gov
section 501(c)(4) organization
A non-profit organization that can lobby and campaign but whose donations are not tax deducatble
section 501(c)(3) organization
A non-profit organization that can't lobby or campaign but donations are tax deducatble
At what point in U.S. history did political parties develop
After the adoption of the Constitution
ratings
Assessments of a representative's voting record on issues important to an interest group.
_____ threatens a state-based enemy with swift and overwhelming retaliation for actions such as nuclear attacks or other acts of aggression
Deterrence
Name Recognition
Public awareness of a candidate - whether they even know his or her name
Television Malaise
Generalized feelings of distrust, cynicism, and powerlessness stemming from television's emphasis on the negative aspects of American life
Bribery
Giving or offering anything of value in an effort to influence government officials in the performance of their duties
Focus Group
In a political context, a small number of people brought together in a comfortable setting to discuss and respond to themes and issues, allowing campaign managers to develop and analyze strategies
Challengers
In politics, a reference to people running against incumbent officeholders
Mobilize
In politics, to activate supporters to work for candidates and turn out on Election Day
What is one difference between the nomination campaign and the general election campaign?
In the general election campaign, the candidate is running against opponents from other political parties.
What was the purpose of the Hatch Act?
To prohibit civil servants from actively participating in partisan politics.
incumbent
elected official that is already in office
The role of the Electoral College
encourages candidates to focus on battleground states
The National Rife Association (NRA) works to advance the protection of gun ownership by all citizens. In recent years, the NRA _______.
saw a rise in membership
What is the budgetary process sometimes called?
Appropriations
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Agency charged with enforcing federal election laws and disbursing public presidential campaign funds
political cue
a signal telling a legislator what values are at stake in a vote, and how that issue fits into his or her own political views on party agenda
The American two-party system promotes
broad coalitions of party supporters
The amount by which a government's expenditures exceed its revenues is referred to as the
budget deficit
In recent elections, candidates have experimented with more social media tools to ___
bypass the news media and make a more personal connection with voters
American foreign policy generally emphasizes
individual legal rights and civil liberties over economic and social rights
Lobbying refers to
influencing public policy by contacting public officials
Lobbying refers to _______.
influencing public policy by contacting public officials
Lobbyists in Washington, DC. share the ultimate goal of
influencing, making, and enforcing laws
The power of the presidency has been increased by the _____ powers of the office that have grown since the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt
informal
The major American political parties are made up of
loose coalitions of individuals and groups
Direct _____ is information sent to a large number of people to advertise, market concepts, or solicit orders
The goal of the Motor Voter Act was to
make it easier for people to register to vote
A criticism of state laws requiring voters to show identification has been that the laws
make it unfairly difficult for some groups of people to vote
The diffusion of responsibility within the bureaucracy...
makes the coordination of policies both time-consuming and difficult. (giving the bureaucracy its reputation for being slow and inefficient)
Perception of popular support for a program or policy based on the margin of electoral victory is called a(n) ________.
mandate
Featured stories
media stories about events that, though public, are not regularly covered by reporters
A majority of independents identify themselves as ______.
moderate
Candidates' advertisements focus mainly on ___________, and unpaid media coverage focuses mainly on ______________.
policy issues; the campaign
Political organizations created to raise and spend money to influence electoral outcomes are known as
political action committees.
One explanation for the decline in political participation in recent years is the decline in local-level ________ organizations.
political party
Which of the following expresses pluralist theory?
political power is distributed among a wide range of diverse and competing interest groups
examples of how interest groups look to educate the American public
posting a town hall meeting social media newsletters
In its 2002 National Security Strategy for the United States, the Bush administration advanced a new strategic doctrine of _____ in dealing with terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
preemption
social movement
a widely shared demand for change in some aspect of the social or political order
Experienced lobbyists develop a reputation for
accurate information
A(n) _____ is a list of issues and ideas to be discussed or actions to be undertaken
agenda
An example of a "free rider" is a person who...
benefits from lower student loan rates without joining a student advocacy interest group that fought for such legislation.
You volunteer to work for the Reform Party because you want to institute a flat tax. You are operating in accord with the ____________.
responsible party model
Poll taxes had been used in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in order to
restrict the ability of African Americans to exercise their right to vote
To combat one form of workplace discrimination, ____________ laws were passed so that nonunion employees could work beside union members.
right-to-work
The establishment of the Department of Homeland Security provides an example of the
role of public opinion as a source of policy innovation
Matching funds refer to money provided by ___ when donations are made by ___
the federal government, private donors
Matching funds refer to money provided by _______________ when donations are made by ______________.
the federal government; private donors
coattails
the alleged tendency of candidates to win more votes in an election because of the presence at the top of the ticket of a better-known candidate, such as the president
purposive incentives
the benefit that comes from serving a cause or principle from which one does not personally benefit
The term federal bureaucracy refers to...
the departments and agencies responsible for implementing and administering federal laws.
The two institutions most directly responsible for overseeing the implementation of policy are
the president and the Congress
To be the presidential candidate of a major political party, a person must
win a majority of the delegates at the party's national convention
The United States Congress operates under a(n) _______________ system
winner-take-all
A political party comprises people _______.
with similar beliefs seeking control of the government through elections
Since ____________, neither party has dominated the government of the United States following the fall of the New Deal coalition
1968
After Franklin Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented fourth term, Congress enacted the _____ Amendment, which limits presidents to serving only two terms.
22nd
In 2004, most of the outside spending for elections came from ___________.
527 Political Committees
office-bloc ballot
A ballot listing all candidates of a given office under the name of that office; also called a "Massachusetts" ballot
party-column ballot
A ballot listing all candidates of a given party together under the name of that party; also called an "Indiana" ballot
Which of the following is an example of parties in government?
