AG POLS 1113 Unit #2 Exam

How do interest groups and their lobbyists decide which lawmakers to lobby? And where do they do so?

Interest groups and lobbyists often attempt to gain access by first supporting candidates when they run for office. Since incumbents have an advantage, lobbyists often contribute to them. Second, once legislative members are in office, interest groups and their lobbyists try to encourage them to sponsor legislation the groups wants. They may target sympathetic lawmakers, legislative leaders, and members of important committees.

What are some ways to overcome collective action problems?

Incentives that help overcome collective action problems include material, solidary, and purposive benefits. These are often offered by group leaders. Sometimes, political, economic, or social disturbances help overcome collective action problems by mobilizing groups.

What effect did the National Voter Registration Act have on voter registration?

Increased voter registration and turnout

Why is social media an effective way to spread news and information?

Social media allows citizens and businesses to quickly forward information and news to large groups of friends and followers.

How does social media affect elections and campaigns? Is this a positive trend? Why or why not?

Social media attempts to make certain facts, opinions, and party endorsements known to the public.

Why is soft news good at reaching out and educating viewers?

Soft news presents news in an entertaining and approachable manner, painlessly introducing a variety of topics.

How have modern presidents used television to reach out to citizens?

The State of the Union address and "rally 'round the flag" speeches help explain policies and offer comfort after crises.

Which of the following is true of spending in politics?

The Supreme Court has opposed restrictions on spending on politics.

How does the media use public opinion polls during election season?

To decide which candidates are ahead of others and of interest to voters and worthy of interview.

What can be done to increase voter turnout in the United States?

To increase voter turnout in the United States, I would suggest these options: move to all-mail voting, hold elections on weekends, automatically register voters, and pass federal law that further reduces impediments to voter registration.

What recommendations would you make to increase voter turnout in the United States?

To increase voter turnout in the United States, I would suggest these options: move to all-mail voting, hold elections on weekends, automatically register voters, and pass federal law that further reduces impediments to voter registration.

Television news became a regular feature during ________ due to the public's demand for ________ to explain current events.

WWII; images and maps

Which of the following is an example of episodic framing?

a story on drug abuse that interviews addicts and discusses reasons for addiction and government responses to help addicts

Which of the following is an aspect of iron triangles?

a symbiotic relationship among Congressional committees, executive agencies, and interest groups

A local station that broadcasts national networking programming is called a(an) _________ station.

affiliate

In what ways are lobbyists regulated?

all of the above

What changes have occurred in the lobbying environment over the past three or four decades?

all of the above

Why might several competing corporations join together in an association?

all of the above

Someone who lobbies on behalf of a company that he or she works for as part of his or her job is ________.

an in-house lobbyist

Which factor affects congressional approval ratings the most?

domestic events.

Which institution has the highest average public approval ratings?

the Supreme Court

How are most attitudes formed?

in childhood, based on early childhood experiences

Where and when do Electoral College electors vote?

in their state capitol, in December

Muckraking occurs when newspapers ________.

investigate problems in government and business

The Supreme Court determined that the right of the press to print classified material ________.

is partial, and the press may print classified material only if it does not compromise troops or covert operatives

Which of the following is the best example of a solidary benefit?

joining a group to be with others like you

What characterizes those most likely to vote in the next election?

over forty-five years old

Media coverage of a race tends to ________.

overrepresent African Americans as poor

A conglomerate is a corporation that ________.

owns many businesses and media networks

In which type of election are you most likely to see coattail effects?

presidential

Revolving door laws are designed to do which of the following?

prevent lawmakers from utilizing their legislative relationships by becoming lobbyists immediately after leaving office

In which type of electoral system do voters select the party of their choice rather than an individual candidate?

proportional representation

What type of incentives appeal to someone's concern about a cause?

purposive incentives

Susan is currently working two part-time jobs and is frustrated about the poor economy. On Election Day, she votes for every challenger on the ballot, because she feels the president and congress are not doing enough to help her. What type of vote did she cast?

retrospective

If you wanted to prove the United States is suffering from low voter turnout, a calculation based on which population would yield the lowest voter turnout?

voting-age population

Which of the following is not a step in the initiative process?

signature or veto by state governor

Cable programming is often ________.

national

Which level of party organization is most responsible for helping the party's nominee win the presidency?

national

Radio quiz shows and comedy shows were most popular in the ________.

1990s

In which circumstance would the courts find libel?

A reporter uses a source that incorrectly states a celebrity is using drugs.

In what ways is voting your party identification an informed choice? In what ways is it lazy?

