GOVT2305: Chapter 9- Participation, Campaigns, and Elections

Localities and states can choose when to hold their elections.

In the American federal system, the responsibility for running elections is decentralized, resting largely with state and local governments.

Grassroots Campaigns

Political campaigns that operate at the local level, often using face‐to‐face communication to generate interest and momentum by citizens.

Incumbent

A candidate running for re‐election to a position that he or she already holds.

527 Committee (Super PAC)

A nonprofit independent political action committee that may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and individuals but is not permitted to contribute to or coordinate directly with parties or candidates.

Party Platform

A party document, written at a national convention, that contains party philosophy, principles, and policy positions.

Open Primary

A primary election in which the voter can wait until the day of the primary to choose which party to enroll in to select candidates for the general election

Closed Primary

A primary election in which voters can participate in the nomination of candidates but only of the party in which they are enrolled for a period of time prior to primary day.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns.

General Election

A regularly scheduled election involving most districts in the nation or state, in which voters select officeholders; in the United States, general elections for national office and most state and local offices are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even‐numbered years (every four years for presidential elections).

Delegate

A representative who votes according to the preferences of his or her constituency.

Digital Political Participation

Activities designed to influence politics using the internet, including visiting a candidate's website, organizing events online, and signing an online petition.

Campaign

An effort by political candidates and their supporters to win the backing of donors, political activists, and voters in their quest for political office.

501(c)(4) committees (dark money)

Politically active nonprofits; under federal law, these nonprofits can spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns and not disclose their donors as long as their activities are not coordinated with the candidate campaigns and political activities are not their primary purpose.

Socioeconomic Status

Status in society based on level of education, income, and occupational prestige.

Same‐day Registration

The option in some states to register on the day of the election, at the polling place, rather than in advance of the election.

Electoral College

The presidential electors from each state who meet after the general election to cast ballots for president and vice president.

Mobilization

The process by which large numbers of people are organized for a political activity.

Three factors influence voters' choices:

partisan loyalty, issues and policy preferences, and candidate characteristics

Interest groups try to influence elections in other ways

- *campaign activism* > group activists mobilize members to vote at polls - *ballot initiatives* > interest groups sometimes pay for sponsorship of ballot initiatives at the state level to advance their goals

Iron Triangle

- the stable, cooperative relationship that often develops among a congressional committee, an administrative agency, and one or more supportive interest groups

Types of Elections

- *midterm elections*: congressional elections that do not coincide with a presidential election - *primary election*: elections held to select a party's candidate for the general election > *closed primary*: a primary election in which only voters of the party in which they are enrolled can participate > *open primary*: a primary election in which all registered voters, including independents, can participate - *general election*: follows the primary elections and determines who is ultimately elected to office

Suffrage

- the right to vote > also called franchise

Electoral Politics > *interest groups try to get favorable legislators elected*

- *political action committees* (PACs) > provide financial support to candidates and parties > federal law limits contributions received and contributions made to federal candidates ($5,000 per election) - *super PACs* > can raise unlimited amounts of money > cannot make direct campaign contributions or coordinate with candidates; only independent expenditures

Spending by major groups on lobbying

- Chamber of Commerce > $136 million spent on lobbying in 2012 - American Medical Association > $23 million spent on lobbying in 2015 - General Electric > 26 million spent on lobbying in 2011

Recall elections exist in 19 states

- a recall election allows voters to remove state officials from office before their terms expire > recall elections occur when a minute threshold of voters sign a petition calling for one - in California, the threshold is 12 percent - California removed its governor, Gray Davis, in 2003 via recall election - in 2012, Wisconsin governor Scott Walker faced a recall election but won and remained in office

Successful lobbying involves

- access to members of Congress - providing information to busy congressmen - developing personal relationships with legislators- most lobbyist are extroverted and charismatic - lobbyist also target the president's trusted senior staffers and the executive branch (bureaucracy)

State Electoral Laws

- all states implement voting and election laws differently > there are very different voter turnout rates by state > registration and voting methods vary by state and can reduce turnout - impact is often greatest on people who are young, less educated, and less affluent - registration deadlines, identification requirements, voting locations, mail vs paper ballots, etc.

History of Suffrage

- during early periods of American history, the right to vote, called suffrage, was usually restricted to White males over the age of 21 - many states further limited voting to those who owned property or paid more than a specified amount of annual tax. Until the early 1900s, state legislatures elected U.S. senators, and there were no direct elections for members of the electoral college (who in turn elect the president) > as a result, elections for the U.S. House as well as for state legislatures and local offices were how eligible citizens could participate in government

Number of interest groups on the rise

- expansion of govt- as govt becomes more active, news groups rise to defend or fight changes - growth of public interest groups- the new politics movement of the 60s and 70s was inspired by the protests of the era like civil rights and Vietnam - the internet and social media reach more and are lower costs

Direct-lobbying

- facetoface contact with legislators or top staff - information to legislators on key legislation - testimony at congressional committees

How do groups overcome the free-rider problem?