A caucus of Democrats who serve on the city council
political action committee
A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations
What is hyperpluralism?
A condition in which the government defers to too many interest groups
political party
A group that seeks to elect candidates to public office
Background
A public official's statement to a reporter that is given on condition that the official not be named.
The disturbance theory states that interest groups form as a result of changes in the political system. What is an example of disturbance theory?
A religious advocacy group forms to speak out against the breakdown of family values in society.
According to pluralist theory, who is generally able to participate in the American political system?
A wide range of diverse and competing interest groups.
Delegates
Accredited voting members of a party's national presidential nominating convention
Lobbying
Activities directed at government officials with the hope of influencing their decisions
Runoff Primary
Additional primary held between the top two vote-getters in a primary in which no candidate has received a majority of the vote
Decision making by a bureaucratic agency that settles disputes between persons or businesses not in compliance with federal laws in a manner similar to a court hearing is called ________.
Adjudication
Who was the 2000 Democratic presidential nominee?
Al Gore
What is the potential group for a consumer advocacy interest group?
All Americans
Mass Media
All means of communication with the general public, including television, newspapers, magazines, radio, books, recordings, motion pictures, and the internet
Which of the following was NOT one of Alexis de Tocqueville's observations regarding American democracy
American democracy depends on economic equality established by the large working class.
What is an example of a government corporation?
Amtrak
position issue
An issue about which the public is divided and rival candidates or political parties adopt different policy positions.
What is a 527 organization?
An organization that can raise money for issue advocacy without funding limits
Patronage
Appointment to public office based on party loyalty
Grassroots Lobbying
Attempts to influence government decisions making by inspiring constituents to contact their representatives
An _________ is the first step in the funding process where Congress defines the amount of money an agency may spend in a particular program.
Authorization
What groups commonly give sizable monetary donations to politicians through their PACs?
Banks and labor unions
Why do some candidates not take matching funds?
Because they do not want to place a limit on fundraising
act that banned soft money, increased the amount INDIVIDUALS could donate, and barred groups from running "interest ads" within 60 days of a general election
Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002
Collective goods are those that cannot be withheld from anyone. Example?
Clean air
Public Relations
Building and maintaining goodwill with the general public
What is one way a candidate could lose ground in appealing to the voters during the nomination campaign?
By appearing too extreme in ideology. Scandal.
Which agencies are particularly subject to lobbying from outside organized interests?
Clientele agencies
To improve electability, the candidate will hire a ________ _______ who brings technologies, strategies, and services to the campaign.
Campaign Consultant
In 2005, Toyota decided to build a new plant in Canada rather than in the United States, primarily because
Canada's system of universal health care allowed the company to save on workers' health care costs
Incumbent
Candidate currently in office seeking reelection
The _____ _______ system was created to ensure employees were hired based on merit and not on patronage to the federal government.
Civil service
What kind of lawsuits do interest groups often file on behalf of certain people?
Class action
What kinds of governments are more likely to occur in democracies with multiparty systems?
Coalition governments
One intention of interest groups such as the _____________ is to monitor other interest groups
Common Cause
Which group approves the budgets for different agencies?
Congress
A majority of political action committee donations go to _____________.
Congressional Candidates
Which of the following is an example of micro targeting?
Contacting voters based on their personal habits and past voting behavior
What is an example of microtargeting?
Contacting voters based on their personal habits and past voting behavior.
Sullivan Rule
Court guideline that false and malicious statements regarding public officials are protected by the First Amendment unless it can be proven they were known to be false at the time they were made or were made with "reckless disregard" for their truth or falsehood
national chairman
Day-to-day party manager elected by the national committee.
______ give candidates a chance to show off their oratory skills and discuss campaign platforms.
Debates
Newsmaking
Deciding what events, topics, presentations, and issues will be given coverage in the news
Agenda Setting
Deciding what will be decided, defining the problems and issues to be addressed by decision makers
Dealignment
Declining attractiveness of the parties to the voters, a reluctance to identify strongly with a party, and a decrease in reliance on party affiliation in voter choice
In a winner-take-all primary the candidate who gets the most votes in a state secures all of that state's _______.
Delegates
national committee
Delegates who run party affairs between national conventions.
In 1968, the ______________ party lost favor with voters because of the ____________
Democratic; Vietnam War
Retail Politics
Direct candidate contact with individual voters
Which of these is an example of how local grassroots party organizations are filling the void created by the decline of inner-city party machines?
Distributing yard signs and campaign literature
Ward
Division of a city for electoral or administrative purposes or as a unit for organizing political parties
The two basic methods of voter canvassing are ______________.
Door to door solicitations and phone banks.
malapportionment
Drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population.
Which of the following best describes the organization of American political parties?
Each level of the party is relatively independent
Which of the following statements about the voting rights of felons is accurate?
Each state makes their own laws regarding the ability of felons to vote.
General Election
Election to choose among candidates nominated by parties and/or independent candidates who gained access to the ballot by petition
Citizen control of the government's agenda is facilitates primarily by which of the following?
Elections
Nonpartisan Elections
Elections in which candidates do not officially indicate their party affiliation, often used for city, country, school board, and judicial elections
Primary Election
Elections to choose party nominees for public office, may be open or closed
Sparse and ambiguous treatment of policy issues and the emphasis on past performance and personal competence fits better with which of the following models?
Electoral reward and punishment
Proportional Representation
Electoral system that allocates seats in a legislature based on the proportion of votes each party receives in a national election
What is the primary function of national party organizations in the United States?
Establish a cohesive vision for partisan identifiers nationwide.
Which of the following is NOT an obstacle to mobilization for an interest group?