A voter who chooses a party identification as an informed choice chose that party after understanding what they stand for and understanding what the candidates in that party stand for. Those that choose it lazily simply do it because their friends or family are in the party (for example) They are party poopers.

Why have fewer moderates won primaries than they used to?

Candidates with extreme viewpoints gain media attention, and primary voters are more ideologically motivated than voters in other elections.

Why does it matter how we define interest group?

Because each interest group believes in something different, so if a definition is completely opposite of what they stand by, than it gives a wrong impression of the group to the people.

Why does age affect whether a citizen will vote?

Because the older you are the more you tend to vote. It affects your issues that you have, like retirement, insurance, etc, and you have time and interest to cause a change. Younger people are either too busy to vote, or they just do not care and are messing around in a bar somewhere.

Where do your beliefs originate?

Beginning early in life, we learn about politics from agents of socialization, which include family, schools, friends, religious organizations, and the media.

What does group participation provide to citizens?

By joining interest groups, individuals can participate in ways that go beyond simple voting. They can interact with others with similar views. They can become civically engaged by becoming more connected to their communities, they can participate in protests and letter-writing campaigns, and they can inform others about the issues.

Why do parties prefer closed primaries to open primaries?

Closed primaries do not allow voters affiliated with other parties to vote, thus keeping the decision inside the party.

How are collective goods different from private goods?

Collective goods offer broadly distributed benefits, while private goods offer particularized benefits.

How do collective action problems serve as barriers to group formation, mobilization, and maintenance? If you were a group leader, how might you try to overcome these problems?

Collective problems like (free-riding—people benefit from the benefits but don't contribute to group) serve as barriers because not all of the members are helping your cause but are stilling using the benefits and money of the group. Leaders can overcome problems like these by having privilege of supplies, so only certain active members get benefits, and having selective incentives.

How can conglomerates censor information?

Conglomerates set policies that affect all organizations and networks within the corporation. If Disney refuses to air programming with a certain actor, all stations in the Disney conglomerate might be required to forgo programming with that actor.

In what ways do primary elections contribute to the rise of partisanship in U.S. politics?

During the primaries, parties only focus on representatives instead of the nation as a whole. This contributes to partisanship.

Why were the early U.S. political parties formed?

Early parties were electoral coalitions of elites, mostly in the U.S. Congress. They were mostly designed to help win House elections and the presidency, but they quickly expanded activities to the state level.

Why would inaccurate coverage of race and gender affect policy or elections?

If we are presented with a reality, it affects the way we vote and the policies we support.

In what ways do political parties collude with state and local government to prevent the rise of new parties?

Election laws make it harder to get on the ballot, and the Electoral College makes it harder for third parties.

Which agents of socialization will have the strongest impact on an individual?

Family and/or school

Why did Franklin D. Roosevelt's fireside chats help the president enact his policies?

Fireside chats kept Roosevelt in high public regard throughout his presidency.

Why do some groups have an easier time overcoming collective action problems?

Groups that are small, wealthy, and/or better organized are sometimes better able to overcome collective action problems.

Which supporter of federalism warned people about the dangers of political parties?

George Washington

How representative are interest groups in the United States? Do you agree that "all active and legitimate groups have the potential to make themselves heard?" Or is this potential an illusion? Explain your answer.

I think that interest groups are not fully representative of the citizens as a whole, because the interest groups consist of more elite individuals, rather than middle or lower class. I believe that all interest groups are heard but I do not believe that all interest groups are actively listened to.

Evaluate the Citizens United decision. Why might the Court have considered campaign contributions a form of speech? Would the Founders have agreed with this decision? Why or why not?

I think that the Court might have considered campaign contributions a form of speech because citizens united, corporations, and labor unions should be able to put in messages in their corporations. I think that people who have a lot of money can afford and therefore, have a louder voice.

If you were going to predict whether your classmates would vote in the next election, what questions would you ask them?

I would ask them their age, educational level, interest in politics, income level, and whether they voted in the last election.

If you were required to become active in some aspect of a political party, what activity and level of party organization would you choose and why?

I would be active by getting my party's views on issues across to congress in order for them to start making laws around my party's view because the people elected my party for a purpose.

Why do pollsters interview random people throughout the country when trying to project which candidate will win a presidential election?

If a pollster interviews only a certain type of person, the sample will be biased and the poll will be inaccurate.

Under what circumstances might a journalist be compelled to give up a source?

If required by the supreme court in matters of national security.

How might we get more people engaged in the interest group system?

