unit 5 govt Flashcards
(39 cards)
A corporate lobbyist would be LEAST likely to have an informal discussion about a pending policy matter with which of the following?
A federal judge in whose court a case important to the corporation is being heard
All of the following are commonly used by interest groups to influence the political process EXCEPT nominating candidates
The vice of the groupist theory is that it conceals the most significant aspects of the system. The flaw in the pluralist heaven is that the heavenly chorus sings with a strong upper-class accent. Probably about 90 percent of the people cannot get into the pressure system.The notion that the pressure system is automatically representative of the whole community is a myth fostered by the universalizing tendency of modern group theories. Pressure politics is a selective process ill designed to serve diffuse interests. The system is skewed, loaded, and unbalanced in favor of a fraction of a minority.
Which of the following activities would the author most likely be concerned about interest groups engaging in?
Forming iron triangles with bureaucratic agencies and (increasing pressure!!) congressional committees
Considering all elections at all levels of government, which of the following best describes electoral behavior in the United States?
The majority of the electorate does not vote in most elections.
Which of the following statements about political parties and the United States Constitution is true?
The issue of political parties is not addressed in the Constitution.
Which of the following provides the most accurate explanation of how consumer-driven media increases partisan polarization?
Consumer-driven media reinforces existing political biases in individuals.
Which of the following best describes the concept of political efficacy?
It is the belief that one can make a difference in politics by expressing an opinion and acting politically.
Which of the following is NOT an explanation for low voter turnout?
Laws protecting minority voting rights
In the process and structure of public policy-making, “iron triangles” refer to the networks of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process
Which of the following describes a consequence of the growing concentration of ownership of the news media?
There is increased similarity of network news coverage.
The term “horse-race journalism” refers to the tendency of the media to
cover campaigns by emphasizing the relative standings of the candidates in the polls rather than the issues they discuss (Horse race journalism is political journalism of elections that resembles coverage of horse races because of the focus on polling data and public perception instead of candidate policy, and almost exclusive reporting on candidate differences rather than similarities)
example of horse race media coverage?
News media outlets report the results of public opinion polls that show the relative popularity of presidential candidates.
(This is an example of horse race media coverage because the media is using polling results to show the popularity of candidates rather than focusing on candidate qualifications or policy issues.)
Lobbyists try to influence legislators mainly through providing legislators with information on technical issues
A person votes for Democratic candidates based on the belief that the policies of the Democratic Party WILL be personally beneficial. This type of voting matches which of the following voting behavior models?
prospective voting
Which of the following statements about political action committees (PACs) is true?
PAC spending makes up a higher percentage of congressional campaign funds than of presidential campaign funds.
example of interest group & political parties
interest group - Files briefs in court to appeal judges’ decisions in cases they are passionate about
political parties- Formally proposes legislation on an issue by including it on the party platform
Which of the following is the main reason interest groups are often successful in getting legislation passed to benefit their members?
A narrow constituency derives the benefits from such legislation but the costs are spread broadly across the population.
A voter’s decision to support the incumbent president in an upcoming election is based on recent economic growth and record low unemployment. Which of the following models of voting behavior best characterizes this voter’s decision?
retrospective voting (incumbent president!!)
- mobilization and education of voters
- canvassing campaigns- people show up at other people’s houses to convince them to vote for their candidate
- write and publish party platform policy
-find quality candidates
-provide campaign management support for their candidates
what do political parties do
- the ways parties interact with candidates
-change past patry (in the past, the party membered and the candidate was secondary)
-parties have changed their platforms over time in order to appeal to larger amount of the electorate
-altering party structure
-party realignment, new priorities
-changes to campaign finance laws
-communication and data management technology
-demographics & psychographics
how political parties change
- can’t win because of winner take all voting districts (too small of a party, voting feels like it’s taking away from one of the majority parties)
- to overthrow this we need a proportional system
- adoption of platforms by major parties ex. green party
- bigger parties can incorporate third party agendas into their own to appeal to more people
3rd party politics
- group of people who gather around on policy in order to persuade policy makers to make legislation favorable to the group
- engage in lobbying
- draft legislation
- educate voters and office holders on the interest
-mobilize voters to apply pressure and work with legislators & govt agencies
interest group
- provide them with policy information and campaign donations if the representative is sympathetic to the group’s goals
-issue networks-interest groups work together for a common goal (influenced by inequality)
why are congressional committees especially helped by interest groups
-open or closed primaries (or caucuses)
-candidates have to first earn their party’s nomination through the primaries (election in which members of a party on which candidates they want are voted to represent them in the general election)
- incumbency advantage (known entity, has already won before and already has volunteers ready to help)
whoever wins that primary is presented at the party’s national convention
electoral college issue