Excessive government regulation
the president can issue _______ ______ to agencies, which carry the force of laws.
Executive orders
The ___ is an independent federal agency that was created to enforce national election laws.
FEC (Federal Election Commission)
T/F Congress can NOT write legislation to limit bureaucratic discretion.
False
T/F Union members are no more likely to vote.
False
Equal-Time Rule
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirement that broadcasters who sell time to any political candidate must make equal time available to opposing candidates at the same price
created FEC
Federal Election Campaign Act
_____ policy involves the taxing and spending decisions enacted by Congress in cooperation with the president
Fiscal
The federal Social Security program was created during President
Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal Program
Franking Privilege
Free use of the US mails granted to members of Congress to promote communication with constituents
What are created by Congress to undertake mainly commercial activities on behalf of the government?
Government Corporations
Prior Restraint
Government actions to restrict publication of a magazine, newspaper, or books on grounds of libel, obscenity, or other legal violations prior to actual publication of the work
A political candidate who campaigns almost entirely on environmentalism is most likely to belong to which of the following parties?
Green Party
A political candidate who campaigns almost entirely on environmentalism is most likely to belong to which party?
Green Party
Lobbying reform that: Banned gifts to members of Congress and their staffs Toughened disclosure requirements Increased time limits on moving from the federal government to the private sector
Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007
The Libertarian Party is an example of a party that is centered on _______.
Ideology
What is a feature associated with a model bureaucracy?
Impersonality
"Feeding Frenzy"
Intense media coverage of a scandal or event that blocks out most other news
Many of the key cases brought to the federal courts are initiated by _____ _____.
Interest groups
Trade Associations
Interest groups composed of businesses in specific industries
Public-Interest Groups
Interest groups that claim to represent broad classes of people or the public as a whole
Ideological Organizations
Interest groups that pursue ideologically based (liberal or conservative) agendas
What was the importance of the 1896 election?
It shifted party coalitions and entrenched the Republicans for another generation
According to the Constitution at the time, Thomas Jefferson became John Adams' VP because...
Jefferson lost to Adams in the presidential election.
The first two political parties in the United States were
Jefferson's Federalists and Adams' Democratic-Republicans
Muckraking
Journalistic exposes of corruption, wrongdoing, or mismanagement in government, business, and other institutions of society
Which of the following types of interest groups is most likely to use public activities such as protests to draw attention to their cause and influence poly makers?
Labor unions
Litigation
Legal dispute brought before a court
Which of these was NOT a factor in the beginning of a strong two-party system after 1877
Lincon's election
The ______________ requires lobbyists to register with the federal government, bars some lobbying activities, and limits the gifts members of Congress can accept.
Lobbying Disclosure Act
requires that, if lobbying in the White House, you must disclose the issue they are advocating for, their clients, and the agency or house they lobbied
Lobbying Disclosure Act
Why might some large lobbying groups not register as lobbyists?
Lobbying is not their principal activity
Realignment
Long-term shift in social-group support for various political parties that creates new coalitions in each party
A professional who produces a candidate's television, radio, and print advertisements is called a _____ _______.
Media Consultant
Horse-Race Coverage
Media coverage of electoral campaigns that concentrates on who is ahead and who is behind, and neglects the issues at stake
Insider stories
Media stories about events that are not usually made public.
Routine stories
Media stories about events that are regularly covered by reporters.
Access
Meeting and talking with decision makers, a prerequisite to direct persuasion
Selective Perception
Mentally screening out information or opinions with which one disagrees
The selection of employees for government agencies on the basis of competence, with no consideration of an individual's political stance and connections, is called the _____ ______.
Merit system
A majority of independents identify themselves as _______.
Moderates
Voters whose positions are middle-of-the-road are politically termed ________.
Moderates
Iron Triangle
Mutually supportive relationships among interest groups, government agencies, and legislative committees with jurisdiction over a specific policy area
Which of the following is an example of a trade association?
National Association of Manufacturers
Which interest group is most likely to lobby for a law regulating the use of firearms for hunting?
National Rifle Association (NRA)
The organization based inside the White House and responsible for advising the president about foreign policy problems is the
National Security Council
In the 1930s, President Franklin Roosevelt's ______________ increased government responsibility giving the Democratic Party a boost.
New Deal
Convention
Nominating process in which delegates from local party organizations select the party's nominees
Caucus
Nominating process in which party leaders select the party's nominee
Divided Party Government
One party controls the presidency while the other party controls one or both houses of Congress
Slander
Oral statements that are false and malicious and are intended to damage an individual
Interest Group
Organization seeking to directly influence government policy
Which of the following is true concerning parties in the United States?
Organizationally, state parties are on the upswing throughout the country
Single-Interest Groups
Organizations formed to support or oppose government action on a specific issue
The battle between the two major political parties for control of public offices is _______ ________.
Party competition
National ____ ________ meet every four years to nominate a candidate for president.
Party conventions
Which factors weaken political campaigns' effects on voters?
Party identification and incumbent name recognition
super delegates
Party leaders and elected officials who become delegates to the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses.
The system under which a successful political candidate or party would use political appointments to the bureaucracy as a way of rewarding loyal supporters and allies by providing government jobs and by firing the supporters of the opposing party was known as ________.
Patronage
Mandate
Perception of popular support for a program or policy based on the margin of electoral victory won by a candidate who proposed it during a campaign
realignment period
Period when a major, lasting shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties; a.k.a. critical period.
