Exam 3 American Government
What are two broad categories of interest groups in the United States
Economic and Non economic. Economic groups exist mainly to use the political process to secure financial gains for their members. Non economic groups exist to articulate their values, not to advance material interest
According to the book, there are many different ways to participate in politics. What are some of them? Can you place them on a scale of participation (most to least participation)?
-Most participation: holding public office, becoming a candidate for office, attending a caucus or strategy meeting -Normal participation: voting wearing a button or putting a sticker on a car -Least Participation: Ignoring all political message
What is a partisan realignment?
A durable shift in a political system's configuration of voters' partisan identification and political parties' vote shares. Whenever a massive, long-term shift occurs in voter allegiance from one party to another, a partisan realignment has occurred. A realignment suggests that an important change has taken place in political culture and signals that the country is embarking on direction in public policy.
o What is an amicus curiae brief? How do interest groups use them to seek to influence policy?
An amicus brief is filed by a person or group that is not a direct party ti a case buts wants to inform the court of its views on how the case should be decided
Make sure to know and understand the definition of interest group? How do interested group differ from political parties?
An interest group is an association of individuals or organizations that seeks to influence government to benefit members of the association or advance a cause they share a belief in.
Make sure you understand the decentralized nature of our political parties and what it means for party politics
Basically the more decentralized a party is the harder it is to push a specific issue
• What are the different types of economic interest groups? How do they differ in the policies that they pursue? Be sure to know an example of each subtype (for instance: the AFL-CIO is a labor union).
Business Interest- Many large corporations hire their own lobbyists to represent their interest General Business Organizations- Chamber of Commerce Trade Associations Professional Organization- The American Medical Association Organized Labor- the American Federation Labor
What according to the textbook, is by far the greatest barrier to vote
By far the greatest barrier to vote is the requirement of voter registration. All citizens who want to cast a ballot in an election must register in advance of the election
o What is the difference between (traditional) lobbying and grassroots lobbying?
Grassroot lobbying is a broad category of lobbying in which people in general public try to influence those in government
What are some negative consequences of hyperpluralism
Gridlock, the inability of government to make or implement any decision
o Why do individuals decide to join interest groups? Why, for instance, might I become a member of AAA even if I'd rather free-ride on the public goods it seeks to provide?
Groups may have selective incentives that are quite powerful in inducing potential members to join
What led for the development of the Democratic Party as a majority party in the 1930s
I'm 1932, the Democrats were able to assemble a viable coalition of voters. The elements of the new deal coalition included southern whites, blacks, and other ethnic groups, Catholics, and Jews. The party had the support of labor unions and residents of many large cities in addition to small farmers. The grand scope of their programs enabled democrats to appeal to a wide variety of constituencies.
How does public opinion influence policy?
In a democracy, policy is made by leaders who respond to and shape public opinion Majoritarianism Model:suggest that the public is the prime mover or that there is a direct link between mass public opinion and policy makers; not likely Elite-pluralist Model, Pluralism, and Biased Pluralism: policy is guided by an external factor such as activists in the Elite-Pluralist Model
• How do collective action problems (including the incentive to free ride) shape the way in which interest groups try to recruit and retain members?
Interest groups may provide selective incentives to members. Selective incentives can be any private benefit that induces a potential number to join or a current member to stay in an organization.
Is the voter turnout rate about the same today as it was in 1960 or has it changed? If it's changed, has it increased or declined? What about since the 1980s
It has changed since 1960. In 1960, voter turnout rate was 63.1% and in 2016, it is 55.4% which has been declined. It decreased from 63% to 52.6%
Why do we only have two major parties?
It has flowed from other structural characteristics of American government as well as from American political culture. The major reason for the two party system has to do with the winner and take all electoral system for president and Congress. In a winner take all electoral system a party must capture the most votes in a district to obtain any representation in government. Thus is a new party were to form and get 15% of the votes nationwide, it could easily end up with no house seats and win no electoral votes in a presidential contest. This system makes it hard for any new party to grow. Another structural explanation is the difficulty 3rd parties have experienced in getting on the ballot.
Is voter turnout in the U.S. generally higher in the U.S. compared to other countries or is it lower?
It is lower
• What are some of the most common ways in which interest groups seek to influence policy?
Lobbying influencing elections, fund raising influencing public opinion.
What does it means to say someone has "low political efficacy"? What is meant by the term "political intolerance"? Why are these two things thought to be dangerous for democracy
Low political efficacy is when a citizen believes they can minimally or barely make a difference in politics . Political intolerance- the reluctance of willingness to extend basic rights and civil liberties to persons and groups whose viewpoints differ from one's own. A democracy cannot work with citizens who make demands and provide support (basically believe they can make a difference); if everyone believes they can't make a difference then a democracy cannot progress If a political culture does not support a reasonable degree of tolerance for others, it is doubtful that political institutions can do much more than hold off a majority who would use their power to limit the rights of a minority Ex: the Jews in Nazi Germany
What are third parties? Be sure to know the different major third parties in the United States since 1992.
