ch 7 AP gov

delegates vs. super delegates

-Democrats use super delegates, Republicans do not anymore -super delegates are free to support any candidate for the nomination, they are not average voters, but superdelegates are Democratic party leaders throughout the country that get their own votes at the Democratic National Convention -the big difference between the two is that super delegates have more freedom in who they choose to vote for -regular Democratic delegates are determined based on each state's primary or caucus

results for FECA

-Federal Elections Campaign Act -placed limits on contributions that could be made to candidates and created the Federal Election Commission to oversee these regulations -law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances 1. limited presidential campaign spending 2. provided public financing for presidential primaries and general elections

things democrats are focused on:

-Gun control -Pro choice -Encourage businesses to keep jobs here and not outsource them overseas -Support gay marriage -Cut taxes for working families, but not millionaires -Do not support death penalty -Preserve promise of Social Security don't privatize

things the republicans are focused on:

-Social security should be privatized -Oppose gay marriage -Keep healthcare private -Pro life -Supports voluntary student supported prayer in school -Generally supports closed or tight borders and tracking system for foreign travelers -Support death penalty

strengths of two party system

-allows them to move back and forth to the middle of the spectrum to appeal to those who do not vote for a specific party (most americans) -keeps 1 party from dominating

people changing their party

partisan realignment

a psychological attachment to a political party that most people acquire in childhood from their parents, informal

party identification

a political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years

party platform

the act of declaring party affiliation; required by some states when one registers to vote

party registration

people who are mostly committed to one party, they place the party first and are most interested in winning elections for their party

party regulars

the dispensing of government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party

patronage

parties & interest groups different:

political parties -broadly focused on many issues -not as dependent on size for power -members definitely only support 1 party -do not "lobby" -members will compromise and solve disagreements to keep people from leaving interest groups -narrowly focused on specific issues -dependent on size for power -members can support any candidate/party that will help them -lobby -members can easily leave if disagreements come up

an election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote, this system gives more of an opportunity for the minor parties to have a say

proportional representation

an election during periods of expanded suffrage and change in the economy and society that proves to be a turning point, causes people to change parties

realigning election

money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party building purposes

soft money

an election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins

winner take all system

years the realignment elections were:

-1824: 2 party system created, created Democratic party and wigs -1860: wigs are done, out of crisis over slavery came our current republican party -1896: Republicans appeal to wealthy and Democrats decided to try to appeal to lower class -1932: FDR elected, south turns Democrat along with rest of the country

BCRA and 2 results

-Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act -banned soft money contributions to national political parties from corporations and unions; independent expenditures by corporations, labor unions, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations are sharply restricted, the elimination of "soft money" 1. less money to the candidates but more money put into elections 2. creation of super PACS

how parties choose candidates in tems of caucuses, conventions, and primaries:

-caucuses: a meeting of local party members to choose delegates who will vote for party candidates in the convention, first method for choosing candidates was the caucus, by the 1820s though the caucus was seen as a place for backroom deals and was not democratic as the only people who had a voice in the caucus were rich and powerful -national party convention: a national meeting of delegates who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president, create the party's platform for the next 4 years, elect officers, and adopt rules -direct primary: election in which voters choose party nominees -this is still the method used today and its methods vary by state according to who may vote how the delegates will be awarded and who may run -open primary: primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote -closed primary: primary election in which only persons registered in the party holding the primary may vote -semi-closed primary: a primary in which a voter has to declare their party at the polls and may only vote in that parties primary

Role of political parties

-main job is to nominate candidates -unify the electorate: to win elections, parties need to reach out to voters outside their party and gain their support, ex: speaking to the media to put messages out that people will get behind -organize the competition: parties are important when it comes to organizing our state and national governments, ex: campaigning -help organize government: government is organized by party, ex: congress organizing caucuses (meeting with everyone in the party) -provide loyal opposition: check each other's power, ex: Obamacare -translate preferences to policies: to act on what you believe in as a party, ex: Obamacare

weaknesses of two party system

-party that doesn't win does not gain anything -minor parties lose their importance

iron triangle:

-people who work in the federal government often become lobbyists because they have personal relationships with people in Congress and the president (people in the government often eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern) -this "revolving door" creates an issue network where relationships among interest groups, congressional committees, and government agencies (the bureaucracy) that share a common policy concern is created -this issue network is called the iron triangle

contributions by third parties:

-play a more significant role in the states (more specific on issues that relate to the state, give people an idea on how to vote) -highlight state issues and bring them to national attention if necessary -can act as spoilers in an election (meaning they can swing/alter an election) -have had an indirect influence in our country by drawing attention to controversial issues and by organizing groups like the anti-slavery and Civil Rights Movement -shine light on issues

parties & interest groups similar:

-they are both organized groups -work toward specific goals -promote politicians -fundraise -raise awareness -attempt to gain power -communicate with the people for support

theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes, stating the government spending should increase during business slumps and be curbed during booms

Keynesian economics

followers of a particular candidate who see the party as means to elect their candidate

candidate activists

people are nominated largely based on candidate appeal, not necessarily party affiliation

candidate centered

voting by a member of one party for a candidate of another party

cross over voting

rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of Independents

dealignment

governance divided between the parties, as when one holds the presidency and the other controls one of both houses of Congress

divided government

political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed (raising such limited funds is harder than raising unlimited funds, hence the term "hard" money)

hard money

period at the beginning of a new president's term during which the president enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress, usually lasting about six months

honeymoon

what is the most important advantage congressmen can have in getting elected?

incumbency (they already have had a position in the government)

occur when a person, group, or party spends unlimited amounts in campaigns for or against candidates as long as they operate independently from the candidates

independent expenditure

wish to push the party in a certain direction and focus on one issue or a narrow range of issues

issue activists

theory that opposes governmental interference in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property

laissez-faire economics

a small political party that rises and falls with a charismatic candidate or, if composed of ideologies on the right or left, usually persists over time; also called a third party

minor party

a local or judicial election in which candidates are not selected or endorsed by political parties and party affiliation is not listed on ballots (mainly because the positions that have these elections have no need for political ideals, they just have to perform a task, ex. school board, coroner)

nonpartisan election