Amicus Curiae
Person or group other than the defendant or the plaintiff or the prosecution that submits an argument in a case for the court's consideration
Lobbyist
Person working to influence government policies and actions
The _____ Doctrine argues for the decisive use of American military force only when there is clear public support and when an exit strategy is in place
Powell
Spin Doctor
Practitioner of the art of spin control, or manipulation of media reporting to favor one's own candidate
For primaries and general elections For candidates who raise $5,000 in at least 20 states Federal treasury will "match" individual contributions of up to $250 If candidate takes funds, they must meet conditions, like limiting overall spending ($42 million for presidential campaigns) In 2012, Romney and Obama declined this
Presidential Election Campaign Fund
Which campaign may be eligible for public funds?
Presidential campaigns
Presidential Primaries
Primary elections in the states in which voters in each party can choose a presidential candidate for its party's nomination. Outcomes help determine the distribution of pledged delegates to each party's national nominating convention
Open Primaries
Primary elections in which a voter may cast a ballot in either party's primary election
Which of these is an example of retrospective judgment?
Reelecting the president during times of economic prosperity
With whom do lobbyists work most closely?
Representatives who share their interests.
Which major American political party did the Whig Party give way to?
Republican Party
Which political party traces its origins to anti-slavery activism in the 1850s?
Republican Party
In the 1930s, opposite to the New Deal coalition made which party the minority for decades?
Republican party
In the 1930s, opposition to the New Deal coalition made which party the minority for decades?
Republican party
mugwumps/progressives
Republican party faction of the 1890s to the 1910s composed of reformers who opposed patronage.
Who does the public interest group AARP re .....
Retired Americans
Who does the public interest group AARP represent?
Retired Americans.
The first president to make use of paid pollsters to aid decision making was
Richard Nixon
Despite asserting that he would balance the budget throughout his campaign, President _______________ ran up the largest deficit in American history
Ronald Reagan
President Obama was ___________, and therefore able to avoid running a nomination campaign.
Running unopposed
The National Rifle Association (NRA) works to advance the protection of gun ownership by all citizens. In recent years, the NRA...
Saw a rise in membership.
Party Identification
Self-described identification with a political party, usually in response to the question, "Generally speaking, how would you identify yourself: as a Republican, Democrat, independent, or something else?"
Which is an example of a lobbyist performing a positive act while working for an interest group?
Serving as a consultant for a member of the White House staff trying to fashion a piece of legislation
Trigger mechanisms are most closely associated with which step in the policy process
Setting the agenda
Information Overload
Situation in which individuals are subjected to so many communications that they cannot make sense of them
Organized Sclerosis
Society encrusted with so many special benefits to interest groups that everyone's standard of living is lowered
Negative Campaigning
Speeches, commercials, or advertising attacking a political opponent during a campaign
independent expenditures
Spending by political action committees, corporations, or labor unions that is done to help a party or candidate but is done independently of them.
The selection of employees for government agencies on the basis of party loyalty, electoral support, and political influence is called the ______ ______.
Spoils system
Precinct
Subdivision of a city, country, or ward for election purposes
In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama won in _____ states such as Colorado and Pennsylvania, which are typically closely contested between the Dem and Rep parties.
Swing
_____ are interest-bearing IOUs issued by the Treasury Department
T-bills
Majoritarianism
Tendency of democratic governments to allow the faint preferences of the majority to prevail over the intense feelings of minorities
What did David Axelrod, Obama's chief political strategist, think about the President's reelection?
That it would be challenging because of the economy
What is the benefit of a political action committee (PAC) receiving funds from a non-profit education and organizing group called a 501(c) group?
The 501(c) group faces less strict rules requiring disclosure of donors' identities
Electoral College
The 538 presidential electors apportioned among the states according to their congressional representation (plus three for the District of Columbia) whose votes officially elect the president and vice president of the United States
Which document prohibits the national government from limiting the right of individuals to join together regarding political issues?
The Constitution
Which of the following is NOT a reason for the relatively large number of interest groups in the United States
The Constitution affords special recognition for organized groups.
Which of the following has NOT been a type of ruling the Supreme Court has produced with regard to foreign policy
The Court has consistently ruled that the U.S. Senate has the final decision on appointments pertaining to foreign policy
Who has the authority to remove agency heads or other top bureaucrats?
The President
What is another term for a party's core supporters?
The base
Socialization
The learning of a culture and its values
Matching funds refers to money provided by __________ when donations are made by ________
The federal government; private donors
Which of these is one of the explanations for low voter turnout in the United State
The frequency of elections and voter burnout
In the 2010 Senatorial elections, 90 percent of senators up for reelection were reelected to their seats. This is an example of ____________.
The incumbency advantage.
The argument that every group in the American system has an opportunity to be heard is based on...
The large number of access points for influence at different levels and branches of government.
According to critics of pluralism, which of the following groups is most likely to take advantage of the American political system?
The middle class
Revolving Doors
The movement of individuals from government positions to jobs in the private sector, using the experience, knowledge, and contacts they acquired in government employment
Which of these is NOT part of the tripartite view of government
The party-in-power
personal following
The political support provided to a candidate on the basis of personal popularity and networks.
Political parties are useful in encouraging _________________.
The recruitment of candidates for political office.
Front-Loading
The scheduling of presidential primary elections early in the year
solidary incentives
The social rewards (sense of pleasure, status, or companionship) that lead people to join political organizations.
Party Polarization
The tendency of the Democratic Party to take more liberal positions and the Republican Party to take more conservative positions on key issues
What is a factor driving the length of a general election campaign?
The timing of state primaries.
What is often seen as a major weakness of American political parties?
Their ability to enforce ideological rigidity among elected officials is limited
Why do party organizations favor closed primaries over open primaries?
They favor ideological purity
Which of the following is TRUE about political
They must report their contributions to the FEC
How do the boards directing independent regulatory agencies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, serve their terms?
They serve staggered terms so that no one president can replace the entire board or commission.
