gov interest groups and elections

Question 1

interest group goals

Answer 1

1. gain access to policymakers
2. influence public policy
3. support sympathetic policymakers

Question 2

policy

Answer 2

a government plan of action to address issues that involve the people

Question 3

what do policies start with

Answer 3

the people who express their interest, problems/concerns, political issues

Question 4

linkage institutions

Answer 4

the political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda

Question 5

linkage institutions examples

Answer 5

political parties
elections
news and entertainment media
interest groups

Question 6

policy agenda

Answer 6

items at the top of the policy agenda are taken care of firsti

Question 7

policy making institutions

Answer 7

the branches of government charged with taking action on political issues
legislative, executive, courts

Question 8

how are interest groups and political parties different

Answer 8

political parties fight election battles; interest groups do not run their own slate of candidates for office but just support candidates

Question 9

policy specialists and policy generalists

Answer 9

interest groups are policy specialists and they focus on one area but political parties are policy generalists and are broad spectrum of policies

Question 10

interest group strategies

Answer 10

1. lobbying
2. electioneering
3. litigation
4. appealing to the public

Question 11

lobbying

Answer 11

communication by someone acting on behalf of citizens, directed to a governmental decision-maker with the hope of influencing their decision

Question 12

2 types of lobbyists

Answer 12

regular, paid employees
temporary hires

Question 13

revolving door

Answer 13

the movement of individuals from government positions to jobs with interest groups or lobbying firms

Question 14

lobbyists

Answer 14

• are a source of information
• help politicians plan political strategies for legislation
• help plan political strategies for reelection campaigns
  are a source of ideas and innovations

Question 15

olson’s law

Answer 15

-small groups are easier to organize than large groups
-large groups tens to have a free rider problem

Question 16

how to resolve free rider issue

Answer 16

• offer selective benefits

Question 17

electioneering

Answer 17

helping candidates financially and getting group members to support them
PACS

Question 18

PACS

Answer 18

political arms of interest groups
legally entitled to raise voluntary funds to contribute to favored candidates of parties
support incumbents

Question 19

litigation

Answer 19

using courts to bring up issues; amaicus curiae briefs; raise additional points of view and present info not contained in briefs of formal parties
- class action lawsuits ; brought by a class of people against a defendant

Question 19

litigation

Answer 19

using courts to bring up issues; amaicus curiae briefs; raise additional points of view and present info not contained in briefs of formal parties
- class action lawsuits ; brought by a class of people against a defendant

Question 20

hyperpluralist critique

Answer 20

• groups become too powerful as the gov tries to appease every interest
  interest group liberalism is aggravated by iron triangles

Question 21

iron triangles

Answer 21

alliance formed by congress, bureaucrats and interest groups to make public policy
all parties benefit; congress receives campaign contributions, interest groups get favorable legislation, bureaucracies preserve job and status.

Question 22

nomination

Answer 22

official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party

Question 23

nomination game

Answer 23

elimination contest (primaries)
goal is to win a majority of delegates’ support at the national party convention
convention meets to nominate presidential and vice presidential
they write a party platform

Question 24

iowa caucus

Answer 24

-first test of candidates’ vote -media circus - meeting of all state party members for selecting delegates to national convention

Question 25

new hampshire

Answer 25

first primary -about image

Question 26

frontloading

Answer 26

when 71% of pledges democratic delegates are chosen within six weeks of first primary

Question 27

types of primaries

Answer 27

closed open blanket

Question 28

closed primaries

Answer 28

only people who registered with the party can vote for that party’s candidates

Question 29

open primaries

Answer 29

voters decide on election day a democrat or republican but must choose one or the other

Question 30

blanket primaries

Answer 30

voters are presented with a list of candidates from all parties; most anti-party of them all

Question 31

criticism of american marathon campaign

Answer 31

-disproportionate attention to early primaries - prominent politicians don’t run momentum means money -participation in primaries is low -too much power to media

Question 32

three american elections

Answer 32

select party nominees select officeholders select options

Question 33

state only election things

Answer 33

referendum recall initiative petition

Question 34

referendum

Answer 34

a direct vote in which electorate will accept or reject a proposal

Question 35

recall

Answer 35

removing a state or local official before the end of their term

Question 36

initiative petition

Answer 36

means by which a petition signed by a minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote

Question 37

guidelines for elections by the constitution

Answer 37

- house of reps = every 2 years -senate = every 6 years -creates electoral college

Question 38

guidelines for elections by law

Answer 38

-congress sets date for national elections tuesday after the first monday in november

Question 39

electoral college

Answer 39

- elects the president states choose electors -winner take all system

Question 40

winner take all method

Answer 40

candidate gets all votes if majority vote in state is won by them

Question 41

proportional vote method

Answer 41

legislative seats given to parties proportionate to number of votes

Question 42

campaign finance laws goal

Answer 42

limit role money plays in politics track where money goes

Question 43

federal election campaign act

Answer 43

administers campaign finance laws for federal elections sets limit for contributions to $1000 per individual and $5000 for PACs requires disclosure of contributions and spending

Question 44

buckley v valeo

Answer 44

federal election campaign act challenged to amount individual could contribute to their own campaign - SC ruled it violated right to free speech

Question 45

soft money

Answer 45

political contributions earmarked for party-building expenses or for generic party advertising are allowed no contribution limit - party just can’t donate money to campaign of specific candidate

Question 46

bipartisan campaign reform act(mccain)

Answer 46

- banned soft money increased individual contribution to $2000 with adjustments to inflation (today $2900) barred interest groups from running issue ads 60 days of gen election

Question 47

citizens united v fec

Answer 47

-spending money is protected free speech - corporations and unions can explicitly advocate for/against candidates in advertisement - can’t contribute directly to a federal candidate orr party committee created super pacs

Question 48

retrospective voting

Answer 48

voting based on candidates past actions

Question 49

prospective voting

Answer 49

voting based on predictions of how a party of candidate will perform

Question 50

rational choice voting

Answer 50

voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizwen’s individual interest

Question 51

party-line votin

Answer 51

supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices

Question 52

impact of campaigns

Answer 52

- reinforcement, activation, and conversion