Unit 3 Test

Question 1

Political party

Answer 1

Organization created to elect like-minded candidates to office in order to control public office

Question 2

Goal of political parties

Answer 2

Win elections and gain control of public agenda

Question 3

Functions of political parties (6)

Answer 3

Nominate candidates
Run campaigns
Inform voters
Linkage (connect citizens to govt) they increase political efficacy
Inform voters
Articulate public policy
Coordinate policymaking between branches and between levels of govt

Question 4

Five reasons we have a two party system

Answer 4

1. Winner take all election system
2. Single member voting districts - voters each district elect a single representative
3. Consensus political culture
4. Difficult for third parties to get on ballot bc of some state laws
5. Historical preference for two parties

Question 5

Two main categories of third parties

Answer 5

Those that are organized around:
Individual personalities
Long-lasting goals or ideology

Question 6

How third parties effect major parties:

Answer 6

1. Swinging election to another party (spoilers)

2. Innovators of new policy ideas that are often later accepted as parts of the major party platform

Question 7

To maintain coalitions in US…

Answer 7

The two major parties rarely deviate far from the center of ideology

Question 8

Main purpose of political party:

Answer 8

Win elections

Question 9

Coalitions:

Answer 9

Allied groups/ factions

Question 10

In parties: power flows from the- , often called a - organization

Answer 10

Bottom up, grassroots

Question 11

Grassroots organizations are very -

Answer 11

Decentralized

Question 12

The basic unit of primary organization at the bottom are the -

Answer 12

Precincts

Question 13

Precinct

Answer 13

Local voting districts to which voters are assigned to vote when they are registered, where most party activity takes place

Question 14

2 ongoing national level party institutions

Answer 14

1. The national committee

2. The national committee chairman

Question 15

What does national committee do

Answer 15

Organize party’s national convention every 4 years

Question 16

What does national committee chairman do?

Answer 16

Runs day to day operations of national party

Question 17

Most powerful national party institution is:

Answer 17

National convention

Question 18

What are two main jobs of national conventions?

Answer 18

Write the party platform (party’s 4 year policy agenda)

Nominate the officially presidential and vice presidential candidates

Question 19

Delegates to the national convention are chosen by:

Answer 19

Presidential primaries

Question 20

Era of political dominance

Answer 20

Periods in which one party has controlled the congress and the presidency

Question 21

Political realignment:

Answer 21

Occurs when majority party becomes minority party due to shifts in party conditions

Question 22

Coalition shifts are either:
And are usually caused by:
Elections making this shift are called:

Answer 22

Geographic regional shifts or economic social group shifts

Significant historical event

Critical elections

Question 23

Dem rep era of dominance began with

Ended with:

Answer 23

Jefferson

Corrupt bargain of 1824 (Jackson v Q Adams), led to dem party and 1st era of dem party dominance in 1828 election

Question 24

Eras in US history (4)

Answer 24

Era of dem dominance (Jackson), era of rep dominance (Lincoln, civil war),Era of Dem dominance (FDR coalition, Great Depression), Era of divided govt (1968-Present)

Question 25

Party dealignment:

Answer 25

Gradual disengagement of people and politicians from parties (movement towards party neutrality)

Question 26

Dealignment evidenced by: (4)

Answer 26

Declining party identification Declining in straight ticket voting Increase in split-ticket voting Breakup of solid south

Question 27

Party polarization causes dealignment due to: (6)

Answer 27

1. Rise of mass media as new source of info 2. Rise of voter individualism (voters educated and knowledgable enough without aid of parties) 3. Rise of candidate centered campaigns (candidate individualism: candidate managing and financing own campaign) 4. Rise of interest groups (helps candidate with money and volunteers) 5. Rise of PACS, 527s, and 501c4's 6. Democratization of election process (people pick candidates when parties used to)

Question 28

Party machine

Answer 28

Local party organizations usually found in major cities, members recruited with material incentives (money, govt jobs, places to live, etc) and controlled by party bosses

Question 29

Initiatives

Answer 29

Started with petition, laws written by citizens

Question 30

recalls

Answer 30

Votes to remove elected official from office, petition

Question 31

Referendums

Answer 31

Laws written by legislatures, voters approve or reject laws

Question 32

Types of election reforms:

Answer 32

Reforms to election process (Goal: democratization: making elections and nominations more accessible by the people) Campaign finance reform (1970s to present, goals: limit influence buying, limit corruption money can bring, make campaign contributions and spending transparent)

Question 33

Almost all election law is under

Answer 33

"Local control" (states)

Question 34

McGovern-Frasier commission (1960s)

Answer 34

Democratic Party, more convention delegates, more representative, more minorities and women

Question 35

Super delegates

Answer 35

Democratic Party, able to vote conscience, more party leadership control

Question 36

Campaign reform act of 1974: (5)

Answer 36

1. Created Fed election committee (FEC) 2. Public funding of presidential elections (matching funds for primaries) 3. Limits on presidential campaign spending (if candidate accepts public funding option) 4. Contribution limits on individual contrib 5. Outlawed foreign contributions

Question 37

1976 amendment to Camp Reform Act of 1974)

Answer 37

Allowed PACs

Question 38

1979 amendment to Camp Reform Act of 74

Answer 38

Made it easier for political parties to raise soft money

Question 39

Bipartisan campaign reform act of 2002 (McCain feingold act) reforms (3)

Answer 39

1. Banned soft money contributions to national parties 2. Raised individual contribution limits to candidates and parties 3. Banned issue ads in fed elections (political ads ran by interest groups)

Question 40

Citizens United:

Answer 40

Defined issue ads as ads running within 60 days on an election that refer to a federal candidate and are not funded by PACs, led to rise of 527s (tax exempt non-partisan groups formed to raise money mainly for negative advertising)

Question 41

Honest leadership and open govt act of 2007, cause Act requires more - to the FEC of -

Answer 41

Bundling of campaign funds: combining individual campaign funds by a PAC lobbyist for the benefit of a federal candidate Public disclosure, bundled contributions

Question 42

2 party reform proposals to combat front loading

Answer 42

``` Regional approach (primaries scheduled by region) The American system (primaries scheduled from biggest to largest state) ```

Question 43

Primaries are stage when candidates are - on issues and policy stances

Answer 43

Clearest

Question 44

1st presidential debate (televised)

Answer 44

Kennedy v Nixon debate

Question 45

Most expensive part of campaign

Answer 45

General election

Question 46

Citizens United v FEC (2010)

Answer 46

Corporations are people and no money limits can be placed on funds used by corps or organizations to campaign for a candidate as long as activities are not coordinated with individual campaign, led to growth of super PACs

Question 47

Campaign manager:

Answer 47

Plans and implements campaign strategy

Question 48

Campaign counsel

Answer 48

Lawyer of campaign finance law

Question 49

Media and campaign consultants

Answer 49

Media consultant designs ads, buys ad time, determines media resources)

Question 50

Campaign staff

Answer 50

Some paid, most volunteer

Question 51

Plan logistics

Answer 51

Effective use of resources

Question 52

Press secretary

Answer 52

Handles press media

Question 53

Incumbents

Answer 53

Generally get reelected (except for presidents)