Which of the following is true of interest groups?
They try to affect political policy by taking their case to members of the legislature
What is true of interest groups?
They try to affect political policy by taking their cases to members of the legislature.
Which of the following would be considered a party focused on a single issue?
Third Party
The author of the Declaration of Independence was
Thomas Jefferson
Who are most likely to support Democrats in elections today?
Trial lawyers
T/F Federal employees can run for office in a nonpartisan election.
True
T/F Interest groups try to affect political policy by taking their case to members of the legislature.
True
T/F PACs raise money for direct contributions to candidates in national elections.
True
T/F: PACs must report their contributions to the Federal Election Commission.
True
T/F: This is an example of a contrast ad. A republican candidate says his voting record on economic issues represents his constituents better than his opponent's record.
True
The disturbance theory states that interest groups form as a result of changes in the political system. T/F: A religious advocacy group forming to speak out against the breakdown of family values in society would be an example.
True
Selective attention
paying attention only to those news stories with which one already agrees
Based on a percentage of its gross national income, the country that was the least generous provider of foreign aid in 2005 was
USA
When analyzing the characteristics of federal civilian employees, which group is the most over-represented in the federal workforce, when compared with their population in the general population?
Veterans
Who does the bulk of the voter canvassing for a campaign?
Volunteers
Which of the following exemplifies issue voting?
Voting based solely on a candidate's stand on abortion
prospective voting
Voting for a candidate because you favor his or her ideas for handling issues.
retrospective voting
Voting for a candidate because you like his or her past actions in office.
straight ticket
Voting for all the candidates from one political party
split ticket
Voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election
Retrospective Voting
Voting for or against a candidate or party on the basis of past performance in office
The Ethics in Government Act was enacted in the wake of the _______ scandal.
Watergate.
When is it most likely that a government corporation will be created?
When a market need exists but private companies are unable or unwilling to step up and fill that need.
What has NOT been a reason why serious business with foreign governments is rarely accomplished during presidential elections
When foreign governments have publicly backed a presidential candidate, that candidate usually loses.
In what situation can the House of Representatives determine the winner of an election?
When neither candidate receives a majority of electoral votes
In what situation can the House of Representatives determine the winner of an election?
When the Electoral College cannot produce a majority
What is true about female voters?
Women make up a majority of the U.S. electorate. (usually more liberal)
Libel
Writings that are false and malicious and are intended to damage an individual
Why is it important for citizens in a democracy to have good info about politics and policies?
a democracy requires accurate info so that people can make informed decisions about their government
Political parties focus on a broad range of concerns known as
a platform
public-interest lobby
a political organization whose goals will principally benefit nonmembers
In order to be effective, a lobbyist depends on ____
a reputation for providing accurate info and playing fair
Nomination campaigns begin...
as soon as the candidate decides to run for office.
Why does the media tend to focus on Congress?
because it is more interesting to read about and will sell better than covering Congress actually doing its job in a decent fashion.
Which of the following is the main reason why some candidates do not take federal matching funds?
because they do not want to place a limit on fund raising
According to the Federal Election Campaign Act (1971), candidates must....
disclose who contributed to their campaigns and how the money was spent.
When resources become scarce, the idea that interest groups form in order to contest the influence of other interest groups is known as
disturbance theory
regulated by Lobbying Disclosure Act & Honest Leadership and Open Gov act
executive lobbying
Anthony Downs' rational theory of voting suggests that people vote if they
expect to benefit more from the policies of one party than those of any other
Compared with European countries, candidates in the United States
hold more similar positions to one another
NOW is an example of a(n)
multi-issue group
Presidential and vice presidential nominees are decided during each party's ________, which is held every four years.
national convention
Who do lobbyists usually target?
presidential cabinet
The role of a policy advisor in a campaign is to
provide the candidate with expert information about public issues
The strongest effect of election campaigns is to
reinforce voters' existing preferences for candidates
The large number of variety of interest groups in the United States generates a tension between
self-interest and the public good
The Whig Party dissolved primarily over the issue of
slavery
In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama won in ________ states such as Colorado an Pennsylvania, which are typically closely consisted between the Democratic and Republican parties.
swing
John Quincy Adams won the 1824 election despite losing the popular vote because
the House of Representatives awarded him the election when the Electoral College could not produce a majority.
The Social Security tax is an example of a regressive tax because
the tax burden for Social Security falls more heavily on those with lower incomes
Party image is ____________
the voter's perception of what parties stand for
How are 501(c) committees different from other groups?
they don't have to disclose their donors
Even though civil servants may campaign for candidates in partisan elections, they have...
to be nonpartisan in their behavior on the job.
A primary is decided by _______
voters
With regard to presidential debates, candidates have no control over _________________.
what the media will focus on after the debate
Major differences between interest groups & political parties
- IG do NOT run candidates - IG support candidates who mirror their interests - IG advocates for issues, not people
What is one reason that interest groups must have money to maintain their organization?
Advertising campaigns and other outreach activities are expensive
When an interest group seeks to directly advance a group's policy position, what type of advertisement are they most likely to use?
Advertorial
The right of all persons born in the United States to U.S. citizenship is guaranteed by the
14th amendment
_____ are groups not officially aligned with a political party that are allowed to raise unlimited sums of money.
527 organizations
Social Security taxes make up _____ percent of the Gross Domestic Product
6.5
According to a recent public opinion survey, approximately _____ percent of Americans believe that special interest groups have more influence than voters in political decision making
80
What was a key provision of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007?
A ban on gifts to members of Congress and their staffs.
What type of interest group is likely to be composed of the chief executive officers of the largest corporations in America?
A group serving elitist interests
Which is an example of a collective good, for which one interest group has fought but that has benefited everyone?
