Test 3 (Chapter 6, 7, & 8, 13,14) Flashcards
(181 cards)
1
Q
Political parties
A
Organized groups that seek influence over the government
2
Q
How do political parties seek influence government?
A
By electing members into office
3
Q
Interest groups
A
like parties, they’re organized groups, but they usually want to influence specific things inside the parties themselves
4
Q
Political parties form in what 2 ways?
A
Internal and external mobilization
5
Q
Internal mobilization
A
1 way that political parties form; officials inside congress group together to garner popular support
6
Q
External mobilization
A
1 way that political parties form; outside groups of people group together to garner popular support
7
Q
What two kinds of things have prompted the changes in the two major political parties over the last 150 years?
A
issues/events, and demographic/social development
8
Q
What are three ways that political parties play an important role in government?
A
Recruit candidates to run for office
Get loyal party members to vote
Do work that benefits the party
9
Q
What three things have taken over control of the electoral process in modern times?
A
Political action committees (PAC’s)
Candidates who decide not to work in the parties
Direct appeals through media
10
Q
Characteristics of an ideal candidate for nomination
A
Strong leadership record & ability to raise funds on their own
11
Q
Uncontested
A
Only one candidate from a party on a ballot
12
Q
What percentage of races run uncontested on average?
A
More than 20%
13
Q
Incumbents in House have how much more money on average than contenders? In the Senate?
A
House-double
Senate-50%
14
Q
Nomination
A
The process by which a party selects a person to go on to a general election (usually through primary elections with multiple candidates)
15
Q
What are the first two steps of a general election?
A
Voter registration and turning out the vote
16
Q
Micro-targeting
A
Involves tailoring the campaign to groups of similar individuals and focusing on just one issue
17
Q
Who is the speaker of the House chosen by?
A
The majority party
18
Q
In what two ways is the committee system of both the House and Senate a two-party system?
A
The party with the most seats chairs the congressional committees
The quota of members for each committee depends on the percentage of total seats held by each party
19
Q
What did George Washington say in his 1976 Farewell Address about partisan politics?
A
To shun them
20
Q
Two party system
A
Political system where only two parties have a realistic opportunity to gain control of the government
21
Q
What are the 6 types of two-party systems that have been created since the beginning of the US government?
A
Federalists vs. Jeffersonian Republicans
Democrats vs. Whigs
Civil War and Post civil war Republicans and Democrats
New Deal Party System Republicans and Democrats
Contemporary Party System Republicans and Democrats
22
Q
What did the Federalists favor?
A
Strong national government
23
Q
What did the Jeffersonian Republicans favor?
A
Weak nation government, strong states
24
Q
In the first party system, who was the establishment party?
A
The Federalists
25
Who did the Federalists mainly represent?
The New England merchants
26
Who did the Jeffersonians mainly represent?
Southern agriculturalists
27
What party gradually weakened and disappeared from the first party system?
The Federalists
28
What party rose in opposition of Andrew Jackson and what had become the Democratic party?
The Whigs
29
In the second party system, the Whigs were mainly supported by what demographic?
Northeast merchants
30
In the second party system, the Democrats were mainly supported by what demographic?
Southern and western small farmers
31
Who was the candidate for the first Whig presidential victory?
General William Henry Harrison
32
When the Whig party disintegrated by 1856, where did their politicians and antislavery Democrats go?
To the new Republican party
33
Until the 1890's, who did the republican party represent?
The North with strong business and middle class support
34
Third party system Democrats represented what demographic?
The South, with support also from northern working-class and immigrant groups.
35
Populist party consisted mainly of what types of people, and what did the party merge into?
Small farmers, western mining interests, and urban workers
| Democratic party
36
For 36 years after 1896, what party was the nation's majority party?
Republicans
37
Nation's economy collapsed and the Great Depression started after what year's election?
1928
38
In 1932, American elected who, along with a solidly Democratic Congress?
FDR
39
From 1932, for the next 36 years, what was the majority party?
Democrats
40
What was "me-too Republicanism"?
When Republicans groped for a reaction to New Deal, by supporting things like Social Security, even though they didn't want strong government
41
In 1960s, why did the New Deal become strained?
Conflicts over civil rights and Vietnam war
42
What type of people opposed the expansion of US troops in Southeast Asia?
Upper-income, liberal Democrats
43
In 1968, schisms in the Democratic party provided what party an opportunity for power, under who?