- groups offer "selective benefits" - selective benefits are available to group members only - there are different types of selective benefits > *informational benefits*: newsletters, programs, conferences > *material benefits*: special goods, services, money > *solidary benefits*: friendship, networking, socializing > *purposive benefits*: pursuing goals; serving a cause

Socioeconomic Status

- individuals are more likely to vote if > they have higher levels of education- the most important factor in predicting voter turnout - they have higher levels of income - they are older- the elderly are more likely to vote than young

AARP Benefits

- informational selective benefits > provides information on issues affecting seniors - material selective benefits > provides insurance; offers low-interest credit cards - purposive selective benefits > some members may become involved politically (telephone)

Going Public

- interest groups attempt to gain mass public awareness and support on a given issue > *institutional advertising*: advertising designed to create positive image of organization > *organizing protests and demonstrations > *grassroots mobilization*: getting members to petition Congress directly in support of the group's position

The Political Environment

- mobilization efforts attract voters to the polls > *mobilization*: the process by which large numbers of people are organized for a political activity - electoral competition (or lack thereof) > there is a higher turnout in more competitive elections - ballot measures > controversial initiatives can increase turnout

Protest

- participation that involves assembling crowds to confront a government or other official organization > peaceful protest is protected by the first amendment > recognized as a legitimate and important form of political activity

Three major factors influence voters' decisions at polls

- partisan loyalty > most impact on little known races, ex. county judge - candidate position on issues - candidate characteristics > race, ethnicity, religion, gender, geographical background, etc.

Lobbying activities regulated by federal law

- prohibited lobbyist from paying for most meals, trips, parties, and gifts for members of Congress > within a few weeks lobbyist had learned how to circumvent many of the news rules - example: free meals and free sports tickets banned BUT... "fundraisers" sponsored by lobbyist allowed (at a fundraiser the member eats for free AND gets donations)

Political Participation

- refers to a wide range of activities in politics

Voter Identification Laws

- requires voters to provide proof of identity > exists in 35 states > eight states require a voter id - republicans argue laws are needed to prevent voter fraud - democrats counter that voter fraud is nearly nonexistent and that ID laws are designed simply to suppress turnout

Voting

- right to vote today extends to all American citizens 18 years of age or older > some states have lifetime bans for convicted felons > turnout relatively low but may be changing - until 2020, 54-62% of eligible Americans voted in presidential elections in 21st century - around 37%-40% national average in midterm national races > NOTE: 2018 saw a record turnout for a midterm- 50% > 2018 saw a record turnout for a midterm- 50% > 2020's presidential election= 66% > 2022's estimated turnout= 47% (new normal?)

Turnout

- the percentage of eligible individuals who actually vote

Becoming president

- voters technically select "electors" in the general election > they are not voting directly for candidates; instead, the vote is to select who goes to the electoral college - electors chosen by the state party for the electoral college select president - the number of electors in each state is the # of House members plus the two Senators > in 2020, Texas had 38 electoral votes (36 House members + 2 Senators) > in 2024, Texas will have 40 electoral votes - 538 total electors; winning candidate needs 270 votes

Women won the right to vote in

1920 - through the adoption of the 19th amendment

Mutal Benefits

> *interest groups provide*: - campaign contributes to members of Congress, lobbying for larger bureaucratic agency benefits, future job offers > *government agencies provide*: - government contracts and regulatory rules that are helpful to interest groups and members of Congress (ex: jobs for constituents) - larger budgets for the agency; policies the interest group favors

Interest groups try to get favorable legislators elected

> *political action committees* (PACs) - provide financial support to candidates and parties - federal law limits contributions received and contributions ($5,000 per election) > *super PACs* - can raise unlimited amounts of money - cannot make direct campaign contributions or coordinate with candidates; only independent expenditures

Ligation by interest groups

> interest groups use the courts to affect public policy in three ways - bringing suit directly on behalf of the group itself - financing suits brought by individuals - filing amicus curiae ("friend of the court") briefs to an existing court case > litigation is used by groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Elections

> presidential elections take place every 4 years > congressional elections take place every 2 years - they both take place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November

In 2018, candidates in the most competitive House races spent $20 million or more, a huge increase over just four years. In the 2020 congressional races, candidates spent a record $7.2 billion, an increase from $5.9 billion in 2018.

To have a reasonable chance of winning a seat in the House of Representatives, a candidate may need to raise more than $1 million; in 2014 candidates in the most competitive House races spent $10 million or more.

Referendum

a law proposed by legislature that is referred to the public for a vote of approval or rejection

Ballot Initiative

a proposed law or policy that is place on the ballot by citizens or interest groups for a popular vote

Midterm Elections

congressional elections that do not coincide with a presidential election; also called off-year elections

Primary Elections

elections held to select a party's candidate for the general election