A higher minimum wage
Coalition
A joining together of interest groups (or individuals) to achieve a common goal
sponsored party
A local or state political party that is largely supported by another organization in the community.
national convention
A meeting of party delegates held every four years
caucus
A meeting of party members to select delegates backing one or another primary candidates
congressional campaign committee
A party committee in congress that provides funds to members and would-be members
political machine
A party organization that recruits members by dispensing patronage.
ideological party
A party that values principled stands on issues above all else.
Issue Ads
Ads that advocate policy positions rather than explicitly supporting or opposing particular candidates
What is one of the main factors explaining the low level of voter turnout in the United States?
Cumbersome registration laws reduce voter turnout.
Sound Bites
Concise and catchy phrases that attract media coverage
Photo Ops
Staged opportunities for the media to photograph the candidate in a favorable setting
The presidency of Andrew Jackson brought about a struggle between
Democrats and Whigs
What were the first three Cabinet departments created by the first Congress in 1789?
Department of the Treasury, Department of the State, & Department of War (now defense)
Historically, it was generally held that inflation and unemployment were inversely related: that when one went up, the other went down. When did this prove not to be the case
During the stagflation of the 1970s
_____ is the combination of a stagnant GDP, rising unemployment, and rapid inflation
Stagflation
_____ have occupied prominent foreign policy positions in the George W. Bush administration
Neoconservatives
Political Parties
Organizations that seek to achieve power by winning public office
Political Action Committee (PAC)
Organizations that solicit and receive campaign contributions from corporations, unions, trade associations, and ideological and issue-oriented groups, and their members, then distribute these funds to political candidates
527 organizations
Organizations that, under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, raise and spend money to advance political causes
Raiding
Organized efforts by one party to get its members to cross over in a primary and defeat an attractive candidate in the opposition party's primary
Which of the following have proliferated since FECA and Buckley v. Valeo
PACs
most of their funds are donated to incumbents over challengers, and most often congress over all other branches of government
PACs
Which of the following statements is true of political action committees (PACs)?
PACs cannot contribute unlimited funds to a single candidate
What is one difference between a political action committee (PAC) and an interest group?
PACs raise money for direct contributions in national elections.
Which of the following statements is true of political action committees (PACs)?
PACs raise money for direct contributions to candidates in national elections
Which of the following best predicts how people will vote?
Party Identification
The _____ curve is an economic model that assumes an inverse relationship between unemployment and inflation
Philips
Campaign Strategy
Plan for a political campaign, usually including a theme, an attempt to define the opponent or the issues, and an effort to coordinate images and messages in news broadcasts and paid advertising
_____________ are officially recognized fundraising organizations and can contribute directly to a candidate's campaign.
Political Action Committees
the most powerful predictor for candidate preference among voters is _______________.
Political Party Identification
Nominee
Political Party's entry in a general election race
What is a result from the enactment of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002?
Political committees became more active in campaigns.
ideological interest groups
Political organizations that attract members by appealing to their political convictions or principles.
Which of the following is NOT a category of interest group in the United States?
Political parties
Nominating candidates to run under the party label is the key differentiating factor between _______ ______ and ______ _____.
Political parties; interest groups
Nomination
Political party's selection of its candidate for a public office
________________ are professional firms that conduct opinion research to tell candidates what voters think of them?
Pollsters
Front-End Strategy
Presidential political campaign strategy in which a candidate focuses on winning early primaries to build momentum
Closed Primaries
Primary elections in which voters must declare (or have previously declared) their party affiliation and can cast a ballot only in their own party's primary election
The Department of Transportation hires an outside company to build roads for a new highway. This is an example of ______ __________.
Private contracting
What is one way in which interest groups educate the public?
Produce issue-oriented ads
Which associations rival businesses and trade organizations in lobbying influence?
Professional
Which electoral reform would make it easier to elect third-party candidates to Congress?
Proportional representation
Name Recognition
Public awareness of a political candidate - whether they know his or her name
By emphasizing his "Southern strategy", President ____________ was able to begin a period of realignment in which Southern states abandoned the Democratic Party for the Republican Party beginning in 1968.
Richard Nixon
Which of the following is(are) most responsible for regulating political parties?
State governments
Platform
Statement of principles adopted by a political party at its national convention (specific portions of the platform are known as planks); a platform is not binding on the party's candidates
Which of the following trends most accurately describes the nature of presidential elections
States can choose to use primary elections or caucuses.
Swing States
States that are not considered to be firmly in the Democratic or Republican column
Responsible Party Model
System in which competitive parties adopt a platform of principles, recruiting candidates and directing campaigns based on the platform, and holding their elected officials responsible for enacting it
sound bite
a radio or video clip of someone speaking
hard money
individual donations or PAC contributions both regulated by federal laws
When the soft money loophole was closed, how did money continue to find its way into political campaigns?
Through 527 groups
In 1989, 5,000 protestors gathered in _____ to demand democratization in China
Tiananmen Square
Machine
Tightly disciplined party organization, headed by a boss, that relies on material rewards - including patronage jobs - to control politics
What system did the Founders create for parties in America?
Wary of the existence of parties, they designed a system that greatly restrained them
Many lobbyists are former
Washington insiders
The 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission is controversial because it
allows corporations and unions to spend money without limit to exercise their "free speech" rights in electoral campaigns.
Despite the popular impression that policy is decided by the president and Congress and merely implemented by the federal bureaucracy, policy is, in fact,....
also made by the bureaucracy.