The GOP, under Nixon
44
What were the themes of the Republican Party in the 1960s and 70s?
Reduced taxation and government spending
Less government regulations
Elimination of many federal social programs
45
What two groups did Reagan include in the GOP?
Religious conservatives, working class-whites
46
In what year, and with whom, did the Democrats win back control of the government after not having control since 1995?
2008, with Barack Obama
47
In 2010, what did the Democrats lose control of?
the House
48
In 2014, what did the Democrats lose control of?
the Senate
49
What are the four ways in which the Republican party id divided today?
Pro-business conservatives, far-right conservatives, religious conservatives, libertarians
50
What are the two branches within the Democratic party today?
Liberal and traditional
51
Electoral realignments
points in history where the dominant party gets beaten by a new party
52
How many electoral realignments have there been since the Founding?
5
53
Divided government
Where the government is split between the party that the president controls, and the other party that has control of either the House, the Senate, or both
54
What kinds of things usually cause new electoral alignments?
New issues or societal problems, and economic and political crises
55
What is the only third party to replace another party permanently?
the Republican party
56
What caused the Democratic party to become much more liberal in the early 20th century?
Adopting most of the Progressive program under FDR's New Deal
57
Proportional representation
a system in which there are many parties fielding and offering candidates in each district. These candidates are awarded legislative seats based on rough proportion to what percentage they won in their district
58
A main difference between proportional representation system and the US' plurality system is:
A party's candidate does not need to be in first, to win seats in proportional representation
59
What is a major impediment for third parties?
State ballot-access laws, like fees and requirements of signed petitions
60
Suffrage
right to vote
61
Turnout
Amount of eligible individuals who actually vote
62
How many people show up on average for presidential elections?
6 in 10 of eligible voters
63
How many people show up on average for midterm elections?
One-third of eligible voters
64
Voter turnout in European nations?
70 to 90%
65
What three factors organize our understanding of voting in elections?
Socioeconomic status/demographic background
Political environment
State electoral laws
66
Mobilization
process by which large numbers of people are organized for a political activities
67
What are the two steps in US voting process?
Registering to vote
| Voting
68
What are the three key factors that influence voter's decisions
Party loyalty
Issue and policy concerns
Candidate characteristics
69
Dealignment
the trend of getting away from strict partisanship
70
Prospective voting and retrospective voting
Prospective- voting for future behavior
| Retrospective- voting on past performance
71
What kind of retrospective voting has been deemed to be more important than prospective voting?
Retrospective economic voting
72
Three types of elections
Primary
General
Initiative & Referendum
73
Primary elections
Elections within a political party to select candidate to run in general elections
74
Primary system was created by who, when, and why?
The Progressive Reformers in the turn of the 20th Century, to weaken the power of party leaders
75
One-third of states use what instead of primary elections
Caucases, which are essentially business meeting within a party to choose candidates
76
When are general elections held?
First Tuesday following the first the Monday of November in even-numbered years
77
How many states allow for the initiative process in addition to presidential and congressional elections?
24
78
Ballot initiatives
Citizens vote on circulated petitions to become start or continue bills
79
Legislative referendum
a law that state legislators will refer to voters for a popular voters for a popular vote (referenda and initiatives)
80
Direct democracy
Voters are allowed to vote without intervention from government officials or political parties
81
Can a court overturn the result of a direct democracy vote?
Yes
82
Recall election
the vote to remove certain officials from office before expiration of their term
83
What officials are not subject to recall?
Federal officials; presidential, congressional
84
How are the number of electors chosen for each state?
Based on the number of state's congressional delegation (House and Senate)
85
Each state awarding all of its electors to the candidate who receives most votes in the state is an example of what rule?
Plurality
86
501 (c)(4) dark money groups
Donor groups that can shield donor identities
87
What are the caps put on individual donations to candidates, and what is unlimited?
Capped: how much money per year per candidate a person can donate
Unlimited: How many candidates you can donate to
88
Three types of groups that channel money from individuals to candidates
Leadership PACs, super PACs, 501 (c)(4) dark money groups
89
Net neutrality
Principle that all data on the web must be treated equally and not blocked or slowed for certain users
90
Freedom of the press
Right to circulate information and opinion in print and digital media without censorship by the government
91
Three important roles media serve
Help inform public about current events
Provide a forum for users
Acts as a watchdog for government officials
92
What is sometimes referred to as fourth branch of government?
Media
93
What percent of US market share does public broadcasting have?
