Texas Government 2306, Ch. 4, 5, & 6

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Citizens United V. Federal Election Commission

(2010)- 2002 campaign Reform Act that limited independent expenditures by corporations and labor unions is unconstitutional.

Recent texas voter ID law

(2011)- requires voters to show one of 5 forms of identification: driver's license, military ID, passport, concealed handgun license, voter ID card. STUDENT ID CARD IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Election Ballot: Recount

-A candidate can request a recount if he/she loses by less than 10% - Candidate must put up deposit - Candidate is liable for entire recount cost IF he/she loses.

Electoral Dealignment

-A situation in which voters' partisan(party) loyalties have been substantially and permanently weakened.

Two factions within the Republican Party: Party Pragmatists

-AKA moderates OR centrists -Practical results rather than ideological basis -More likely to bargain/compromise -Fear that radicalism will lead to lost in general elections -Business oriented rather than moral oriented -Support govt spending on infrastructure/education to benefit business and the economy

Political Action Committee (PAC)

-An organization that raises and then contributes money to political candidates. Usually created by corporations and labor unions. -Max of $5,000

Interest Groups

-An organized body of individuals who share some political goals and try to influence public policy decisions. -Interest groups = Pressure groups OR lobbyist group -Their representatives are called lobbyist who directly contact public officials to influence their decisions.

Types of Interest Groups: Economic Interest groups-Business interest groups

-BUSINESS -business organizations and trade associations -Concerns: Taxes, regulation, govt contracts -Ex: National Association of Manufacturers, US Chamber of Commerce, Texas Association of Business

Types of Interest Groups: Economic Interest groups

-Business interest groups -Agricultural interest groups -Labor interest groups -Public employee interest groups -Professional interest groups -Foreign governments

Types of Interest Groups: Economic Interest Groups- Labor interest groups

-EMPLOYEES -Concerns: Wages, job security, benefits, workplace safety -significant decline in recent years -Ex: AFL-CIO (Union of Unions), International brotherhood of Teamsters, United Auto Workers (UAW), United Mine Workers (UMW)

Lobbying

-Efforts by groups to influence public policy through contact with public officials. -access and connections: to inform public officials of what their members want, to know what the govt is doing, to provide info. -most lobbyists in Texas must register with the Texas Ethics Commission.

Types of Interest Groups: Economic Interest Groups- Agricultural interest groups

-FARMERS -Concerns: price supports, subsidies, soil conservation -Declining influence: < 2% of US population but strong interest groups, but has declined over the years -Ex: American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers' Union (NFU), Texas Farm Bureau

Money

-Financial resources are necessary for organizational purposes, membership incentives/drives, distribution of information, and lobbying. -PAC -Late Train Contributions

Types of Interest Groups: Economic Interest Groups-Public Employee interest groups

-GOVT EMPLOYEES -One of the fasters growing types of interest groups -Concerns: Wagers, benefits, job security, unfunded mandates -Ex: National Educators Association (NEA)

Stronger Party Advantage

-Historically in Texas: Democrat (1873-1979) -Currently in Texas: Republican, they currently hold every statewide office.

527 organizations

-May not advocate a specific candidate nor directly work/communicate with a candidate's campaign organization; thus spend money on issue advocacy and voter turn mobilization. -Independent Expenditures are unlimited

Hard Money

-Money contributed to a political candidate -Max of $2,500

Soft Money

-Money contributed to a political party to be spent on party-building activities. Ex: Voter registration, voter turnout -Max of $2,500

Types of Interest Groups: Non Economic Interest Groups- Environmental interest groups

-NATURE -Ex: Sierra Club, Greenpeace, Earth First, Texas Nature Conservancy, Auduban Society

Types of Interest Groups: Non Economic Interest Groups- Single Issue interest groups

-ONE ISSUE/TOPIC ONLY -Ex: Right to Life (abortion, pro life), National Abortion Rights Action League (pro choice), National Rifle Association (NRA) (right to bare arms), Right to Work Committee (anti-union)

Free Rider Problem

-People benefit from the work of an interest group BUT don't contribute OR participate. -Ex: Public television OR public radio

Types of Interest Groups: Non Economic Interest Groups- Civil Rights and Liberties interest groups

-RACE AND SEXS -Ex: NAACP (colored people), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), National Organization of Women (NOW)

Types of Interest Groups: Non Economic Interest Groups- Religious interest groups

-RELIGIONS -Ex: The Christian Coalition, Texas Christian Life Commission

Competing factions within the democrat party: Liberal democrats

-Regulate economy and business -social welfare -civil rights and civil liberties -suspicious of govt promoting social order

Types of Interest Groups: Non Economic Interest Groups

-SEEK THE BETTERMENT OF SOCIETY AS A WHOLE -Environmental Interest groups -Religious Interest groups -Civil Right and Liberties Interest groups -Single-issue Interest groups

Types of Interest Groups: Economic Interest Groups- Professional interest groups

-SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL CAREERS -Ex: Govt Bar Association (ABA), Screen Actors Guild, Texas Association of Realtors, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, American Medical Association

Membership Incentives: Purposive incentives

-Sake of principles and beliefs -Ex: Pro life groups, pro choice groups, environmental groups

Membership Incentives

-Solidary incentives -Material incentives -Purposive incentives

Administration of Elections

-Texas Secretary of State - County Government

Lobbying: Revolving Door Effect

-The interchange of employees between govt agencies and the private businesses with which they have dealings. -people working for govt have contracts/connects and experience, and when they stop working with govt, they get hired as lobbyist, advisor, consultant, for the same agency.