Forms of judicial lobbying
amicus curiae "legal education" seminars
equal time rule
an FCC rule that if a broadcaster sells time to one candidate, it must sell equal time to other candidates.
sophomore surge
an increase in the votes congressional candidates usually get when they first run for reelection
interest group
an organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy
What key difference in network and cable news explains the difference in their ratings and growth?
cable news is more popular than network news because it offers more diverse programming and 24-hour coverage, which attracts a variety of viewers
When it gets closer to Election Day, _______ get out the vote by contacting supporters.
campaign volunteers
Because agency officials interact with numerous political actors and are influential in establishing public policy, the bureaucracy....
can be a pathway for political action
Because agency officials interact with numerous political actors and are influential in establishing public policy, the bureaucracy...
can be a pathway for political action.
Long campaigns can result in expansions of the government's activities because
candidates tend to make promises as they vie for office
The responsible party model calls for _____________.
candidates to offer clear policy positions
Issues or candidates? individual, PAC, super PAC, 527, 501(c)
candidates, issues, candidates, issues, issues
"Floating voters" are voters who
choose the candidate they think is best, regardless of the candidate's political party
A primary election in which only a party's registered voters are eligible to participate is called a(n) ________.
closed primary
The act of securing the participation of individuals in interest groups is a form of
collective action
Which of the following is NOT a type of benefit that can overcome organizational barriers
collective benefits
A partisan voter is a
committed supporter of a political party
Providing incentives (such as city jobs) for loyalty to the party machine is
patronage
According to John Locke's social contract theory, the only legitimate basis of government is
concent of the governed
A majority of PAC donations go to _____
congressional candidates
Lobbyists must register, be very transparent about their activities (comparatively) Can NOT give gifts/public speaking fees
congressional lobbying
From the 1930s to the 1970s, the role of political parties in the United States
declined dramaticaly
In a proportional representation primary, ________
delegates are rewarded in proportion to votes won in the primary
gerrymandering
drawing the boundaries of legislative districts in bizarre or unusual shapes to favor one party
The choice of presidential nominees is most influenced by voters in states with the
earliest primaries
A desire to engage in _____________ has led some interest groups to form PACs
electioneering
Citizen control of the government's agenda is facilitated primarily by which of the following
elections
The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an example of an
equality interest group
In the case of U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton the Supreme Court upheld the power of states to impose term limits on their members of Congress.
false
The intangible rewards people obtain from joining a group they support and working to advance an issue in which they believe are referred to as solidary benefits.
false
Few candidates accept public funding/federal matching funds, as part of the conditions for their acceptance is putting a cap on campaign spending Candidates must raise at least $5,000 in at least twenty states to qualify for matching funds (3rd party candidates only get funds AFTER election)
federal matching funds
As of 2010, the federal bureaucracy employs _______ employees than in the 1940s and 1950s.
fewer
_____ are moments that bring a particular problem to the attention of both the public and policymakers
focusing event
The rapid growth in the number of political action committees (PACs) began...
following the campaign reforms of the 1970s.
Critical elections result in the
formation of new coalitions for each political party
Individuals who do not join a group representing their interests yet benefit from the group's influence are called ______.
free riders
Individuals who do not join a group representing their interests yet benefit from the group's influence are
free-riders
In general, Americans exhibit a preference for
freedom and equality in balance depending on the issue
soft money
funds obtained by political parties that are spent on party activities, such as get-out-the-vote drives, but not on behalf of a specific candidate
One major reason states engage in frontloading of primaries and caucuses is because states with early primaries
get more media attention and can have more influence on the nomination
By passing regulatory legislation for which it has established goals, Congress...
grants power to regulatory agencies to develop guidelines and enforce compliance.
Interest groups sometimes lobby with lawmakers and other gov officials, which is called inside lobbying. _____ occurs when interest groups campaign with the public to encourage political activity.
grassroots lobbying
When an interest group encourages its members to write letters to members of Congress, it is ____
grassroots lobbying
The selling of westward expansion by entities interested in expansion, such as railroad companies, through appeals to the public involving the ease of obtaining property, the lure of the frontier, and the chance of finding wealth by moving west, is an example of
grassroots mobilization
_____ can be defined as the identification, and recruitment, of constituent-based political strength capable of influencing political decisions
grassroots mobilization
Which of the following describes disturbance theory?
groups form as a result of changes in the political system
$$ given directly to candidate (legal but regulated)
hard money
The void created by the decline of urban political machines _______________.
has been filled in party by county party organizations
Congressional oversight is an important tool for...
holding the executive branch accountable.
During campaign season, ___________ is media attention that cannot be controlled by campaigns and can have an effect on public opinion.
horse-race coverage
A political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years is called an
ideology
When an interest group tries to create a positive climate of opinion by focusing on the public good they claim to provide and the public services they perform, what type of advertorial are they most likely to use?
image
The balance of trade measures the difference between
imports and exports
The role of primaries and caucuses in the presidential election has been altered by voters ______
in states that front load primaries
When did the railroad industry become a powerful interest group?
in the mid to late 1800s
Making Election Day an official holiday would ______
increase voter turnout
As a result of the Watergate scandal, campaign finance laws were
increased, imposing strict limits on monetary donations to campaigns.
According to the American National Election Study, the younger a person is, the more likely they are to consider themselves as a(n)_______________
independent
The electoral system represents geographical constituencies, but the _____________ represents economic, professional, ideological, religious, racial, gender, and issue constituencies.
interest group system
Many of the key cases brought to the federal courts are initiated by ______.
interest groups
purpose is to advocate for certain issues and interests in politics
interest groups
In order to promote their common goals, individuals will often form or join
interest groups.