Major 3rd parties in presidential elections since 1992: 1992: United We Stand, 1996: Reform, 2000: Green, 2004,2008,2012 : Libertarian All 3rd parties listed in textbook: Reform Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party, Proto-Party
Make sure that you are aware of he cost of registering to vote as well as the actual process of voting
Many people believe that the cost of expending that amount of personal resources is still not worth the benefits they would derive from voting. Of course few people make these cost/benefit calculations explicitly
What is pluralism? How does pluralism differ from majoritarianism, elite theory, and biased pluralism?
Model of American politics that says government is influenced by the efforts of multiple minority organized groups with opposing interests and values. According to the classics theory of pluralism, all citizens potentially affected by policies can and will organize and thereby exert influence over policy. Pluralism stands in sharp contrast to majoritarianism , which expects government to be highly responsive to the will of the majority
According to the textbook are most of these barriers still present today or have most of them been removed
Most of these barriers have been removed, but a significant barrier that continues to persist is voting registration as it makes voting more thoughtful where someone has to put aside time to actually register to vote
Make sure to know and understanding the definitions and significance of these terms: nonresponse bias, random sample, double-barreled question, and priming.
Nonresponse Bias: when the people take the survey (respondents) are are meaningly different than those who decline to answer the survey Random sample: A sample in which each person within sampling frame has an equal chance being selected Doubled-Barred Question: a fallacy that occurs when the surveyor asks respondents a questions that deal with more than one issue. This leads to answer that are ambiguous and not valid Priming: a potential problem in surveys in which a previous questions can influence the response to future questions
What is meant by the word public opinion
Opinions about what the government should do more or less of.
What are third parties in government and how do the differ from parties in the electorate?
Party in government: elected officials are apart of the party. Party consist of office holders from that particular party. Party affiliation crucial for presidential and cabinet office operations. Although they do not have to contend with members of the other party in the day to day internal operations Presidents and cabinet have to be aware of their party in congress and how it and the opposition in Congress will react. Sensitive to party identifiers in the electorate, most of whom were their supporters during the election Party in electorate :Refers to those who identify with a party. The party in the electorate refers to those who i national elections generally identify with a particular party. The party in electorate is softly about electing candidates.
What are some of the reasons not for voting
People do not trust government as much as they used to, nor do they feel that their participation can make a real difference. People today are less likely to feel that they are members of a political community. The breakdown of community is less related to many things, including the decline of cities, the increase in social mobility, the breakdown of the traditional family, reduced membership in labor unions, and the decline of organized religion Society has become to the great extent, a collections of disconnected individuals who lack interest in public affairs and do not feel a duty to participate in them
What is a PAC
Political Action Committee are legal mechanisms through which interest groups funnel contributions for public office
What is political socialization? Who (or what) are the different factors that influence political society
Political socialization: the process by which people learn about their political world. Through this process, people develop patterns of attitudes and beliefs, which help shape the way they view the political world. Factors that influence political socialization include: family upbringing, schools, media, (frames primary source of info), peer groups, and events such as the great depression
o What is the name given to non-economic interest groups that strive for "a collective good, the achievement of which will not selectively or materially benefit the membership or activists of the organization?"
Public Interest Groups
Why, according to the textbook, is public opinion "vital" in a democratic system?
Public Opinion is vital in a democratic system because elected officials have a better idea of what the people's preferences are and can decide to vote as true representatives of the public will through things like polling.
What according to the textbook is the most notable trend in regards to the party in the electorate over the past four decades
Rise of Independent Voter, the voter who identifies with no particular party
• What are the different types of non-economic interest groups? How do they differ from economic interest groups?
Single Issue Groups Ideological group
What are the systemic factors that influence turnout in the United States
The abolition of the poll tax The abolition of literacy test Formal prohibitions against discrimination in registering voters The increased availability of bilingual registration materials The increased numbers of states allowing registration by mail A decline in residency requirements The moving of registration deadlines closers to elections
Why did the civil rights movement present a long-lasting challenge to the Democratic Party's coalition that originally emerged in the 1930s?
The civil rights movement and its challenge to what was perhaps the strongest base for the Democratic party, southern voters, increased tension between the national and the state and local elements of the party. The Democrats were faced with the following questions: how were they appeal to southern whites and minorities at the same time? The national Democratic Party was increasingly liberal and although at the grassroot level in many areas the party remained conservative.
How do socioeconomic factors influence our stance on certain issues?
