary and caucus voters are unrepresentative of the voting age population - very expensive, need to raise a lot of money (front loading) - widespread voter apathy and boredom
48
what happens at a national party convention
1) choose the partys presidential candidate 2) party platform 3) choose a vice president
49
give an example of a republican convention
2016- cleveland: - trump and pence - 2,500 delegates attended
50
give an example of a democrat convention
2008- colorado | -nominated obama and biden
51
what are some of the formal and informal functions of the national party convention
``` formal: -choosing president and vp -party platform informal: -promoting party unity -enthusing the party faithful -inroduce the future rising stars of the party ```
52
why do we have an electoral college rather than a national vote
written in the us constitution by the founding fathers | -due to tradition from when the state would have to go and declare how they voted (ride in on a horse)
53
how many electoral college votes in california
55
54
how many electoral college votes in vermont, north alaska
3
55
what are college votes based on
population size
56
how many votes must candidates aquire to win
270 of the 538 available
57
what is the role of electors
formally make the decision on the person to become presidential candidate send votes to VP to e counted early jan
58
what happens if no candidate wins a majority
president would be elected by the house of representatives who would choose from top 3 if no majority here, they would go to the senate
59
should the electoral college system be replaced
YES: -suppresses the popular will, allows a candidate to win presidency despite winning a minority of votes across the country as a whole -some votes count more than others -small states are overrepresented NO_ -importance of federalism -cohesiveness- president has to win votes from a variety of states -two party system voters have a clear cut choice
60
compare population and ecv in california and wyoming
california has 55 ECV and 38 million people wyoming has 3 ECV and half a million people UNPROPORTIONAL

A Level Politics USA (3 decks)

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