Unit 2 Test Flashcards
win (49 cards)
what political parties do
make it easier for voters to form groups that will vote in certain ways
party-line voting
members of government act according to their partisanship
Mark Foley/Gary Hart/Anthony Weiner
MF - congressional pages
GH - monkey business
AW - pedophile
why we have a two party system
historical bases, because we have a two party system
3rd parties types
types - 1. ideological -further end of political spectrum (communist)
- single issue - cares deply about one issue (green party)
- splinter - breaks off from one of two major parties
3rd parties roles
“spoiler role” pull decisive votes (Nader 2000)
“Critic” - draws attention to controversial issues that parties would prefer to ignore (Perot 1992)
“Innovator” - proposes innovative solutions to problems.. if these proposals gain popular support they are often integrated (Populist party)
1912/1992/2000 elections
1912 - Wilson (Democrat), Taft (Republican), Roosevelt (Bull Moose) - Roosevelt stole 27.% from Taft and Wilson won
1992 - Clinton (D), HW Bush (R), Ross Perot (Independent) - Perot snaked the votes from Bush an d Clinton won
2000- Bush (R), Gore (D), Nader (Green) - Nader stole just enough votes from Gore
split ticket / straight ticket
split ticket - voting for both parties on same ballot
straight ticket - one party
there has been an increase in split ticket voting
Decline of 2 party system
more independents, technology breaks party power, growth of single issue organizations
organization of political parties
j
3 components of parties
- party organization - those who run and control the party machinery
- party in the electorate - those who always or almost always vote for party candidates
- party in government - those who hold office
(Campaign Finance) FEC
Federal Election Comission - monitors campaign finance, sets disclosure requirements, maximum amounts for individuals: $2,600 per candidate, $32,000 to national party annually
(Campaign Finance) PACs
Political Action Committees - the financial arm of interest groups, gives money to candidates, limited to $10,000 per primary and election/candidate, no limits to the number of candidates
(Electoral Process) Absentee voting
Voting early by mail
(Campaign Finance) Public financing
raised by taxpayers donating $3, eligible if you raise $5,000 in 20 states but limits the amount spent on presidential election
(Campaign Finance) Hard money vs soft money
Hard money - regulated
Soft money - money given to the party (business, union, etc) gets around regulation
(Campaign Finance) McCain-Feingold
McCain-Feingold 2002 - no soft money to political parties, corporations and unions cannot make “electioneering communications” (broadcast ads mentioning a candidate) 30 days before primary, 60 days before general election, made “I approve of this message” mandatory
(Campaign Finance) Citizens United vs. FEC
reverses provision of McCain-Feingold regarding union and business spending of electioneering advertising, created superPACs, may except unlimited contributions form individuals, unions, and corporations
(Campaign Finance) “SuperPAC”
May except unlimited contributions from individuals, unions, and corporations
(Electoral Process) Primary vs general election
Primary Election - Figures are from same political party, narrows down field.
General Election - Figures are from opposite political party
(Electoral Process) Self-announcement
Doesn’t seek party support.
“Write-in Candidates”
(Electoral Process) Primary
More standard way of voting for nominee.
Two types:
1. Closed primary - only declared party members can vote
2. Open primary - voter chooses what party they want. Blanket primary: can choose candidate for every party (declared unconstitutional)
(Electoral Process) Caucus
“Gathering of Neighbors” at local level. Essentially an old-school party meeting with a vote at the end.
(Electoral Process) Iowa Caucus
1st in the nation for presidency.