Interest groups can be better advertised, either on their own part or the governments part, so that more people can understand all the interest groups out there. There might be an interest group that shares a common ideology with what you believe about a certain issue, but if you don't know about the interest group then you will not be engaged in the interest group system. It will make it more accessible to people, and if these groups were also easier to access online, it would encourage people further.

Are interest groups good or bad for democracy? Defend and explain your answer.

Interest groups can be both good and bad for democracy. They are good in that they represent the needs and concerns of diverse groups and can work on their behalf to influence public policy. Interest groups can also be bad for democracy, however, if, because of better funding, groups that represent elite interests are able to exert more influence over politicians and policy decisions than other groups. This is particularly dangerous if the interests of well-funded groups are in opposition to those of poorly funded groups.

How do interest groups lobby the judicial branch?

Interest groups often file amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs, presenting an argument in favor of a particular issue. Sometimes interest groups file lawsuits against the government or other parties.

What factors determine whether people turn out to vote in U.S. elections?

Interest in certain issues that a candidate supports or opposes, time, citizenship status, etc.

A poll states that Hillary Clinton will receive 43% of the vote. There is an 8% error margin. What do you think of the poll?

It is a good poll and the margin of error is acceptable.

Is it possible for a serious third party to emerge in the United States, positioned ideologically between the Democrats on the left and the Republicans on the right? Why or why not?

It is possible but it would be very difficult. There are a lot of financial factors that would hold back the new party.

Is it preferable for the U.S. government to have unified party control or divided government? Why?

It is preferable for the U.S. government to have a divided government because more separation of power is typically better for the people while a unified party control will cause disadvantages for the minority groups.

Which of the following citizens is the most likely to run for office?

Jeffrey Lyons, a 40-year-old lawyer and father of one

Which of the following makes it easy for a citizen to register to vote?

National Voter Registration Act

Is it possible to balance the pursuit of private goods with the need to promote the public good? Is this balance a desired goal? Why or why not?

No, it is not possible to balance the pursuit of private goods with the need to promote the public good. This is due how our culture has gotten used to the extremes.

What are some barriers to participation?

Numerous barriers prevent people from participating in politics. Some people lack time or other resources to participate. Lower-income individuals and groups may lack the necessary civic skills to participate effectively. Institutional barriers like voter identification laws may disproportionately affect some people more than others.

In what ways is media responsible for promoting the public good?

Offering a platform for public debate and improving citizen awareness.

In what ways are political parties of the people and in what ways might they be more responsive to elites?

Parties receive billions of dollars to assist with campaigns to keep the party in power; popular movements usually lack money and connections.

_____ political content is given by a media source that lets the reader/viewer know upfront there is political bias/position.

Overt

What is a difference between a PAC and a super PAC?

PACs can contribute directly to candidates, but super PACs cannot.

Why is winning votes so important to political parties? How does the need to win elections affect party structures?

Parties cannot influence and enact policy without winning. They must organize at each level at which elections take place in order to contest elections and develop candidates.

How have changes in technology made polling more difficult?

People can misunderstand things when doing it online or over the phone, it isn't very likely that younger people will answer an unknown call, people with multiple emails could vote multiple times.

Why do some argue that direct democracy is simply a way for the wealthy and businesses to get their own policies passed?

People of means can easily form interest groups to propose initiatives/recalls and have the resources to pay for signature collection.

What techniques led the Democratic Party to national prominence in the 1830s through 1850s?

Personal politics

What are the positives and negatives of partisan polarization?

Positive: Provides voters with distinct choices Negative: Moderates aren't voting or participating in government, amplifies into party conflict,

How do polls affect presidential elections?

Polls identify the top candidates and the media interview those candidates.

What benefits do private and public interests bring to society? What are some disadvantages of private and public interest?

Private interests often lobby government for particularized benefits, which are narrowly distributed. These benefits usually accrue to wealthier members of society (secrecy problem/scandals/corruption). Public interests, on the other hand, try to represent a broad segment of society or even all persons (hard to get people politically involved/free rider).

How might disclosure requirements affect lobbying?

Refrain from suspicious/corrupt activity

Why would House of Representative members be more likely than the president to follow public opinion?

Representatives run for election every two years and must constantly raise campaign money. They abide by public opinion because they don't have enough time to explain actions.

The Bradley effect occurs when people:

Say they will vote for a candidate but then vote against them.

According to research, why might a woman decide not to run for office?

She fears the media will criticize her family.

Should states continue to allow ballot initiatives and other forms of direct democracy? Why or why not?