Most voters and many political scientists believe that the Electoral College
is no longer useful and should be discontinued
According to Anthony Downs' theory of the _______________ cycle, many matters fade from the public eye rather quickly
issue-attention
valence issues
issues on which virtually everyone agrees
It's often said that the Federal Reserve Board has to be "right twice," by which it is meant that the Fed must
know where the economy is headed and then make correct responses to anticipated circumstances
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment enfranchised the group _______
least likely to vote
he number of electoral votes in a state is equal to the number of senators and representatives in the state. In this system, ________.
less populated states receive disproportionately high representation
Much of the public perceives the Democratic Party to be
liberal
the activities of a group or organization that seek to persuade political leaders to support the group's position
lobbying
given the job of lobbying members of government in order to further their group's cause
lobbyist
material incentives
money or things valued in monetary terms
A proportional-representation system for electing members to a nation's legislature is more likely to lead to
more political parties holding seats
One explanation for the rapid proliferation of interest groups is that Americans are _____ educated and have _____ disposable income today
more, more
The supreme authority in each major party is the
national convention
Cable v. network news
network news stations must remain nonpartisan
In a(n) _____ rank-and-file party members attend a neighborhood meeting, share ideas about particular candidates, and cast a ballot for pledged delegates to attend a statewide meeting.
nomination caucus
Typically, Election Day is held _______
on the tuesday after the first monday in november
Which of the following is the most common reason for nonvoting according to a survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2008?
other time commitments
When an interest group launches a publicity campaign to draw attention to the plight of immigrant workers, it is engaged in
outside lobbying
The battle between the two major political parties, Democrats and Republicans, for control of public offices is _________.
party competition
National _______ meet every four years to nominate a candidate for president.
party conventions
Officials elected under a party banner collectively represent the ____________.
party in government
National convention delegates endorse a ___________, a statement of their party's principles, goals, and plans.
party platform
Outcome of NYT v. US (1971)
prior restraint can only be used in rare cases (ex: national security at stake) prior restraint = When a government prevents a material from being published
What is one way in which interest groups educate the public
produce issue-oriented ads
President LBJ's Great Society program...
produced additional growth in the bureaucracy.
The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 specifically permits agreements between employers and unions which
prohibit nonunion employees from being hired
Compared with network news outlets, cable news ___
provides news from many different perspectives and in a variety of ways
When an interest group launches a publicity campaign to draw attention to the plight of immigrant workers, it is trying to win its way to Congress by getting ____________ on their side
public opinion
The U.S. election process has earned the label "permanent campaign" because
public participation throughout the election process makes the process very long
According to pluralist theory, policymaking in a democracy is the result of special-interest groups
reaching equilibrium
The majority of federal employees are...
recruited through the civil service. (Merit system)
Progressive era reforms of the voter registration process were imposed primarily in order to
reduce the level of corruption in the voting process
A ________ is similar to a ballot initiative and asks citizens on election day to reaffirm or reject an existing law.
referendum
Independent regulatory commissions are designed to operate...
relatively freely from direct presidential control.
The 1993 Motor Voter Act ______
required that eligible citizens be allowed to register to vote when applying to renew a driver's license or for social services
If you volunteered to work for the Reform Party because you wanted to change public tax policy and institute a flat tax, you'd be operating under the
responsible party model
In a nomination campaign, candidates are...
running against others from the same party.
The Twelfth Amendment _____
separated the election of president and vice president in the electorate
When an interest group releases a study illustrating the failure of government regulation of the food supply, it is
serving as a consumer interests advocate
When an interest group releases a study illustrating the failure of government regulation of the food supply, it is performing its function of
serving as a government watchdog
People who join Greenpeace because they care about the environment are joining a
single-issue group
The Electoral College system allows each state the same number of electors as the state's number of members of Congress. A criticism of this system of dividing the electoral college is that
smaller states receive disproportionately high representation
$$ given to political parties for purposes other than supporting candidates for public office
soft money
incentive
something of value one cannot get without joining an organization
Theodore Roosevelt's presidential candidacy as a member of the Progressive Party is an example of a
splinter party of a major party
The Constitution originally afforded the _____ the right to determine voting regulations and requirements
states
When predicting voting behavior, party identification of voters is generally seen as
static
The Million Mom March was organized in May 2000 in order to
strickter gun control laws
The Supreme Court is considering an appeal in a lawsuit that involves an issue of great importance to your interest group, but your group is not directly involved in the case. What would be the best way for your group to influence the court's decision?
submit an amicus brief on the case to the court
The distribution by the U.S. government of goods and services to part or all of society would be an example of
tangible benefits
Most observers regard _____ as the two most successful interest groups in terms of influencing American foreign policy
the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee and the Cuban-American National Foundation
The vice presidential nominee was originally intended to be elected by ______
the Electoral College, which chose the person with the second highest amount of votes from the pool of presidential nominees
Party strength was affected when social services were taken over by ______.
the government
Party strength was affected when social services were taken over by _______.
the government
Party strength was affected when social services were taken over by ____________.
the government
The period ...
the invisible primary
The argument that every group in the American system has an opportunity to be heard is based on _______.
the large number of access points for influence at different levels and branches of government
According to John Locke and the Founders, when a ruler acts against the purposes for which government exists
the people have a right to resist
Many reforms to the presidential election system have been proposed. Reforms target many parts of the system, including ______
the primary system, the Electoral College, and campaign finance laws
Political parties are useful in encouraging ________.
the recruitment of candidates for political office
Third parties in the United States typically arise when one of the major parties is collapsing or
to challenge the two-party system and provoke change
Which of the following statements about female voters is accurate
too busy
Turnout among young voters has been increasing in recent elections
true
Interest groups are ____________ that seek to influence government
voluntary associations
In open primaries,
voters may choose on Election Day which party primary to participate in
Which voters are most likely to get their political information via the internet?
voters under age 50
Which of the following exemplifies partisan voting?
voting based on a candidates party
