Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Political Science > Test 3 > Flashcards

Test 3 Flashcards

(119 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Political party

A

A private organization that seeks to win elections and control government power

Although political parties are very powerful, they are not mentioned in the Constitution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Party organization

A

Recruits candidates for office and provides resources for campaigns

Mobilizes voters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Officeholders elected or appointed in the name of the party

A

Responds to policy views of the public

Responds to the policy views of the party organization

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Citizens who identify with the party

A

Provides workers to the party organization

Elects government officials

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Politics in the U.S. is dominated by…

A

Two political parties

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

____ vie to control the House, the Senate, and the Presidency

A

Republicans & Democrats

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

The U.S. has ____

A

Single-member districts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Single-member districts

A

Favor the development of a two-party system

The one candidate with the most vote wins

The system favors the two largest parties. No one wants to “waste their vote” on smaller parties

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

The E.U.

A

Has proportional representation with multiple members per district

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Proportional representation with multiple members per district

A

Voters generally vote by party. The parties receive seats in proportion to the votes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Violence of faction

A

Interest groups

Madison warned against it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Faction

A

“The downfall of governments based on the people,” leading to “mortal diseases” such as “instability, injustice and confusion”

BUT you can’t outlaw faction without destroying liberty

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Madisons opinion of factions

A

Madison believed that, in a large country, the many different factions will balance each other

Madison also believed that the election process would select representatives who are “wiser and more dedicated to the common good than the average citizen”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

George Washington

A

Also condemned factions in his farewell speech

Yet Washington’s own Cabinet broke into the first two political parties

Federalists, Democratic-Republicans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Federalists

A

Led by Alexander hamilton, secretary of the treasury

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Democratic-Republicans

A

Led by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Washington’s Cabinet - primary controversy

A

Whether the federal government had power to create a national bank

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Modern Democratic Party

A

Founded in 1828

Federalist Party died out, and the Democratic-Republican Party split

Led by Andrew Jackson

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Splitting of the Democratic-Republican Party

A

The opposing party, the Whigs, died out after about 20 years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Andrew Jackson

A

War hero

Was seen as a “man of the people”

The Tammany Society endorsed Jackson in exchange for influence over federal jobs (more later)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Republican Party

A

Emerged in the 1850s from the Abolitionist (anti-slavery) movement

The Republican-controlled Congress passed the Reconstruction Amendments (13th-15th)

All of the 20+ black members of Congress before 1900 were Republican

Starting in the late 1800s, the Republican Party also pushed for women’s voting rights (opposed by the Democrats)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Abraham Lincoln

A

First Republican president

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Between the Civil War and the Progressive Era (1870s-1900), ____ dominated elections

A

Political machines

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Political machines

A

Tammany hall was a powerful “machine” based in New York

Tammany and other “machines” provided social services for many new immigrants in exchange for votes