States should continue, because while voting is not required for U.S. citizens, it is a part of our responsibility as U.S. citizens due to how big of a part voting plays in democracy.

Why is it a potential problem that the equal-time rule does not apply to candidates' supporters?

Supporters can act as advertisements, raise donations, and ask for volunteers to help a campaign.

How do we regulate interest groups and lobbying activity? What are the goals of these regulations? Do you think these regulations achieve their objectives? Why or why not? If you could alter the way we regulate interest group activity and lobbying, how might you do so in a way consistent with the Constitution and recent Supreme Court decisions?

Supreme court has paved a way to regulate. Lobbying Disclosure Act defined who can and cannot lobby. Laws have regulated these groups basically, Honest Leadership & open government act.

Why don't lower-income groups participate more in the interest group system?

The Interest group system can be expensive, therefore, there is a disincentive to participate more in the interest group system because the participation could be much more expensive.

What challenges do college students face with regard to voter registration?

The main challenge is figuring out where students wish to register, at home or at college. Out-of-state students have an even greater challenge because they have moved across state lines.

How do political parties influence the state's primary system?

The parties can affect turnout and how people approach the primaries. Example: Say a McCain supporter doesn't particularly care which republican is elected, they just want a republican. Despite their indifference about which republican, say they really dislike Hillary Clinton. They might go to the democratic primary to vote Bernie because they care more to NOT have Hillary than to have a particular republican.

How do members of the party organization differ from party identifiers? What role does each play in the party as a whole?

The party organization are active members in supporting party behavior and candidates, party identifiers are mostly citizens and voters who identify with the party.

What is the sorting thesis, and what does it suggest as the cause of party polarization?

The sorting thesis says that voters change party allegiances in response to shifts in party position. It suggests that polarization is a function of voters' paying more attention to national politics and voting more consistently.

What unusual step did Oregon take to increase voter registration?

The state automatically registers all citizens over eighteen to vote.

Why might one branch's approval ratings be higher than another's?

These are based on whether people think that one branch has been advocate for their position or ideological beliefs.

How have the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street Movement affected partisan politics?

They have pulled their respective parties further to the ideological poles and have changed the issues parties consider. They may also have made compromise more difficult.

Why are social policies controversial?

They require government to balance the rights and liberties of different groups.

What impact, if any, do third parties typically have on U.S. elections?

Third parties bring important issues to the attention of the major parties. They also often serve as spoilers in the elections they enter.

Which body of government is least susceptible to public opinion polls?

U.S. Supreme Court

Do physical characteristics matter when voters assess candidates? If so, how?

Voters tend to vote for candidates who look attractive and competent. They may consider race, gender, height, weight, and other physical attributes.

What problems will candidates experience with frontloading?

When candidates frontload, they use up most of their resources during the early campaign process to receive popularity quickly. If this is not done properly, then they will not have the necessary funding later to further support their campaign as if all the spending does not lead to an increase of popularity, there is no income increase, their are no future funds for more campaigning.

What problems would a voter face when trying to pass an initiative or recall?

When passing initiative, it can take a long time to get signatures to try and start a campaign, and recall can be detrimental to the government if they are not educated.

When are social and economic issues more likely to cause polarization in public opinion?

When the issues balance two controversial concerns, like limited budget and personal financial needs.

Which of the following was not a third-party challenger?

Whig Party

Does gerrymandering lead to increased polarization?

Yes, gerrymandering does lead to increased polarization.

Which of the following is NOT an agent of political socialization?

a U.S. senator

Which of the following is NOT part of a scientific design?

a leading question

Why do Belgium, Turkey, and Australia have higher voter turnout rates than the United States?

compulsory voting laws

When acting as an agenda setter, the media ________.

decides which issues deserve public attention

Presidential approval ratings _______ over a president's terms of office.

decline

Which of the following is a reason to make voter registration more difficult?

decrease election fraud

A state might hold a primary instead of a caucus because a primary is _______.

faster and has higher turnout

How might framing or priming affect the way a reader or viewer thinks about an issue?

framing=>change perspective of story priming=>change perspective of reader

Which factor is the most likely to lead to the incumbency advantage for a candidate?

gerrymandering of the candidate's district

A referendum is not purely direct democracy because the ___________.

government proposes something and the voters approve it

Which of the following is a reasonable exception to the Freedom of Information Act?

medical records for government employees

The Federal Communications Commission oversees the programming of which entities?

television, radio, satellite, and cable

Which of the following does not represent a major contributing factor in party realignment?

third parties

Newspapers during the Revolutionary War period tended to ________.

unite the colonists and provide information about the British