Unit 5 Flashcards
(74 cards)
1
Q
What is a franchise?
A
Those in America who have the right to vote.
2
Q
What are the Amendments that have affected the franchise? (list and describe)
A
- 15th Amendment (right of black men to vote)
- 17th Amendment (granted the people the right to vote senators into office)
- 19th (recognized women’s right to vote)
- 24th (abolished poll taxes that were used to suppress minority votes
- 26th (lowered the voting age from 24 to 18)
3
Q
What are the 4 voting models
A
- Rational Choice voting
- Retrospective voting
- Prospective voting
- Party-line voting
4
Q
What is rational choice voting?
A
Person votes based on their individual self-interest, carefully studying issues and platforms
5
Q
What is retrospective voting?
A
Person votes based of how a party/candidate will perform in the future
6
Q
What is prospective voting
A
Votes based on predictions of how a party/candidate will perform in the fturue
7
Q
What is party line voting
A
Voting for everyone who is part of your party
8
Q
What is political efficacy
A
A citizen’s belief about whether their vote matters
9
Q
What are the 4 categories that can affect voter
A
- Structural barriers (ID requirements, etc)
- Political efficacy
- Demographics (some groups are more likely to vote)
- Type of election (national elections have more voters than local ones)
10
Q
What is a linkage institution?
A
Societal structure that connects people to their government/political process
11
Q
What do political parties actually do
A
- Mobilize and educate voters
- Write and publish the party platform
- Find quality candidates
- Provide campaign management support for their candidates
12
Q
What are the 3 ways parties can change over time?
A
- The way they interact with candidates
- Change the platform over time to appeal to more voters
- Altering the entire party structure
13
Q
What is a party realignment
A
When people switch parties en masse
14
Q
How do parties change their entire structure?
A
- Party realignment
- Changes to campaign finance laws (how much can be given to candidates/parties)
- Changes in media/tech
15
Q
What do psychographics do
A
Explain why a voter votes a certain way
16
Q
What is the main reason a 3rd party can’t win an election
A
The winner-take-all voting districts (electoral college) prevents them from getting any votes
17
Q
Why do interest groups exist?
A
To educate voters and office on the interest group’s chosen issue
18
Q
What are the advantages of the incumbent
A
- Has already won an election and knows how its done
- People already know them and how they are going to act
- Already has an army of volunteers and fundraisers ready to help
19
Q
What is an open primary
A
voters can vote for a candidate of any party
20
Q
What is a closed primary
A
Voter has to be registered with the party’s candidates
21
Q
What did the FECA do?
A
Created a new federal commission called the Federal Election Commission (FEC)
22
Q
What does the FEC do?
A
Oversees and regulates the $ being spent in political campaigns
23
Q
What do PACs do
A
raise $ to influence the population to vote for a particular candidate
24
Q
What are the 3 types of PACS
A
- Connected PACS
- Non-connected PACs
- Super PAC
25
What is a super PAC
Can be formed by anyone, can accept unlimited donations, but can't directly coordinate with a candidate
26
What is a non-connected PAC
Formed independently of an organisation, usually around a specific public interest
27
What is a connected PAC
formed by corporations or other entities like labor unions. Can only collect funds from the members of their organisation
28
What was the constitutional principle of the Citizens United v. FEC case
Citizens United argued that the BCRA's prohibition against electioneering communication by corporations was a violation of the first Amendments protection of freedom speech.
29
What is suffrage?
Which citizens are qualified to vote
30
What is the white primary
Became a method for southern states to keep African Americans from voting. State Democratic party organisations set rules for their primaries, defining their membership as white men's clubs.
31
What was the 1957 Civil Rights Act
1st congressional act on civil rights since the reconstruction - addressed discrimination in voter registration and establishes the US Office of Civil Rights
32
What are voting blocs
Groups that tend to to vote in noticeable patterns
33
What was the National Voter Registration Act
Addresses national standards and enforces voter registration, requiring states to offer citizens to register to vote at state run agencies
34
What is an absentee ballot
A ballot that can be used by voters who can't make it to the polls; can be mailed in
35
What are Hill Committees
non-lawmaking committees in each house of Congress. Their purpose is to strategize how to win seats in house and senate
36
What does the McGovern-Fraser Commission do
Examines, considers, and rewrites convention rules. Created superdelegates
37
Who are superdelegates
HIgh-ranking delegates not beholden to any state primary vote.