2%
94
What dominates US political media?
For-profit, private companies
95
What is a key feature of traditional media in US?
Concentration of its ownership, mostly by giant corporations
96
How many of the nation's television stations are affiliated with just one of four networks?
More than 500
97
Why, mostly, did the concentration of traditional media ownership occur?
The relaxation of government regulation of news in the 80's and 90's
98
What did the 1996 Telecommunications Act do?
Opened the way for additional consolidation in the media industry
99
Three sources by which Americans obtain their news
Newspapers and magazines
Broadcast media (radio/tv)
Digital media
100
When did newspapers emerge as mass-production businesses driven primarily by profit, and what result did that have on US politics?
Late 19th Century,
| Required more neutrality to not alienate radical customers
101
4 main characteristics of TV news
Offer few topics
Has little depth in coverage
More manipulative (can shift ideas more easily)
More friendly to politicians in general (tv reporters are less hard-hitting)
102
News aggregators
Apps or feeds that collect news info in one place for users
103
What percentage of American adults get their news on social media?
65%
104
Digital citizenship
The ability to participate in culture and politics online
105
Digital divide
The gaps in digital citizenship that are caused by inequality in access to and skill in using to the Internet
106
In 2018, how many Americans were digital citizens?
73%
107
Niche journalism
News reporting that focuses on a targeted portion of a journalism market sector
108
What percentage of people under 50 get their news from social media?
78%
109
Why has social media become more of a go-to news source?
Because its more personalized than anonymous big news organizations
And users can directly engage with officials
110
Citizen journalism
Has citizens add in their voice and evidence as news sources
111
Two ways traditional and digital media influence American politics
By shaping issues citizens think about
| By shaping what they think about those issues
112
Selection bias
The tendency to focus news coverage on only one aspect of an event or issue
113
Framing
Media's ability to put events and issues in certain lights
114
Priming
Calling attention to some matters while ignoring others, thus causing the public to use certain criteria over others to evaluate officials
115
Where do most government leaks originate?
Senior government officials, prominent politicians, political activists
116
Adversarial journalism
Aggressive journalism that attacks status quo
117
US radio and television is regulated by what?
The FCC, (Federal communications commission)
118
FCC regulations only apply to what kind of broadcasting?
"Over-the-air" broadcasting
119
Communications Decency Act tried to do what?
Make it illegal for explicit content for those under 18
120
Two regulations the Federal Government has imposed on political content on radio and tv broadcasts?
Equal time rule (Broadcasters have to make broadcast time accessible to all candidates at lowest rate)
Right of rebuttal (Opportunity to respond to personal attacks)
121
What federal regulation did the FCC denounce in 1987?
Fairness doctrine (broadcasters were required to show opposing views)
122
In the 18th and 19th centuries what were organized groups called?
Associations
123
What did both the Federalists and Antifederalists agree on about the government's interference with organized groups?
That if the government was allowed to step in on interest groups, it would result in the suppression of individual rights
124
What was the solution to the power of organized groups that the framers of the US constitution feared? And who presented in what?
Having a wide array of groups, so not just one group had the majority voice
James Madison presented in Federalist Papers, no. 10
125
What is the Madisonian principle called today?
Pluralism
126
What kind of pluralism most accurately describes American politics today?
Elite pluralism
127
Interest group
A group of individuals that organize to influence government programs and policies
128
Difference between interest groups and PAC's (what does each focus on?)
Interest groups-organized to influence, focuses on policies
| PACs- organized to raise funds, focuses on personnel)
129
Of interest groups whose headquarters are in DC, what do most groups represent?
Business and corporations
130
Who are trade associations generally supported by, and what percentage of lobbying offices do they make up?
Groups of manufacturers of producers in an economic field
| 23%
131
What kind of interest groups make up just 2% of all lobbying offices in DC?
Labor groups
132
Professional Associations make up what percentage of all lobbying offices in DC?
Just over 10%
133
Public interest groups claim what?
That they serve the general good, instead of their own private interests
134
Ideological groups
Groups organized in pursuit of certain philosophical views
135
Countries with a stronger civil society may be more likely to what?
Transfer to democracy
136
What kind of interest group do "research" lobbies (including "think tanks" and researchers looking for grants) belong to?
Public-sector groups
137
What is needed to turn "potential interest groups" into organized and genuine interest groups?
Voluntary association
138
What is an example of groups of people needing issues influenced by interest groups, but lacking the organization to get them done?