Socioeconomic factors influence our stance on certain certain issues depending on the situation of an individual. Social Class: those who unemployed or employed in low-paying jobs are likely to place little value on the concept of minimal government as they look to the government to create jobs and provide social services. Basically the more money you have, the more likely you are to participate in politics Religion: many people ground their political values in religious values. The power of religious leaders to inspire movements is indisputable. Region: Each place has its own unique/ particular interest as there are regional differences Age: generational and aging effects have an effect on the formation of political attitudes For examples if you have children, you would most likely be more concerned about crime, violence, drugs, etc. that may threaten their well/being Race:Is a dominant factor in formation of political attitudes and opinion especially true for minority groups. Minority's are more likely to adopt liberal position on civil rights and liberties issues, social welfare, issues, and the rights of workers Gender: difference between and women have led to something of a gender gap in voting, especially in presidential elections. Women recently have tended to be more supportive of Democrats, whereas men have tended to favor Republicans Marital status: married people with children tend to be more conservative than others in society; this group is also potentially powerful on a whole range of social and economic issues
How did the issue of slavery factor into the demise of the Whig Party, the loss of majority- party status by Democrats and the rise of the Republicans
The Whigs were less unified on slavery during the 1830s when they were the party out of power. They were therefore less committed to the status quo and more likely to take the risk of establishing a new image. In the 1840s and 185-s the Whigs became increasingly spilt over the slavery issue. Out of the conflict emerged 2 parities dedicated to the abolition slavery: Liberty party and free Soil Party. The Whigs collapsed under the pressure. The Democratic Party has included both northerns and southerners. In the 1840s and 1850s the Democrats became increasingly split over the slavery issues. The Democrats were weakened to a degree sufficient to make them vulnerable to the newly constituted Republican Party . Democratic Party broke into rival factions over slavery issues The
How did the issue of slavery factor into the demise of the Whig Party, the loss of majority-party status by Democrats, and the rise of the Republican Party?
The Whigs were less unified on slavery during the 1830s when they were the party out of the power. They were therefore less committed to the status quo and more likely to take the risk of establish a new image. In the 1840s and 1850s the Whigs became increasingly spilt over the slavery issue. Out of the conflict emerged 2 parties dedicated to the abolition of slavery: Liberty party and free soil party. The Whigs collapsed under the pressure. The Democratic Party had included both northerners and southerners. In the 1840s and 1850s the Democrats became increasingly split over the slavery issue. The Democrats were weakened to a degree sufficient to make them vulnerable to the newly constituted Republican Party. Democratic Party broke into rival functions over the slavery issue The Republican Party was clearly committed to the end of slavery. By drawing support from anti slavery Democrats the Republicans soon became the majority party. Lincoln's election in 1860 and ensuring Civil War left the Democrats as the minority party.
Be sure to understand the relationship between interest groups and the First Amendment.
The courts have long recognized that the First Amendment protects the right to join political associations for the purpose of petitioning government for a redress of grievances.
What influences an individual's decisions to vote or stay home
The first choice is whether to register. The second choice, open to those who have registered, is whether to go to the polls on Election Day and cast a ballot.
What did the founding fathers think about public opinion? How did their views about public opinion influence their approach to designing democratic government?
The founding fathers knew that public opinion was important and that the government was to proceed with caution as to not fall under the pressure of fleeting popular passions. Therefore the government was designed to moderate temper the influence the opinion; communication was so limited that only fundamental, lasting divisions in society could become issues among the mass citizenry However overtime the government has become more responsive. Channels of political participation and mass media have expanded which led to increase in public opinion, as well as candidates, journalist and elected officials have all developed an urge to take on public's will
How, according to the textbook, do political parties "provide a vital function in any democratic system"?
They promote comprise and cooperation among various interests . They allow the multiplicity of interest to find their voices, even though those voices may be somewhat muted.
o What is the relationship between interest groups, campaigns, and money?
They try to influence the potions that candidates take on issues and even the platforms that parties adopt at their conventions. Sometimes they even recruit political candidates. At the same time candidates and campaign officials are paying more attention to interest groups
What separates scientific polling unscientific polling?
Unscientific polling- absent attempt to ensure that the sample is representative of the population. Although it can provide some insights, the danger of making patently incorrect statements about the population is always present; is risky for a business looking to market new products or a politician trying to get elected to public office
What is the difference between values, beliefs, and attitudes? How values, belief, and attitudes shape our opinion on political issues
Values: General, abstract, and transsituational beliefs about humanity and society Beliefs: Propositions about what is true Attitudes: an enduring orientation toward an object Opinions are built on values, beliefs, and attitudes; political values are our basic feelings about how we feel society should look like and how people should behave
What historically been barriers to voting (especially for minorities)?
Women an minorities were not able to vote
• Make sure to know whether each of the following groups tend to vote at relatively high rates or relatively low rates? o Young voters (compared to older voters) o The highly educated (compared to those with low education levels) o High income voters (compared to low income voters) o Women (compared to men)
Young Voters (compared to older voters) Young People (those in the 18-24 age bracket) are the least likely to vote of any age category. People in the 45-70 age bracket tend to vote the most. The highly education (compared to those with low education levels) -people with more education tend to vote more frequently than people with less education High Income Voters (compared to low income voters) higher income is positively associated with higher turnout Women compared to men- Women are slightly more likely to vote more than men
What is meant by hyperpluralism
a condition in which the prevalence of group demands makes it impossible for government to plan, deal with long-term problems, and make policies that further the public interest.