38
What is party principle
The idea that the party exits independent of the government, and that if successful, it can reward with government jobs those who helped the campaign
39
What is divided government
When one party controls the executive branch while the other controls one/both houses in congress
40
What is hard money
Any contribution subject to the regulation of the FEC. There are strict limits on how much can be donated and donations can only come from individuals
41
What is an issue ad
Ads highlighting an issue of concern; could point out opposition's stand on those issues and leave a negative impression.
41
What is soft money
Donations not regulated by the FEC; as long as they are for the purpose of "party building activities", not for the purpose of supporting candidates
42
What did the BCRA do
put en end to soft money issue ad practices - that money instead went to special interest groups in support of a candidate
43
What was the effect of the BCRA
Party centered campaigns became the norm
44
What are independent expenditures
Ads used to support/disparage any candidate as long as the Super PAC didn't cooperate with the candidate
45
What are splinter parties
Parties broken off from a majority party
46
What are caucuses
Ranking and file party members meet at community centers, schools, and private homes where they listen to endorsed speeches, discuss candidates, and then cast a vote before leaving
47
What front-loading
States scheduling their primaries and caucuses earlier and earlier to boost their political clout and slam their tourism
48
What are the benefits of the electoral college
- States retain their importance in electing the president
- Candidates must campaign and seek votes in most states rather than only heavily populated states
- Guarantees a consensus president w/ broad support
- States retain primacy if the election goes to House/Senate
49
What are the disadvantages to the electoral college
- One candidate can win the popular vote and not win the electoral vote
- Electoral vote strength is higher, per Capita, in smaller states
- The winner-take-all system discourage those who voted for the runner up
50
What was the Federal Election Campaign Act
Tightened reporting requirements and limited candidates' expenditures
51
Describe pluralism
A multitude of views that ultimately results in a consensus on some issues has intensified the ongoing competition among interests
52
What is a key benefit of interest groups
There are multiple access points for people to have their voices heard and influence government policy
53
What was the 16th amendment
Empowered Congress to tax individual incomes, which enhanced the national Treasury and encourage groups to push for more services
54
What are the potential problems of interest groups (4)
1. Can use immoral methods
2. When too many interest groups pull the gov in different directions, it causes gridlock
3. Can lead to corruption and fraud
4. Don't participate on a leveled playing field - some have more funding than others
55
What are 501(c)3 resources
churches or certain hospitals receive tax deductions for charitables and can influence government, but cannot lobby government officials or donate to campaigns.
56
What are 501(c)4 resources
certain social welfare organisations can lobby and campaign but can't spend more than 1/2 their expidentures on political issues
57
What are the three types of incentives interest groups offer to members
1. Purpose incentives
2. Solidary incentives
3. Material incentives
58
What are purpose incentives
Give the joiner some philosophical satisfaction
59
What are solidary incentives
Allows people of like mind to gather on occasion
60
What are material incentives
Travel discounts, subscriptions to magazines, or complementary items
61
T or F: Interest group members have an upper class bias, which results in policies that favor the higher socioeconomic class
True
62
What are single issue groups
Groups that focus narrowly on one topic
63
_____ persuade government decision makers through exclusive access (interest groups)
Insider strategies
64
What is the most common form of insider activity for interest groups
Direct lobbying
65
What are outsider strategies (interest groups)
Lawsuits, public opinion, appearing on TV
66
What are iron triangle
the bonds between an agency, Congressional committee, and interest group
67
What is grassroots lobbying
When an interest group tries to inform, persuade, and mobilize large numbers of people (particularly at the lower/community level).
68
What does the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act do (2007)
Bans all gifts to members of Congress or their staff from legislative lobbiers or their clients
69
What is the problem of the revolving door
The movement from the job of a legislator/regulator to that within an industry affects by the laws and regulations (loophole issue)
70
What does the Government Printing Office (GPO) do
Prints government publications
71
What was the importance of the GPO
broke the patronage relationship between government and publishers
72
What does the Freedom Information Act (1966) do
allows the public to gain access to no classified federal documents.
73
What does the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) do
Regulates electronic media, and has authority over the content of radio, TV, wire, and satellite broadcasts. Regulates ownership by attempting to prevent monopolies