The homeless and the poor
139
What are the key components of interest groups?
Leadership, money, an agency or office, and members
140
What are ways in which interest groups can be financially supported?
Membership dues
Voluntary contributions
Selling services and benefits to members
141
Collective goods
Benefits from an interest group that cannot be denied to non-members
142
Free rider
People who want something to be done, but just ride on the accomplishments of others for benefits, without doing the work
143
What can groups offer as a solution to the free-rider problem?
"Selected benefits" only available to members
144
4 Types of selected benefits
Information, material, solidary, purposive
145
Most successful interest groups over past 20 years
Citizen groups/Public interest groups
146
In what three ways have grassroots activist organizations used the rise of digital communications to innovate changes in interest groups?
Changes in:
Communicating with members
Measuring opinions of members
Moving members into action
147
What are the two basic origins of the explosion in the number of interest groups and their influence over the past several decades?
Expansion of the role of government
| New dynamics of political forces
148
Interest groups usually form as a result of, or reaction to, what?
Government action
149
Result of people in New Politics movement crusading against racial discrimination in 60s?
They felt like they had a voice, and went on to form a new way of influencing government
150
Most frequently used strategies used by interest groups?
```
Lobbying
Gaining access to key decision makers
Using the courts
Mobilizing public
Using electoral politics
```
151
Lobbying
A strategy used by interest groups that involves exerting direct pressure on members of legislature in order to influence legislation or public policy
152
First and foremost job of lobbyists
To provide information to lawmakers about their interests and the legislation at hand
153
Difference between iron triangles and issue networks?
Iron triangles- steady relationships between agencies, committees, and lobbyists that work for an against each other
Issue networks- like minded people from all aspects of iron triangle and beyond, that want the same thing
154
3 Ways interest groups use litigation
By bringing suits directly on behalf of group
| By bringing suits
155
Three main goals of American social policy
To provide opportunity
To address risks in everyday lives of public
To alleviate poverty
156
3 tracks through which American social policy pursues goals
Social assistance
Tax expenditures
Social insurance
157
Social policy is a broad area in what kind of government policy?
Domestic
158
Public policy is broken into what two kinds of policy?
Domestic and Foreign
159
Public policy
A law, a rule, a statute, or an edict that expresses the government's goals and provides rewards and punishments in relation to attaining goals
160
Public policy is inherently what?
Coercive
161
What three categories can techniques of control used by policy makers be grouped into?
Promotional
Regulatory
Redistributive
162
Describe promotional policies
Using incentives to encourage desired behavior
163
What are the two types of promotional techniques?
Subsidiaries and contracting
164
Subsidies
Grants of cash and other valuable assets from the government to promote desired activity
165
What was the dominant form of public policy in the 19th century?
Subsidies
166
Why do politicians favor subsidies as a promotional technique?
Because they can be treated as benefits to be spread widely in response to many demands (can be used to "buy off" the opposition)
167
Contracting power
The power of the government to set conditions on companies seeking to sell goods or services to government agencies
168
What can be the results of government contracting power?
Encourages corporations to improve helps build up sectors of the economy encourages desirable behavior
169
Regulation
A technique of control in which the government adopts roles that impose restrictions on the conduct of private citizens
170
What are the four subdivisions of government regulation?
Police, administrative, regulatory, and expropriation
171
What are two different types of penalties under police regulation?
Civil (usually refers to fines)
| Criminal (usually refers to imprisonment)
172
What is the fundamental difference between police and administration regulation?
Adminstrative regulation focuses on things that aren't morally wrong, but could be harmful if not regulated
173
What way could subsidies and contracts be used in regulatory contexts?
The government can use the threat of loss of contract or subsidizing to regulate behavior?
174
The primary purpose, in many instances, of a tax
To influence conduct (make it too expensive for some people)
175
Expropriation
Confiscation of property with or without compensation for public use
176
Two main safeguards against expropriations
Government can't take possessions except through a strict, fair process
Government must offer fair market value
177
Two types of redistributive policies
Monetary and fiscal
178
What is the common purpose of monetary and fiscal policies
To manipulate the entire economy instead of individuals
179
Monetary policies allow the government to regulate the economy through what?
The manipulation of the supply of money and credit
180
What is America's most powerful institution in monetary policy?
The Federal Reserve System
181
One main way the Federal Reserve Board can change the economy
By increasing or decreasing how easy it is to get loans