Competing factions within the democrat party: Conservative democrats

-VERY pro business -Free markets without govt interference -govt support of business (deregulation/tax cuts) -critical of social welfare (stress individual responsibility) -traditional values and social order

Membership Incentives: Material incentives

-economic benefits OR opportunities -discounts and travel opportunities -insurance plans -magazines, newsletters, buttons, stickers, etc. -Ex: AARP, Sierra Club, Unions

Competing factions within the democrat party: Conservative democrats-Support

-oil and gas industry -veterans -large corporations -owners and publishers of major newspapers -agribusiness

Competing factions within the democrat party: Liberal democrats-Support

-organized labor (unions) -African Americans (NAACP) -Hispanics (LULAC) -Environmental Groups (Sierra Club) -Abortion Rights Groups -Trial lawyers -Educators -Small farmers and ranchers (Texas Farmers Union)

Membership Incentives: Solidary incentives

-sense of belonging -companionship -pleasure of association -Ex: Audubon Society, National Rifle Association

Weak areas for republicans in Texas

-south and south central texas -major cities (Houston, Dallas, Austin, El Paso, San Antonio) -Far west texas

Current Voter Qualifications in Texas

1. U.S. Citizen 2. At least 18 years of age 3. State residency 4. Registered voter (at least 30 days prior to election) 5. Not mentally incompetent 6. Not serving a sentence for a felony conviction OR currently on parole OR probation

Election Ballot: Multilingualism Requirement

5% OR greater language minority in county

Election Ballot: Australian Ballot

A ballot printed by the govt that allows people to vote in secret.

Electoral Realignment

A sharp change in existing patterns of party loyalties among groups of voters that remains persist through several subsequent elections

Elections: Raiding

A type of cross-over. Yet vote for weak candidate thus causing opposing party to nominate its weakest candidate.

General Election

AKA popular election. Voters choose from among competing party nominees and write in candidates.

Primary factors influencing who votes

Age, education, income

Negative Campaigning

Attack Opponents' issue positions OR character. Trump did this!

Late Train Contributions

Campaign donations given to the winning candidate AFTER THE ELECTION up to 30 days before the legislature comes into session. Design to curry favors.

Super Pac

Can raise and spend unlimited amounts on politics, but must operate independently of candidates and cannot contribute to individual candidates. Donors must be disclosed to the Federal Election Commission.

Administration of Elections: County government

Conducts general elections Ex: Ballot construction, candidate certification, voting polls, polling locations

Two factions within the Republican Party

Conservative (Party Ideologues) and Moderate (Party Pragmatists)

Two factions within the Republican Party: Party Ideologues

Conservative principles, less likely to compromise

When Texas primaries currently held:

Currently, 1st tuesday in march.

Future Realignment or Dealignment? What influential voting demographic?

Dealignment. Hispanic Vote.

Most important election traditionally in Texas

Democratic primary, because it was the only election with competition, because the presidential election results were known ahead of time that democrats would beat republicans.

Administration of Elections: Texas Secretary of State

Election records keeper

Election Ballot: Multilingualism Requirement- Harris County Requirement

English, Spanish, and Vietnamese

Two factions within the Republican Party: Party Ideologues- Tea Party Movement

Fiscal conservatives (ex: limited govt, less govt spending, lower taxes)

Election Ballot: Getting on the ballot- Automatic listing

For any party that received at least 5% of vote for any statewide office in the previous election (general), it's Democrat and Republican candidates are automatically placed on ballot.

How do interest groups differ from political parties?

Interest groups: -DO NOT organize to win elections by sponsoring candidates under their name/label. -seek to INFLUENCE, not operate, the govt. -usually focused on advocating specific issues (NOT BROAD spectrum of issues). -usually NARROW BASED COALITIONS instead of broad based coalitions.

Competing factions within the democrat party

Liberal vs. conservative democrats

political culture factor reasons for low voter turnout: Subculture

Little moralistic subculture (South states' one party system)

Elections: Types of primaries- Closed primary

MOST COMMON. Voter can vote in one party's primary but MUST declare party affiliation in advance.

Related (secondary) factors influencing who votes

Minority status, intensity of partisan identification. two-party competition

Campaign strategy for general elections

Moderate views to win over swing voters and independents.

Membership

Most valuable resource (louder voice and greater financial resources) > 40m AARP

Structural factors reasons for low voter turnout: Voter registration

Motor Voter Law: AKA national voter registration act of 1993, designed to reverse declining voter registration by allowing voters to register at motor vehicle departments. Registration Period: No automatic registration, online registration is available, and you can register at any time of the year up to 30 days before and election.

