Unit 3a Congressional Elections And Direct Democracy

Question 1

What is split ticket voting

Answer 1

Voting for candidates of different political parties in the same election (republican in house, democrat in senate)

Question 2

What is meant by pork barrelling?

Answer 2

Taking projects that benefit someone in return for donations

Question 3

How do gerrymandering and safe states explain high rates of incumbency in the senate?

Answer 3

The practise of drawing political constituency maps to increase a party’s advantage in election. If there is a safe seat it helps incumbency as they have a further advantage.

Question 4

What is meant by coat tails

Answer 4

Benefiting from popularity by clinging onto presidents

Longer the coat tails the more the president can get people to do what he wants.

Question 5

What were trump and Hillary’s coat tails like

Answer 5

Due to negative polls they had no or very short coat tails

Question 6

What is liberal democracy

Answer 6

Free and fair elections
Limited role for government
Wide franchise
Constitutionalism

Question 7

Pluralist democracy?

Answer 7

Wide distribution of power within politics
Opposite of elitism
Power is shared
Open debate between competing groups

Question 8

Difference between a referendum and an initiative?

Answer 8

An initiative allows citizens to pass new laws however the referendum gives citizens a direct way of challenging laws passed by the legislative

Question 9

What is a direct initiative

Answer 9

Interested parties prepare the initiative and collect the necessary signatures. If successful, the issue is placed on the ballot

Question 10

What is an indirect initiative

Answer 10

Require that measures receiving the necessary signatures are submitted to the legislature for action

Question 11

2016 California weed example

Answer 11

California’s approves proposition 64 legal ion marijuana “for persons 21 years or older under state law and establishing certain sales and taxes”