Once the candidates were in power, they gave federal jobs and contracts back to Tammany Hall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Many of the Progressive Era reforms targeted the corruption of the “machines”
Direct primary elections gave the people a voice when selecting candidates within each party Direct election of senators also gave the people a voice and diluted the power of political parties Prohibition was, in part, an attack on the “saloon culture” of the machines The female vote was also seen as “purer” and less corrupt
26
Teddy Roosevelt
Was a Republican President who went Third Party during the Progressive Era TR felt that his successor in officer, William Taft, was not progressive enough When the Republicans nominated Taft for reelection, TR created his own Progressive Bull Moose Party (1912) While TR received more votes than Taft, he acted as a “spoiler,” sending a Democrat to the White House —> Woodrow Wilson
27
The Democrats dominated from ____
1930s-1970s, growing social welfare programs
28
Democrats 1930s-1970s
During the Great Depression, FDR’s “New Deal” gained popularity, especially for the poor and marginalized Democrats became associated with welfare entitlement program (including Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society”) Democrats also received credit for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was passed during Johnson’s presidency
29
Republicans 1980s and 1990s
They led a Conservative backlash Led by President Ronald Reagan, Republicans argued that the federal government had become too big and too invasive America was also reacting to the Communist threat against freedom and prosperity Reagan and conservative Republicans believed “less government is more” (except when it came to military defense)
30
Today the balance of power
Continues to fluctuate between Democrats and Republicans The federal government grew in size under both President G.W. Bush and President Obama Within the Republican Party, there is a split between moderate / Establishment candidates and conservative / Tea Party candidates The Democratic Party is more unified in its willingness to support progressive causes
31
Democratic Platform
Emphasizes the need for government intervention and “social justice” Economic Security for Middle Class Economic Fairness Social Justice
32
Democratic Platform: Economic Security for Middle Class
Government protection and subsidies for workers, housing, education, health care
33
Democratic Platform: Economic Fairness
Higher taxes for wealthy, more regulation of Wall Street and corporations
34
Democratic Platform: Social Justice
Combat climate change, fix immigration, guarantee rights of minorities, women, LGBT
35
Republican Platform
Promotes less government intervention and “traditional values” (conservative) Economy Defense Security Traditional Values Nonetheless, it is politically difficult to cut entrenched subsidies and entitlement programs. Most Republicans don’t try
36
Republican Platform: Economy
Reduce taxation and regulation
37
Republican Platform: Defense Security
Strong military, secure borders
38
Republican Platform: Traditional Values
Importance of families, traditional marriage and sanctity of unborn life
39
GOP: freedom views
Freedom “from”
40
GOP: equality views
Equality “before the law”
41
Democrats: freedom views
Freedom “to”
42
Democrats: equality views
Equality of “opportunity”
43
Freedom “to”
Bigger government promotes important social goals
44
Equality of “opportunity”
Means the government actively promotes the rights of disadvantaged groups
45
Freedom “from”
Smaller government protects individual choice and responsibility
46
Equality “before the law”
Means the government protects all parties equally, including the unborn and those who hold traditional religious beliefs
47
In the U.S. _____ dominate
Two political parties
48
In the U.S., two political parties dominate
Party leaders can increase their power by limiting our choice of candidates Activists during the Progressive Era fought to give voters control over the candidates for each party...Leading to primary elections
49
Federal elections are a two-step process
1. The Primary elections 2. The General elections The exact primary election process varies from party to party and from state to state
50
Primary elections
Select the top nominee from each party
51
General elections
The party nominees run against each other for the office
52
Most primaries are ____
Closed, open, or mixed
53
Closed primaries
You must be registered with a Party to vote in that Party’s primary
54
Open primaries
You can choose a Party primary regardless of your affiliation
55
Mixed primary
Registered voters must vote in their own Party primary, but unaffiliated voters can pick
56
In each of these systems, you can only vote in ___ primary
One
57
A few states have ____ primaries
Top two
58
A few states have “top two” primaries
In a few states (including LA), all primary candidates run on the same ballot In CA and WA, the top two candidates (regardless of Party) run in the general election In LA, the majority candidate wins. If there is no majority candidate, the top two have a “runoff” election
59
Top two system
Not allowed for Presidential primaries
60
Louisiana is ____ for Presidential primaries
Closed
61
Presidential primaries
Held on a state-by-state basis, and the results are aggregated
62
2016 presidential primary
Clinton won the Democratic primary Trump won the Republican primary They ran against each other in the general election
63
2016 Presidential race
Presidential primaries started in early 2016 General election was in Nov. 2016
64
Presidential race
The earliest states get the most media attention Super Tuesday Some states have primary caucuses instead of elections
65
Super Tuesday
The Tuesday in Feb./March where the greatest number of states vote
66
The Louisiana presidential primaries took place on ____
March 5
67
Traditionally, ____ have the first primaries
Iowa and New Hampshire
68
Iowa has the ____
First primary caucus
69
New Hampshire has the ____
First primary elections
70
After the state primaries
Final party nominees are chosen at the Party National Convention
71
Party National Conventions