Legal factors reasons for low voter turnout

NONE of the following legal obstacles currently exist. Texas was among the most, if not the most, restrictive states with voting laws. TEXAS HAD employed ALL these legal restrictions, EXCEPT the LAST TWO. 1. Poll tax 2. No women's suffrage 3. White Primary 4. No military vote 5. Minimum voting age of 21 6. Long residency requirement 7. Property ownership requirement in bond elections 8.Annual Registration 9. Early Registration 10. Jury duty - in the PAST got from voter registration list, CURRENTLY get from drivers license list 11. Literacy test (NOT IN TEXAS) 12. Grandfather Clause (NOT IN TEXAS)

General Election: Popularity Vote

Needed to win Election

Elections: Two stage election process

Party nominations: party election process to determine the party nominee/candidate General/Popular election: Election process to determine the office holder.

political culture factor reasons for low voter turnout: Rational Ignorance Effect

People purposely and rationally decide to not become informed on an issue OR candidate because they believe that their one vote won't make a difference.

Election Ballot: Getting on the ballot- Signature Petition

Presidential Election: Must exceed 1% of total state vote. Statewide election: equal 1% of total greater national votes.

Realignment in Texas-Republican party

Reemergence of Republican Party (1980s to present)

Two factions within the Republican Party: Party Ideologues-True Believers

Refers to a person who feels passionately dedicated to the absolute of his/her beliefs.

Incumbency Advantage

Someone who has experience in the political offices. Opposite of Trump

Texas Two-step

State Primary- 1st tuesday in march

Two factions within the Republican Party: Party Ideologues-Evangelicals

Strong conservative religious beliefs (ex: abortion, same sex marriage, stem cell research)

General Election: Mid-term elections and its results

Texas state executive offices Results: Low voter turnout, focus on state issues and interests.

Election Ballot: Office-Block Ballot

The candidates are listed under the name of the office they are seeking. Can promote Split-ticket voting. Favored by minor parties.

Election Ballot: Party-Column Ballot

The candidates are listed under the name of the party in parallel columns. Can promote straight-ticket voting.

Dominant party traditionally in Texas (Solid South)

Traditionally, 1 party system. Democrats aka yellow dog democrats dominated Texas politics from after Reconstruction until 1990s.

When Texas primaries historically held:

Traditionally, 2nd tuesday in march. (Better known as: Super tuesday/southern super tuesday).

General Election: Election day

Tuesday following 1st monday in november

Elections: Type of primaries- Blanket Primary

Voter can vote in BOTH parties' primaries.

Elections: Types of primaries- Open primary

Voter can vote in one party's primary but does NOT have to declare party affiliation.

Elections: Cross-over

Voters favoring one party actually vote in the other party's primary and vote for the candidate with a similar philosophy (conservative/liberal).

Election Ballot: Getting on the ballot- Write-In candidates

Voters must write in candidates name, not very common.

Straight Ticket Voting

Voting 1 party for all

structural factors reasons for low voter turnout: early voting

Voting day is not a public holiday, and their is a limited time period of one day only. currently early voting is only available in some states, In texas early voting begins the 17th day before election day and ends the 4th day before election day.

Split Ticket Voting

Voting some of both parties

Presidential election

Voting to decide who will be president, between Republican candidate and Democratic candidate, happens every 4 years, lands on the tuesday following the 1st monday in november.

Lobbyist

an activist who seeks to persuade members of the govt to enact legislation that would benefit their group.

Caucus

is a party meeting held at 7:00 pm at polling stations.

Majority votes OR runoff

majority (50% + 1) of the votes in the party's primary in order to win. If NOT, a RUNOFF ELECTION between the two top party vote getters must be held in April/May.

Campaign strategy for primary elections

more ideological (conservative/liberal); appealing to party base.

vote-eligible population (VEP)

number of people who are eligible to vote, excluding non citizens and ineligible felons

Voter Turnout compared with other democratic countries

one of the lowest voter turn outs.

Voting age Population (VAP)

residents 18 and older regardless of citizenship OR felony status

Elections: Nomination Process

state primary OR caucus OR convention, indicating party candidate preference to delegates attending the party's convention.

Voting

suffrage or enfranchisement. voting is a form of political participation most actively promoted by the govt.

Expansion of suffrage

the expansion of the right to vote, from only high class white males towards womens suffrage.

Lobbying: Conflict Of Interest

the situation that exists when a public official is in a position to make a decision that might result in a personal economic benefit OR advantage.

primary factors influencing who votes: education

turnout increases with higher education groups

primary factors influencing who votes: income

turnout increases with higher income groups

Primary factors influencing who votes: Age

turnout increases with older age groups

Campaign trail (stumping)

visit urban(houston) and suburban(baytown) areas

Midterm election

where the people can elect the representatives in the middle of the term of the executive OR of another set of members.

Who could originally vote?

white males with taxpaying and property holding requirements.

political culture factor reasons for low voter turnout: 19th amendment

women's right to vote

political culture factor reasons for low voter turnout: 26th amendment

young adults' right to vote


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