These conventions take place in the summer before the Nov. election Each state sends delegates to the conventions based on the rules of their Party The delegates select the final party nominees
72
RNC 2016
Cleveland, OH July 18-21
73
DNC
Philadelphia, PA July 25-26
74
After the primaries comes the ____
General election
75
After the primaries comes the general election
The general election uses the electoral college system
76
General election 2016
Tuesday, Nov. 8 Louisiana voters elected 6 members of the House (1 per district), 1 senator and the President
77
Elections are very expensive
Over $6 Billion was spent during the last presidential election cycle (2016) Members of Congress spend a significant amount of time fund-raising for re-election
78
Average spent to win in the House
Over $1 Million
79
Average spent to win in the Senate
Over $8 Million
80
Decisions by elected officials can have a huge financial impact on individuals and businesses
Remember the government spends $4+ trillion per year Regulation Spending $6 billion for an election cycle is tiny compared to potential impact (the federal government spends many hundreds of times more every year!)
81
Regulation
Can have an even greater impact than direct grants of money 1. Makes things more expensive 2. Stifles competition
82
Federal Election Commission
FEC Regulates campaign finance
83
Source of funds
Candidates own money Individual donors National Party Political Action Committees (PACs) Super PACs Public funds
84
Candidate’s own money - Limits
Unlimited spending on own campaign
85
Individual donors - Limits
$2.7K to candidate $5K to PAC
86
National Party - Limit
$5K to candidate $5K to PAC
87
Political Action Committees - Limit
$2.7K or $5K per candidate per election
88
Super PACs - Limit
Unlimited “independent” spending; can accept unlimited contributions
89
Public funds - Limit
$250 match per donor in primaries and $20M in general election; must accept spending limits
90
Political Action Committee (PAC)
Allows voters to pool their campaign donations
91
Super PAC
Not affiliated with any particular campaign, and is allowed to freely engage in “independent” spending Were created by the 2010 decision of the Supreme Court in Citizens United First Amendment Priorities USA, Future 45
92
PACs and Super PACs are formed by ___
Interest groups
93
Interest groups
Seek to influence government on behalf of their members Chamber of Commerce AFL-CIO Agricultural industry
94
Chamber of Commerce
A powerful interest group on behalf of business Generally aligned with the Republican Party Spends millions on lobbying Many chamber employees previously worked for the government (the “revolving door” phenomenon)
95
AFL-CIO
A powerful interest group on behalf of unions Generally aligned with the Democratic Party 11% of the American workforce is unionized. But about half of union members are public employees 35.7% of the public sector is unionized compared with 6.6% of the private sector Spends millions on lobbying and obtains employees through the “revolving door” American Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations
96
Agricultural industry sponsors many interest groups
The federal government has subsidized farmers since the Great Depression Every 5 years, Congress passes a “farm bill” authorizing hundreds of billions of dollars of spending U.S. farm policies have increased prices for consumers (in addition to taxes)
97
Farm bill
Contains both farm subsidies and food stamp/nutrition funding
98
There are also interest groups for ____
Social issues
99
Interest groups for social issues
Planned Parenthood NRA-ILA
100
Interest groups may engage in ____
Lobbying
101
Lobbying
Direct contact with members of congress
102
Interest groups may engage in lobbying
There are about 10,000 registered lobbyists specifically paid to influence Congress Lobbying is highly regulated, and lobbyists must file disclosures
103
Interest groups may file ____
Lawsuits
104
Interest groups may file lawsuits
If you can’t get something through legislation, try litigation! An interest group may file a test case on behalf of a sympathetic member who has been wronged An interest group may file an amicus brief seeking to influence the judge in someone else’s lawsuit
105
Interest groups try to ____
Influence the public (YOU)
106
Interest groups try to influence the public
“Grassroots” campaign AstroTurf
107
“Grassroots” campaign
Staffed by ordinary, local volunteers
108
AstroTurf
Involves paid professionals who mimic a grassroots effort
109
Political speech by ____ is generally not regulated by the Federal Election Commission
News media
110
Political speech by news media is generally not regulated by the Federal Election Commission
The FEC has considered regulating political commentary on the internet The public has generally protested such regulation
111
The media shows bias how?
By what stories it chooses to cover...or not cover In how it covers stories
112
The media shows bias by what stories it chooses to cover...or not cover
When Sarah Plain made a gaffe about Hawaii, the liberal media had extensive coverage When President Obama made a similar mistake, the right-wing media covered it
113
The media also shows bias in how it covers stories
Fox News leads story with content of undercover videos MSNBC leads story with statement by Planned Parenthood
114
The media
Will often choose the sensational over the serious Also directly influenced by business and government interests
115
The media is also directly influenced by business and government interests
Media covers companies / Companies buy ads and suggest stories Companies lobby the government / Government regulates companies Media covers government / Government provides media with access
116
It can be hard to tell the difference between news and advertising
John Rutland
117
John Rutland
Cinematographer, Paranormal Activity: Ghost Dimension
118
Bureaucratic Agencies are ____
Media-savvy
119
Bureaucratic agencies are media-savvy
Agencies lobby news media for favorable coverage They use access to import government figures as leverage over the media Many agencies even have their own media facilities The media may stick with “safe” stories to avoid hassle and avoid being cut out of the loop

Political Science (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions