AP Gov
Patronage
A system in which jobs and promotions are awarded for political reasons rather than for merit or competence.
Federalism
A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments
dual federalism
A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.
Number of jobs given out by the Daley machine
40,000
25,000 interest groups in 2012
6,000 interest groups jn 1959
Amount Boss Tweed's machine made
$40 million to $200 million
What four resources are crucial to an interest group?
- Money - Leadership - Membership - Information
What were the four core ideas on which the delegates at the Philadelphia Convention agreed? Explain.
1) Human Nature- People only have self interest 2) Political Conflict- The distribution of wealth (land) is the source of political conflict. (also religion, ideologies, and attachment to leaders) 3) Object of gov.- preservation of property, security from invasion, domestic tranquility, and promotion of general welfare 4) Nature of gov.- separation of powers, checks and balances
Comparable worth
- the issue that women raise when they have comparable skill to men, but are paid less than them.
10.3 factors which make interest groups more successful
- the surprising ineffectiveness of large groups. - intensity - financial resources - potential memebers
Big interests looking out for themselves
78% of interviewed said government is run by ________________
McColluch v. Maryland established the principle that ...
--As long as the national government does not violTe the Constitution, its policies take precedence over state policies. --The national government has certain implied powers beyond those specified in the Constitution. --The Constitution permits Congress to use all means "necessary and proper" to fulfill its duties. --Acting within its sphere, the national government can preempt state policies.
4 ways a lobbyist can help a member of congress
1) can act as an important source of information 2) help with political strategy for getting legislation through 3) help formulate campaign strategy and get group's members behind a politicians reelection campaign 4) source of ideas and innovations
Why PACs give money to certain people, according to R. Kenneth Goodwin and Barry J. Seldon
1) candidate on committee important to their interests 2) supportive of issues important to them 3) from a district or state where they had facilities 4) helped them with executive and regulating agencies 5) in leadership positions that enable them to influence the issues that affect the PAC
clusters of interest groups
1) economic issues 2) environmental concerns 3) equality issues 4) interests of consumers and public
What provisions did Madison write into the Constitution to limit the possibility of a "tyranny of the majority"?
1)Limit gov. control- voting going through selected officials 2) Separation- equal power, no control 3) Checks and Balances- Institution constraining each other 4) Federal system- Dividing state and federal power
Articles of Confederation
1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)
Bicameral
2 chambers; Congress has the Senate and the House of Representatives
Proportion of Americans who call themselves Independents
2/5
Politcal ideology
A consistent set of beliefs about politics and public policy taht sets the framework for evaluation government and public policy
Sixth Amendment
A constitutional amendment designed to protect individuals accused of crimes. It includes the right to counsel, the right to confront witnesses, and the right to do a speedy and public trial.
Fifth Amendment
A constitutional amendment designed to protect the rights of persons accused of crimes, including protection against double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and punishment without due process of law.
Certificate
A lower court asks the Supreme Court abt a rule of law/procedure
Sample
A relatively small proportion of people who are chosen in a survey so as to be representative of the whole
Budget resolution
A resolution binding Congress to a total expenditure level, supposedly the bottom line of all federal spending for all programs.
GS (General Schedule) Rating
A schedule for federal employees, ranging from GS 1 to GS 18, by which salaries can be keyed to rating and experience.
Shays' Rebellion
A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings.
Elite theory
A small group of people identified by wealth/ pol. power, who rule in their self-interest
Each of the following characterizes how media affect public opinion EXCEPT.
E
Senate
Each state has two representatives
Media Events
Events that are purposely staged for the media and that are significant just because the media are there.
(8.6) True/False. The American two-party system encourages parties and candidates to offer clear choices for voters.
False. I'm not sure why!!
4
Establish naturalization and bankruptcy laws
Elite theory relies on the notion that subgovernments exercise a great deal of control over numerous policy areas
False
Categorical grant
Federal grants for specific purposes define by law
Categorical grants
Federal grants that can only be used for specific purposes. Come with strings attached. Way to influence policy. Examples of string attached: nondiscrimination, environmental impact statements
Block Grants
Federal money given to the states with few restrictions about how it should be spent
pork barrel
Federal projects, grants, and contracts available to state and local governments, businesses, colleges, and other institutions in a congressional district.
Consequences of federalism for diversity in public policies among the states:
Federalism allows for considerable diversity among the states in their policies. This constitutional arrangement facilitates state innovations in policy, and it allows states to move beyond the limits of national policy. However, federalism also leaves states dependent upon the resources within their borders to finance public services, and it may discourage states from providing some services.
1956
American labor movement peaked in _____
Civic association, community service group
Americans are more likely than citizens of other countries to join a _______________ or a ______________
Rider
An addition of amendment added to a bill that often has no realtion to the bill but that may not pass onits own merits (senate only)
Caucus (congressional)
An association of congressional members who advocate a political ideology/regional/ethnic/economic interest
Full faith and credit
Article IV Requires each state to recognize public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of all other states.
Supremacy clause
Article VI The Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws as long as national gov. is within constitutional limits.
Grassroots
Avg voter at the local level
Ralph Nader
Green Party candidate blamed for taking Al Gore's spot
Describe procedures that permit voters to enact legislation directly, such as the initiative petition and referendum.
Initiative Petition: enables voters in twenty-three states to place proposed legislation on the ballot if they gather the required number of signatures on a petition (usually a number equaling 10 percent of the voters in the previous election). Referendum: a form of direct legislation in which voters are given the chance to approve or disapprove some legislative act (such as school bonds) or constitutional amendment.
What is government? (purpose)
Institutions where public policy (laws) is made for a society (people.)
Caucus
Locally held meeting in a state to select delegates who, in turn, will nominate candidates to political offices
District courts
Lowest level of fed. courts, where fed. cases begin &trials are held (bank robbery, environmental violations, tax evasion)
Virginia Plan
Madison's plan for a bicameral legislature, whith the executive and judiciary chosen by the legislature
6.2 How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization
Much of the process of political socialization in informal. People pick up and absorb political orientations for major actors in their everyday environment. The principal actors int eh socialization process are the family, the media, and schools. As people age, the firmness with which they hold political attitudes, such as party identification, tends to increase.
Print Media
Newspapers and magazines, as compared with electronic media.
Amendment 8
No excessive bail or fines, No cruel and unusual punishments
Amendment 3
No forced quartering of troops in homes during peacetime.
Key problem of American political parties today
No longer the main source of info & attention (media is its rival)
Ratification
Method of enacting a constitution or amendment into law
Most important consequence of 2 party governance
Moderation of political conflict - if it had many parties, each would have to make a special appeal
Soft money
Money distributed form a national political party organization that wasn ot regulated by law; restricted by the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002
Cooperative federalism
Cooperation among federal, state, &local govts; "marble cake" federalism
True or False
Corporate PACs have grown rapidly than labor PACs over the previous decades. True
9
Create courts below the Supreme Court
The trend toward more negative and cynical news coverage began during.
D
pocket veto
DIES-sits on desk-10 days go past-Congress adjourns within the 10 days.
Last surviving political machine
Daley machine of Chicago
Super Tuesday
Day when several states hold their presidential primaries (usually the second Tuesday in March)
The us constitution in its original form prior to the amendments _________.
Dealt more thoroughly with economic issues than with issues of equality.
Federalist Papers
Defended the Constitution in detail
10
Define and punish piracies & felonies of the high seas
Bill of Rights
Define basic freedoms
Apportionment
Distribution of representatives among the states based on the population of each state
Campaign contributions
Donation that are made directly to a candidate or a party and that must be reported to the FEC. As of 2014, individuals were allowed to donate up to $2,600 per election to candidate and up to $32,400 to a political party.
Single-member districts
Only one representative is chosen from each district
Closed primaries
Only people who are registered in advance with the party can vote
Closed primary
Only registered party members may vote in the primary (independents, greens, etc...not allowed)
Anti-Federalists
Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.
Anti-Federalists
Opponents of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists
Opposed the adoption of the U.S. Constitution b/c it gave too much power to the national govt at the expense of the state govts and it lacked a bill of rights
New Jersey Plan
Opposite of the Virginia Plan, it proposed a single-chamber congress in which each state had one vote. This created a conflict with representation between bigger states, who wanted control befitting their population, and smaller states, who didn't want to be bullied by larger states.
Writ of certiorari
Order by the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send up the records of a case for review
16
Organize, arm, and discipline the militia
Amendment 6
Right to a speedy and public trial
Miranda v. Arizona
Right to be told what you are being held for.
Amendment 2
Right to bear arms
Amendment 7
Right to jury trail in civil suit where the value of controversy exceeds $20.
Natural Rights
Rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property. The concept of natural rights was central to English philosopher John Locke's theories about government and was widely accepted among America's Founders.
natural rights
Rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property. This concept was central to English philosopher John Locke's theories about government and was widely accepted among America's Founding Fathers.
Natural Rights
Rights that are inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments
Exclusionary rule
Rule that evidence acquired as a result of an illegal act by police cannot be used agains the person form whom it was seized
Barron v. Baltimore (1833)
Ruled that the Bill of Rights cannot be applied to the states.
Explain the difference between Single Issue Groups and political parties.
SI Group: focus on 1 issue with uncompromising view and lobby gov't to change; SI Party: run candidate who promises only one thing (Pro Life Party); Political Party: group with platform of issues who run candidates who promise same platform, most influence becuase actually get people elected
Which is the msot important of the US's 6 ideals?
Self government because guarantees the others.
Electorate
People qualified to vote
Separation of powers
Practice by which power is separated among three branches of government; each branch has its own powers and duties and is independent of and equal to the other branches
Person who picks the chairperson of a party
President
Progressive party leader
Teddy Roosevelt (1912)
Has made it easier for candidates to campaign on their own
Television (example - Ross Perot)
What means of amending the Constitution has never bee used to date?
Proposal through a national convention called by congress.
Trial balloon
Tests the public reaction to policy or appointments by releasing information to the media and gaugin public reaction
Incorporation doctrine
The Supreme Court ruling that most guarantees in teh Bill of Rights are applicatable to the states through Amend. XIV
Bills of Rights
The first ten amendments to the U.S Constitution, drafted in response to some of the Anti-Federalist concerns. These amendments define such as basic liberties as freedom of religion, speech, and press and guarantee defendants' rights.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, drafted in response to some of the Anti-Federalist concerns. These amendments define such basic liberties such as freedom of religion, speech, and press and guarantee defendants' rights.
Government
The formal &informal institutions, people, &processes used to create &conduct pulbic policy
What are the four continuing challenges to democracy mentioned in this textbook?
The four challenges to democracy listed are 1) Increased complexity of issues, 2) Limited participation in government, 3) Escalating campaign costs, and 4) Diverse political interests.
Bureaucratic theory
The hierarchical structure and standarized procedures of govt allow bureaucrats to hold the real power over public policy; proposed by Max Weber
judicial review
The power of the courts to determine whether acts of Congress, and by implication its executive, are in accord with the U.S. Constitution. Established by John Marshall and his associates in Marbury v. Madison.
Agenda setting
The process of forming the list of matters that policymakers intend to address
Executive privilege
The right of the president to withhold info from Congress/ refuse to testify; limited by U.S. v. Nixon
right to privacy
The right to a private personal life free from the intrusion of government
Suffrage
The right to vote
Archibald Cox and Fred Wertheimer
The role of PACs in campaign finance is "robbing our nation of its democratic ideals and giving us a government of leaders tied to the monied interests that make their reelections possible" according to ____________________
Demography
The science of population changes
demography
The science of population changes.
(8.6) Third parties in American politics typically a) encourage major party candidates to take extreme positions b) win elections in American politics c) promote a broad range of moderate policy ideas d) bring new groups into politics e) replace one of the two major parties during realignment
Third parties in American politics typically d) bring new groups into politics.
Job of the state party (according to Bibby)
To provide technical services within a candidate-centered campaign
Political party's core function
To win elections
T or F? When the Supreme Court interpreted the commerce clause broadly, it contributed to the expansion of the national supremacy over the states.
True.
The Framers believed that, like separation of powers and checks and balances, federalism would act as a check on the national gov.
True.
The delegates at the Philadelphia Convention believed that humans were primarily self-interested
True.
Electronic Media
Tv, radio, and the Internet, as compared with print media.
Mass Media
Tv, radio, newspaper, magazine, Internet, and other means of popular communication.
Richard Hall and Alan Deardorff
Two persons who characterized lobbying as a form of legislative subsidy, or matching costly information to the enterprises of strategically selected legislators
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Warren Court: All defendants must be informed of all their legal rights before they are arrested
Confederation
Weak national government and most or all power is in the hands of the country's components (individual states).
Coattail effect
Weaker/lesser-known candidates from (bottom of the ticket) the president's party profit from the president's popularity-people vote straight ticket because they like the top of the ticket.
In recent years, most presidential election campaign television advertisements have been negative.
True
News coverage of political campaigns pays relatively little attention to policy issues.
True
Registered voters who have a high sense of political efficacy are more likely to actually vote than voters who do not.
True
The New Hampshire primary is especially important because it helps whittle down the number of viable candidates for the primaries that follow it.
True
One-third, interlocking directorates
____ of top institutional positions are occupied by people who hold more than one such position, resulting in ________________
party machines
a type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern
What were John Locke's view of the purpose of and limits on government
a) The purpose is to preserve life, liberty, and property b) It should be limited by settled laws and not governed by a tyranny
What are collective goods in the US?
air, water, food, education
political participation
all the activities by which citizens attempt to influence the selection of political leaders and the policies they pursue. EX: voting, contacting public officials, protest, and civil disobedience.
Political Participation
all the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue
potential group
all the people who might be interest group members because they share some common interest, almost always larger than an actual group
Webster v. Reproductive Health Services (1989)
allowed states greater freedom to restrict abortions
AARP
american association of retired persons - nonprofit, nonpartisan membership that helps people 50 and older with their life
ABA
american bar association - organization of lawyers that serves members and public by defending liberty and delivering justice as the national representative
ACLU
american civil liberties union - protecting civil rights and liberties, nation's guardian of liberty
critical election
an electoral "earthquake" where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. critical election periods are sometimes marked by national crisis and may require more than one election to bring bout a new party era
Poll taxes
are taxes that were required to be paid in order to vote. Payment was often required when poor, African American sharecroppers had very little money, and thus these taxes were used to keep blacks from voting. A Poll Tax was declared unconstitutional by the twenty- fourth amendment in 1964.
Which of the following is NOT true about Americans' voting behavior?
b. A single person is more likely to vote than a married person.
Amendment 4
No unreasonable searches and seizures
Do we have pure democracy in America?
No, we are not because we have representatives; exists in small towns
Primary election
Nominating election held to choose party candidates who will run in the general election
actual group
part of the potential group consisting of members who actually join an interest group
What is political participation?
participating in the process of who gets what by voting, lobbying, running for offices, campaigning, blogging, doanting money, volunteering, and protesting
Pluralist theory
interest groups compete in the political arena with each promoting its own policy preferences through organized efforts-everyone gets a piece of the pie-a marketplace of ideas, compromise happens-positive view
Popular sovereignty
people are the source of all govermental power
elitism
power is held by the wealthy
National Association of Realtors
real estate people engage in all aspects of real estate industry, license is required
Motor voter law
register to vote when you update your license (1993)
Open primary
registered voters can vote in either primary-do not have to register with any party.
Ethics reforms which set limits on former government officials who become lobbyists are known as
revolving-door rules
sound bites
short video clips of approximately 10 seconds. (typically they are all that is shown from a politician's speech on the nightly television news)
Tax Reform Act of 1986
showed money could not always buy success in congress, but interest groups usually are biased towards the wealthy
Interest groups are divided into three categories
situational, purposive (internal and external), and solidarity
collective good
something of value (money, a tax write-off, prestige, clean air, and so on) that cannot be withheld from a group member
Red Lion Broadcasting Company v. Federal Communications Commission (1969)
strongly suggesting that broadcast radio stations (and by logical extension, television stations) are First Amendment speakers whose editorial speech is protected, upheld the equal time provisions of the Fairness Doctrin
broadcast media
television and radio
mass media
television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and other means of popular communication
Consumer, environmental, equality groups...
tends to push for a collective good.
PAC
is the arm of an interest group charged with contributing - and sometimes independently spending- money to help candidates with elective offices.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
law that helped to eradicate informal and formal hurdles for African Americans to gain the right to vote.
What happens if everything is a collective good?
communist; no incentive to work
red tape
complex rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done (agencies-bureaucracy)
A key difference between caucuses and primaries is
e. caucus participants are more representative of the national electorate than are voters in primaries.
class action suits
lawsuits permitting a small number of people to sue on behalf of all other people similarly situated
amicus curiae briefs
legal briefs submitted by a "friend of the court" for the purpose of raising additional points of view and presenting information not contained in the briefs of the formal parties, these briefs attempt to influence a court's decision
American political culture:
liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, laissez-faire, and populism.
What is a linkage institution? Examples?
links citizens to government; political parties provide info about candidates, platforms, etc, news media like CNN and Fox, interest groups
interest groups use...
lobbying, electioneering, litigation, and employing the public
unions
main group representing labor
interest groups and democracy
many groups with apposing interests balance each other out but PACs can buy votes in legislature ->not democratic-> problem with controlling interest groups, they also allow channels of individualism for political participation
narrowcasting
media programming on cable TV or the internet that is focused on one topic and aimed at a particular audience. (Ex: MTV, ESPN, C-SPAN)
press conference
meetings of public officials with reporters
Politics
method of maintaining, managing, and gaining control of government (who gets what, when, and how)
print media
newspapers and magazines
chains
newspapers published by massive media conglomerates that account for over four-fifths of the nation's daily newspaper circulation. (often control broadcast media)
national committee
one of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. the national committee is composed of representatives from the states and territories.
closed primaries
elections to select party nominees in which only people have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party's candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty
blanket primaries
elections to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of candidates from all the parties. Voters can then select some Democrats and some Republicans if they like
open primaries
elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests
Sierra Club
environmental activism organization, that protects anything green and committed to finding energy solutions
Council of Economic Advisors
established by Employment Act of 1946- advise the President on economic policy- 3 members, appointed by President and approved by Senate,
media events
events purposely staged for the media that nonetheless look spontaneous. In keeping with politics as theater, media events can be staged by individuals, groups, and government officials, especially presidents. *effective communication through media is key to political success*
amicus curiae briefs
friend of the court brief, tactic used to make interest groups heard, written argument in support of one side
Service employees international union
gave the highest contribution for a single PAC
Labor union Pacs
give most of their contributions to Democrats
Issue-group pacs
give sizable cont. to both Democrats and Republicans
pro-life pacs
gives 100% of its contributions to Republicans
Business Community Pacs
gives most of their contributions to Republicans
right to work laws
glossary and pg 338
selective benefits
goods (such as information publications, travel discounts, and group insurance rates) that a group can restrict to those who pay their annual dues
Collective Goods
goods and services, such as clean air and clean water, that by their nature cannot be denied to anyone
collective goods
goods and services, such as clean air and clean water, that by their nature cannot be denied to anyone
interest group liberalism (hyperpluralists)
government's excessive deference to groups, all pressure group demands are legitimate and that the job of the government is to advance all of them
liberals
group that favors change and allows for the expansion of government
conservative
group that favors the status quo and desires a smaller government
hyperpluralist position
groups are too powerful in political process and government tries to appease everyone, interest group liberalism aggravated by numerous subgovernments trying to appease everyone=>complicated policy
elitist view of interest groups
groups are unequal in power, awesome power held by largest corporations, power of few fortified by system of interlocking directorates, corporation elites win big decisions
Elitism
groups are unequal in power. -awesome power is held by the largest corporations. -power of a few is fortified by interlocking directorates. -other groups win minor policy battles, but corporate elites win the big decisions.
pluralism
groups of minorites working together
pluralist group theory of politics
groups provide key link between people and government, groups compete, no one group is likely to become too dominant, groups usually play by "rules of the game", and groups weak in one resource can use another
single-issue groups
groups that have a narrow interest on which their members tend to take an uncompromising stance.
Single-Issue Groups
groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics
single-issue group
groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics
Joint Chiefs of Staff
high-ranking military officers who represent the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marines. They assist the civilian leaders of the Department of Defense-advise the president on security matters.
What is an Ideal?
idea that can't be reached, utopia, perfection, something one should always strive for
Which of the following statements best characterizes how part identification influences Americans' voting behavior?
c. Party identification encourages voting based on a candidate's specific policy positions and achievements.
Research concerning the impact that political campaigns have on votes shows that campaigns
c. reinforce preferences and activate voters, but rarely convert voters.
Miami Herald Publishing Company v. Tornillo (1974)
case that overturned a Florida state law requiring newspapers to allow equal space in their newspapers to political candidates in the case of a political editorial or endorsement conten
party competition
the battle of the parties for control of public offices
linkage institutions
the channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda. (Include: elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media)
Linkage Institutions
the channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media
Equal protection of the laws
the clause within the Fourteenth Amendment that states that laws must provide an equivalent protection to all.
Government
the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies
Government
the institutions through which public policies are made for a society. EX: congress, the president, the courts, and federal administrative agencies(the bureaucracy).
Policy Agenda
the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actively involved in politics at the time
policy agenda
the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people involved in politics at a point in time.
Substantive due process
the law itself is fair or unfair-not the procedures-but the law
Civil Rights Act of 1964
the law that made racial discrimination illegal in public places, and made job discrimination illegal on race, religion, ethnicity or gender.
national convention
the meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform
national chairperson
the person responsible for the day-to-day activities of the party and is usually handpicked by the presidential nominee
gross domestic product
the sum total of the value of all the goods and services produced in a year in a nation.
Gross Domestic Product
the total value of goods and services produced within the borders of a country during a specific time period, usually one year
Korematsu v. United States
was the Supreme Court Ruling that stated that the placement of Japanese in internment camps was constitutional during World War II.
Most frequent response to party identification in recent elections
"Independent"
Virginia Plan
"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.
E.E. Schattschneider
"Pressure politics is essentially the politics of small groups. Pressure tactics are not remarkably successful in mobilizing general interests"
U.S. Constitution
"The supreme law of the land." Written in 1787 at Philadelphia Convention to replace Articles of Confederation and create stronger central government. Outlines structure & power of 3 branches of national government. Oldest written constitution still in use (but amended 27 times plus myriad informal amendments).
Frank Baumgartner
"The usual types of resources that are often assumed to 'buy' policy outcomes - PAC donations, lobbying expenditures, membership size, and organizational budgets - have no observable affect on the outcomes"
political party
"a tea of men (and women) seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election"
Give four examples of a trait for which an equal opportunity interest group might exist.
- Age - Race and Ethnicity - Gender - Sexual Orientation
Who do iron triangles block from participation in policy making?
- Citizens not in the triangle
What is an issue advocacy ad?
- Commercials that encourage citizens to support or oppose a certain policy or candidate without directly telling them how to vote.
What is a political action committee?
- Committees that raise money for groups they represent.
What three factors can cause people to group together?
- Common Problem or Threat - Resource Advantage - Effective Leadership
Nineteenth Amendment
- Constitutional amendment that guarantees women the right to vote.
In what two ways do interest groups appeal to the courts?
- Direct - Indirect
What are two main types of lobbying?
- Direct Lobbying - (involves directly interacting with decision makers in the government) - Indirect Lobbying - (try to mobilize their own members or the general public to contact members of the government on an issue)
Name the four categories of interest groups
- Economic - Equal Opportunity - Public - Government (Foreign and Domestic)
What are three techniques interest groups use to lobby the public?
- Educating Public - Mobilizing Public - Social Protest
What politicians get the greatest share of PAC money?
- Incumbents (officeholders seeking reelection)
What is an interest group?
- It is a "faction" or coalition (Williams Definition) - Is an organization of individuals who share a common political goal and unite for the purpose of influencing public policy decisions. (Book Definition)
What three types of selective incentives prevent the free rider problem?
- Material Benefits - Social Benefits - Expressive Benefits
Hyperpluralism
- groups have become too powerful as gov. tries to appease every conceivable interest. - interest group liberalism is aggravated by numerous iron triangles. -trying to please every group results in contradictory and confusing policy.
Pluralist group theory of politics
- groups provide key link between people and government - group competition - no one group is likely to become too dominant - groups usually play by rules of game - groups weak in one resource are able to use another
Elitist view of interest groups
- numerous groups prove nothing because groups unequal in power - most power held by large corporations - power of a few fortified by system of interlocking directorates - small groups prevail in small policy battles, big corporations win the big decisions
other ways interest groups participate in elections
- recruiting members to run for public offices - issuing official group endorsements - providing volunteer labor to participate in campaign work - sending delegates to national party conventions to attempt to influence platforms
Negative federalism contribution to democracy
--President can be sworn in but still be against popular vote due to the electoral college. --Local and state interests can contrast federal policy. (Example: 1960s South unwilling to end racial discrimination in education and voting eligibility since both are state concerns.) --Having so many governments makes it difficult to know which government is doing what and which rules and regulations are for who.
Positive federalism contribution to democracy
--Voters elect senators as representatives of state not nation. Better represents their local and state interests. --Handling disputes over policy at state and local level reduces decision making and conflict at federal level. Makes democracy more effective. --More levels of government allow more opportunities to be politically active. --Increases access to government. Allows for states and local levels to see demands and in turn address it through state or local legislation or influence on federal legislation. --Party that loses national election can rebuild and develop leaders at state and local levels.
Public policy
-a choice that government makes in response to a political issue -a policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem
Policy gridlock
-a condition that occurs when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy so nothing gets done
Majority rule
-a fundamental principal of traditional democratic theory -in a democracy choosing among alternatives requires that the majority desire be respected
Minority rights
-a principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities
Democracy
-a system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the publics preferences
Hyper pluralism
-a theory of American democracy contending that groups are so strong that government which gives in to the many different groups is thereby weakened
Elitism
-a theory of American democracy contenting that an upper class elite holds the power and makes policy regardless of the formal governmental organization
Pluralism
-a theory of American democracy emphasizing that the policymaking process is very open to the participation of all groups with shared interests with no single group dominating -tend to believe that as a result public interest generally prevails
Political participation
-all the activities by which citizens attempt to influence the selection of political leaders and the policies they pursue -voting is the most common means in a democracy -other means include contacting public officials, protest, and civil disobedience
Political issue
-an issue that arises when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it
Political culture
-an overall set of values widely shared within a society
Parties v. Interest groups
-can't run under an interest group -interest groups are policy specialists
Pluralism
-groups provide a link between the people and the gov. - groups compete and no one group will become too dominant. - groups play by by "rules the game." - groups weak in one resource may use another. -lobbying is open to all groups.
Single issue groups
-groups that have a narrow interest on which their members tend to take an uncompromising stance
Policymaking institutions
-the branches of government charged with taking action on political issues -US constitution establishes 3 (Congress, President, and Courts) -the power of the bureaucracy is so great that most political scientists consider it a fourth institution
Policy impacts
-the effects a policy has on people and problems -analyzed to see how well a policy has met its goal and at what cost
Policy agenda
-the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people involved in politics at a point in time
Linkage institutions
-the political channels through which people s concerns become political issues on the policy agenda -in the US it includes elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media
Policymaking system
-the process by which policy comes into being and evolves -people's interests, problems, and concerns create political issues for government policymakers -these issues shape policy which in turn impacts people generating more interests problems and concerns
Gross domestic product
-the sum total of the value of all the goods and services produced in a year in a nation
What are the 5 main roles of a government?
1 Maintain National Defense, 2 Provide public with goods and services, 3 Preserve order, 4 Socialize (brainwash) the young, 5 Collect taxes to fund other roles
What were the three issues the Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagreed on, and what position did they take on these issues?
1) Central government 2) Demand of Individual rights 3) State rights
Four basic strategies of interest groups
1) lobbying 2) electioneering 3) litigation 4) people appeling to public
Why correlation between big money and lobbying success is weak
1) lobbying is a highly competitive enterprise 2) many times, a big interest is faced off against another 3) high degree of diversity within sides active in lobbying, as groups with large resources would often ally with smaller groups with same goal
Two basic types of lobbyists
1) regular, paid employee of a corporation, union, or association 2) available for hire as a temporary position, generally work for small groups who can't afford a full time lobbyist
health insurance association of america
1,300 members providing health benefits to more than 200 million americans, goal is to provide a unified voice for the health care financing industry and delivery, to expand access to high quality
Outline the procedures of the electoral college and compare the present system with the process that was envisioned by the framers of the Constitution.
1. Each state has as many electoral votes as it has U.S. senators and representatives. Today, state parties nominate slates of electors. 2. All states except Maine and Nebraska have a winner-take-all system in which electors vote as a bloc for the candidate who received the most popular votes in the states. 3. Electors meet in their respective states in December and mail their votes to the president of the Senate (vice president of the U.S.). The vote is counted when the new congressional session opens in January, and the result is reported by the president of the Senate. 4. If no candidate receives an electoral college majority, the election is thrown into the House of Representatives, which must choose from among the top three electoral vote winners. The unit rule is used,which means that each state delegation has one vote (not each member).
Explain how elections provide regular access to political power and how the process is related to the level of political legitimacy.
1. Elections socialize and institutionalize political activity, making it possible for most political participation to be peacefully channeled through the electoral process. Because elections provide regular access to political power, leaders can be replaced without being overthrown. 2.American voters rarely question the fairness of election results, allowing officeholders to govern with a legitimacy they can take for granted.
10.4 4 basic strategies which interest groups use to try to shape policy.
1. LOBBYING(to influence policy) • communication to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his or her decision. • Lobbyists are 1) a source of information; 2) helping to get legislation passed; 3) helping to formulate campaign strategy; 4) a source of ideas and innovations. F 10.2 Big spenders on lobbying 1998-2007
List and explain at least three of the functions that national governments perform, according to this textbook.
1. Maintain a national defense, usually by maintaining a military, to protect its national sovereignty. 2. Provide pubic goods and services, by funding schools, libraries, hospitals, highways, etc. 3. Preserve order. The government contains protests to preserve order by using the National Guard, etc.
4 things that a responsible party should meet
1. Must present distinct, comprehensive programs for governing the nation 2. Each party's candidates must be committed to its program & have internation cohesion to carry it out 3. Majority party must implement its programs & minority must state what it would do if it were in power 4. Majority party must accept responsibility for performance of the gov't
top political clout of major trade associations, labor union, and interest groups in 2001
1. National Rifle association 2. American association of retired persons 3. National federation of independent business 4. American Israel Public Affairs Committee 5. Association of trial lawyers of America 6. AFL-CIO 7. Chamber of commerce. etc. pg 325
4 main linkage institutions
1. Parties 2. Elections 3. Interest groups 4. Media
3 basic varities of third parties
1. Parties that promote certain causes 2. Splinter parties (offshoots) 3. Extensions of a popular individual with presidential aspirations
Three heads of a political party
1. Party in the electorate 2. Party as an organization 3. Party in government
Determine how policy differences and civic duty affect a person's decision to vote or not to vote.
1. People who see policy differences between the parties are more likely to join the ranks of voters. 2. Those who vote out of a sense of civic duty are people who vote simply to support democratic government (even if they are indifferent about the outcome).
Tasks parties should perform as effective linkage institutions
1. Pick candidates 2. Run campaigns 3. Give cues to voters 4. Articulate policies 5. Coordinate policymaking
Factors that affect the size of a group
1. Size of the group 2. Intensity 3. Financial resources
OMB (Office of Management and Budget)
1921) to prepare estimates of how much will be spent by federal agencies, to negotiate and to make that legislative proposals of these other departments jive with the president's program.
In 2004, Republicans trailed Democrats by...%
3%
Pomper discovered this proportion of all promises that resulted in policy action
3/4
Which of the following factors best accounts for what is considered newsworthy?
A
Fiscal year
A 12-month pd, October through Septmeber, for planning the federal budget
Schenck v. United States
A 1919 decision upholding the conviction of a social who had urged young men to resist the draft during World War I. Justice Holmes declared that government can limit the speech if the speech provokes a "clear and present danger" of substantive evils.
Social Security Act
A 1935 law intended to provide a minimal level of sustenance to older Americans and thus save them from poverty.
Roth v. United States
A 1957 Supreme Court decision ruling that "obscenity" is not within the area of constitutionality protected speech or press.
School District of Abington Township, Pennsylvania v. Schupp
A 1963 ruling holding that a Pennsylvania law requiring Bible reading in schools violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment.
Red Lion Broadcasting Company v. Federal Communications Commission
A 1969 case in which the Supreme Court upheld restrictions on radio and television broadcasting. These restrictions on the broadcast media are much tighter than those of print media are only a limited number of broadcasting frequencies available.
Miller v. California
A 1973 Supreme Court decision that avoided defining obscenity avoided defining obscenity by holding the community standards be used to determine whether material is obscene in terms of appealing to a "prurient interest" and being "patently offensive" and lacking in value.
Miami Herald Publishing Company v. Tornillo
A 1974 case in which the Supreme Court held that a state could not force a newspaper to print replies from candidates it had criticized, illustrating the limited powers of government to restrict the media.
Zurcher v. Stanford Daily
A 1978 Supreme Court decision holding that a proper search warrant could be applied to a newspaper as well as to anyone else without necessarily violating the First Amendment rights to freedom of the press.
Texas v. Johnson
A 1989 case in which the Supreme Court struck down a law banning the burning of the American flag on the grounds that such action was symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment.
Planned Pregnancy v. Casey
A 1992 case in which the Supreme Court loosened its restrictions on abortion from one of "strict scrutiny" of any restraints to on a "fundamental right" to one of "undue burden. That permits considerably more regulation.
Motor Voter Act
A 1993 act that requires states to permit people to register to vote when they apply for a driver's license.
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
A 2010 landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that individuals, corporations, and unions could donate unlimited amounts of money to groups that make independent political expenditures.
free exercise clause
A First Amendment provision that prohibits government from interfering with the practice of religion.
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
A Supreme Court decision that stated that a public, state university could not admit a candidate with lesser qualifications, just because of their race.
Adarand Constructors v. Pena
A Supreme Court ruling that states that federal programs that classify people based on race, even to help minorities, are unconstitutional.
plea bargaining
A bargain struck between the defendant's lawyer and the prosecutor to the effect that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser crime (or fewer crimes) in exchange for the state's promise not to prosecute the defendant for a more serious (or additional) crime.
Sound bite
A brief statement on TV or radio
Unitary Government
A centralized government in which all government powers belong to a single, central agency.
Party identification
A citizen's self-proclaimed preference for a party
full faith and credit
A clause in Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution requiring each state to recognize the official documents and civil judgements rendered by the courts of other states.
privileges and immunities
A clause in Article IV, Section 2, of the Constitution according citizens of each state most of the privileges of citizens of other states.
Elastic Clause
A clause that allows Congress to stretch the use of its powers.
Political theology
A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose, which helps give meaning to political events
political ideology
A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose. It helps give meaning to political events, personalities, and policies.
Public opinion
A colleciton of shared attitudes of citizens about government, politics, and the making of public policy
Federalist Papers
A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.
McGovern-Faster Commission
A commission formed at the 1968 Democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups and others who sought better representation.
House Rules Committee
A committee in the House of Representatives that reviews all bills (except revenue, budget, and appropriations bills) coming from a House committee before they go to the full House.
Lobbying
A communication, by someone other than a citizen acting on his or her own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his or her decision.
Get-out-the-vote
A compaign near the end of an election to get voters out to the polls
Reconciliation
A congressional process through which program authorizations are revised to achieve required savings. It usually also includes tax or other revenue adjustments.
Ideology
A consistent set of beliefs by groups/individuals
Equal Rights Amendment
A constitutional amendment originally introduced in Congress in 1923 and passed by Congress in 1972, stating that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." Despite public support, the amendment failed to acquire the necessary support from three-fourths of the state legislatures.
Equal Rights Amendment
A constitutional amendment passed by Congress in 1972 stating that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." The amendment failed to acrquire the necessary support from three-fourths of the state legislatures.
Pardon
A convicted person is exempt form the penalities of a crime
Writ of Habeas Corpus
A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody
writ of habeas corpus
A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody.
Writ of Habeas Corpus
A court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person
Incrementalism
A description of the budget process in which the best predictor of this year's budget is last year's budget, plus a little bit more.
Constitution
A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society
separation of powers
A feature of the Constitution that requires each of the three branches of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—to be relatively independent of the others so that one cannot control the others. Power is shared among these three institutions.
Hatch Act (1933 and 1993)
A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics while on duty or for employees in sensitive positions at any time.
Republic
A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws
Republic
A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.
republic
A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.
Civil disobedience
A form of political participation based on a conscious decision to break the law believed to be unjust and to suffer the consequences
Protest
A form of political participation designed to achieve policy change thought dramatic and unconventional tactics
protest
A form of political participation designed to achieve policy change through dramatic and unconventional tractics.
civil disobedience
A form of political participation that reflects a conscious decision to break a law believed to be immoral and to suffer the consequences.
Independent Regulatory Commission
A government agency with responsibility for making and enforcing rules to protect the public interest in some sector of the economy and for judging disputes over these rules.
Governmental Corporations
A government organization that, like business corporations, provides a service that could be delivered by the private sector and typically charges for its services. The U.S. Postal Service is an example.
prior restraint
A government preventing material from being published. This is a common method of limiting the press in some nations, but is usually unconstitutional in the United States, according to the First Amendment and as confirmed in the 1931 Supreme Court case of Near v. Minnesota.
Coalition
A group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends, that supports the party agenda, and strives to ensure the elected President does what he promised during the election. Presidents often turn against their promises such as George Bush saying "Read my lips-no new taxes."
caucus (congressional)
A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic. Most are composed of members from both parties and from both houses.
Cabinet
A group of presidential advisors not mentioned in the constitution, although every president has had one. Today it is composed of 14 secretaries and the attorney general.
Interest group
A group of private citizens whose goal is to influence &shape public policy
Party base
A group of voters who almost always support the party's candidate.
Gibbons v. Ogden
A landmark case decided in 1824 in which the Supreme Court interpreted very broadly the clause in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution giving Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce, encompassing virtually every form of commercial activity.
War Powers Resolution
A law passed in 1973 in reaction to American fighting in Vietnam and Cambodia that requires presidents to consult with Congress whenever possible prior to using military force and to withdraw forces after 60 days unless Congress declares war or grants an extension.
Federal Election Campaign Act
A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The act created the Federal Election Commission and provided for limits on a and disclosure of campaign contributions.
extradition
A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.
bicameral legislature
A legislature divided into two houses. The U.S. Congress and every American state legislature except Nebraska's are bicameral.
Direct Mail
A method of raising money for a political cause or candidate, in which information and requests for money are sent to people whose names appear on lists of those who have supported similar views or candidates in the past.
(8.5) A party dealignment is considered to be a) the fragmentation of a political party into splinter parties b) the loss of party members as more people identify as Independents c) the loss of party members to the other party d) the shuffling of party coalitions e) the reformulation of a party's platform
A party dealignment is considered to be b) the loss of party members as more people identify as independents.
Conservative
A person whose pol. views favor more local, limited govt, less govt regulations, conformity to social norms &values; rough on criminals
Liberal
A person whose views favor more govt involvemnt in business, social welfare, minority rights, &increased govt spending
Street-level Bureaucrats
A phrase coined by Michael Lipsky, referring to those bureaucrats who are in constant contact with the public and have considerable administrative discretion.
6.4 What Americans Value: Political Ideologies
A political ideology is a coherent set of values and beliefs about public policy. The two most prominent ideologies in American politics are conservatism and liberalism. These ideologies guide people's thinking on policy issues. Although roughly 60 percent of the American public call themselves either conservatives or liberals, even many of these individuals are not necessarily ideologically consistent in their political attitudes. Often they are conservative in principle but liberal in practice; that is, they are against big government but favor more spending on a wide variety of programs.
Party platform
A political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years. The platform is drafted prior to party convention by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidates strength. It is the best formal statement of a party's belief.
Limited Government
A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.
Medicare
A program added to the Social Security system in 1965 that provides health insurance for the elderly, covering hospitalization, doctor fees, and other health expenses.
bill
A proposed law, drafted in legal language. Anyone can draft a bill, but only a member of the House of Representatives or Senate can formally submit a bill for consideration.
Union shop
A provision found in some collective bargaining agreements requiring all employees of a business to join the union within a short period, usually 30 days, and to remain members as a condition of employment.
sample
A relatively small proportion of people who are chosen in a survey so as to be representative of the whole.
Amendment
A revision/change to a bill, law, or constitution
Shay's Rebellion
A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers to break foreclosure proceedings
Political culture
A set of basic values and beliefs about one's country or government that is shared by most citizens and that influences political opinions and behaviors
Realignment
A shift of voting patterns to form new coaltions of party support
Talking Head
A shot of a person's face talking directly to the camera. Because such shots are visually stimulating, the major networks rarely politicians talking very long.
seniority system
A simple rule for picking committee chairs, in effect until the 1970s. The member who had served on the committee the longest and whose party controlled Congress became chair, regardless of party loyalty, mental state, or competence.
Federal Election Commission
A six-member bipartisan agency created by the federal Election Commission administers and enforces campaign finance laws.
Media event
A speech or photo opporutnity staged to give a politician's view on an issue
Right-to-work laws
A state law forbidding requirements that workers must join a union to hold their jobs.
filibuster
A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation try to talk it to death, based on the tradition of unlimited debate. Today, 60 members present and voting can halt a filibuster.
Crisis
A sudden, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous event requiring the president to play the role of crisis manager.
Voter registration
A system adopted by the states that requires voters to register prior to voting. Some states require citizens to register as much as 30 days in advance, whereas others permit Election Day registration.
Caucus
A system for selecting convention delegates used in about a dozen states in which voters must attend an open meeting to express their presidential preference.
Dual federalism
A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres. Each responsible for some policies. For example: national gov. Has exclusive control over postal system and foreign and military policy. States have exclusive control over schools and law enforcement.
cooperative federalism
A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. They may also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly.
Cooperative federalism
A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between the states and national government. For example: terrorism, education, highways
Civil Service
A system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create nonpartisan government service.
Checks and Balances
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Democracy
A system whereby the people rule either directly/by elected representation
Bureaucracy
A systematic way of organizing a complex &large adminstrative structure w/ responsibility for carrying out day-to-day tasks of the organization, departments, &agencies of the govt
Random-digit dialing
A technique used by pollsters to place telephone calls randomly to both listed and unlisted numbers when conducting a survey
random digit dialing
A technique used by pollsters to place telephone calls randomly to both listed and unlisted numbers when conducting a survey.
Conference committee
A temporary committee to work out a compromise version of a bill that has passed the House of Representaives &Senate in diff. forms
gender gap
A term that refers to the regular pattern by which women are more likely to support Democratic candidates. Women tend to be significantly less conservative than men and are more likely to support spending on social services and to oppose higher levels of military spending.
Party Eras
A term used by political scientists to describe historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections.
Melting pot
A term used to characterize the United States, with its history of immigration and mixing of cultures, ideas, and peoples
Federalists
A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.
Elitism
A theory of government and politics contending that an upper-class elite will hold most of the power and thus in effect run the government.
Hyperpluralism
A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government, seeking to please them all, is thereby weakened.
Pluralism
A theory of government and politics emphasizing that many groups, each pressing for its preferred policies, compete and counterbalance one another in the political marketplace.
Council of Economic Advisors
A three-member body appointed by the president to advice the president on economic policy.
Electoral College
A unique American institution created by the Constitution, providing for the selection of the president by elector chosen by the states parties. Although the Electoral College vote usually reflects a popular majority, less populated states are over represented and the winner-take- all rule concentrates campaign on close states.
census
A valuable tool for understanding demographic changes. The Constitution requires that the government conduct an "actual enumeration" of the population every 10 years.
Social contract theory
A voluntary agreement between the government and the governed
Unitary governments
A way of organizing a nation do that all power resides in the central government.
unitary governments
A way of organizing a nation so that all power resides in the central government. Most national governments today are unitary governments.
Federalism
A way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same land and people.
federalism
A way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same land and people. It is a system of shared power between units of government.
american medical association
AMA represents physicians interests in public and private sectors, physicians, residents, fellow and medical students in the us, tackled crucial topics like medical liability, managed care, patient safety
interest group was involved in bringing the lawsuit that led to the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1951)?
ANSEWR→National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Recent legislation made the federal government—rather than private entities—the originator of all student loans made through the federal student-loan program. Which of the following groups was most likely to strongly oppose this legislation? •The American Federation of Government Employees •Progressive Students for America • The American Legion • The American Medical Association •The Consumer Bankers Association
ANSWER→ The Consumer Bankers Association←
Which of the following interest groups have traditionally given the vast majority of their campaign donations and political support to Democratic candidates? • The Chamber of Commerce •The Veterans of Foreign Wars •The National Association of Manufacturers •The National Rifle Association •The National Organization for Women
ANSWER→ The national organization for women←
Why might it be difficult for you to get a lot of resident students to join a group that is fighting for better food in the student cafeteria, even if everyone agrees that the food is terrible? The issue of cafeteria-food quality is not relevant to very many students. Young people don't have as much influence over politics as older people do. Compared with other groups in society, students do not have much free time. Pressure-group politics cannot have much influence in a college setting. If you are successful, all students will benefit even if they did not help out.
ANSWER→If you are successful, all students will benefit even if they did not help out.←
Which of the following aspects of congressional politics helps ensure that no one group dominates congressional decisions? Party leadership is sometimes dominated by ideologically strong leaders in the party. Political-party caucuses have the ability to remove committee chairs that don't follow the party line. The Vice President's role in the Senate is largely a ceremonial one. Members of Congress utilize national party committees to assist them with Washington fundraising. In a district-based system of representation, members of Congress have differing constituencies.
ANSWER→In a district-based system of representation, members of Congress have differing constituencies.←
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? •Organize a protest outside of the Supreme Court. •Hold a press conference to get your message out. •Start a letter-writing campaign to put pressure on swing justices. •Organize a "fly-in" to bring your members to Washington, D.C. Submit a "friend of the court" (amicus curiae) brief on the case to the court.
ANSWER→Submit a "friend of the court" (amicus curiae) brief on the case to the court.←
Roe v. Wade (1973)
Abortion rights fall within the privacy implied in the 14th amendment
Political party
According to Downs "a team of men & women seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election"
C
According to James Madison, which of the following is primary source of political conflict? A. Differing political ideologies B. Different religious views C. The distribution of wealth D. Self-interested human nature E. The lack of education
Lobbying
According to Lester Milbrath, "a communication by someone other than a citizen acting on his or her own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing their decision"
Bureaucracy
According to Max Weber, a hierarchical authority structure that uses task specialization, operates on the merit principle, and behaves with impersonality.
political socialization
According to Richard Dawson, "the process through which an individual acquires his or her particular political orientations-his or her knowledge, feelings, and evaluations regarding his or her political world."
Understand the tasks that elections accomplish, according to democratic theory.
According to democratic theory, elections accomplish two tasks: 1. They select the policymakers. 2. They are supposed to help shape public policy.
casework
Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals; cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get
Congressional Budget Office
Advises Congress on the probable consequences of its decisions, forecasts revenues, and is a counterweight to the president's Office of Management and Budget.
Trustee
After listening to constiutents, elected representatives vote based on their own opinions
Three-Fifths Compromise
Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation purposes (negated by the 13th amendment)
Executive agreement
Agreement w/ another head of state not requiring approval form teh Senate
Interstate compacts
Agreements btwn states to work together on common issues
Mass media
All forms of communication that reach a large portion of the public
Potential Group
All people who might be interest group members because they have common interests
Political participation
All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue. The most common means of political participation in a democracy is voting; other means include protest and civil disobedience
political participation
All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue. The most common, but not the only, means of political participation in a democracy is voting.
National debt
All the money borrowed by the federal government over the years and still outstanding. Today it is $18.7 trillion.
Potential group
All the people who might be interest group members because they share some common interest.
At-large
All the voters of a state/country elect their representative (senate elections are at large on the federal level)
The Bill of Rights was adopted primarily to _____
Allay the fears that the Constitution would restrict freedoms.
New Deal coalition
Alliance of southern conservatives, religious, and ethnic minorities who supported the Democratic Party for 40 years
Iron triangle
Alliance- agencies, interest groups, &congressional committees/subcommittees (also known as sub-governments)
Eminent domain
Allows the govt to take property for public use but also requires the govt to provide just compensation for that property
Initiative
Allows voters to petition to propose legislation &then submit it for a vote by qualified voters
Iron Triangles
Also known as subgovernments, a mutually dependent, mutually advantageous relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees. They dominate some areas of domestic policymaking.
Tenth Amendment
Amendment stating that the powers not delegated to the federal gov. are reserved to the states
National debt
Amount of money owed by the government
Federal budget
Amount of money the federal govt expects to receive &authorizes govt to spend for a fiscal (12 mo.) year
Census
An "actual enumeration" of the population, which the Constitution requires that the government conduct every 10 years. The census is a valuable tool for understanding demographic changes
McCulloch v. Maryland
An 1819 Supreme Court decision that established the supremacy of the national government over state governments. In deciding this case, Chief Justice John Marshall and his colleagues held that Congress had certain implied powers in addition to the enumerated powers found in the Constitution.
Appropriations bill
An act of Congress that actually funds programs within limits established by authorization bills. Usually cover one year.
Incentive System
An alternative to command-and-control, with marketlike strategies such as rewards used to manage public policy.
Devolution
An effort to shirft responsibility of domestic programs to the states in order to decrease the size &activites of the fed. govt; some states have attempted to shift responsibilities further to local govts
Off-year election
An election taking place in a year when no presidential elections are occurring; midterm election-common for sitting president's party to lose seats in Congress
Senior Executive Service
An elite cadre of about 9,000 federal government managers at the top of the civil service system.
Deficit
An excess of federal expenditures over federal revenues.
Which of the following activities is LEGAL under current federal campaign-finance laws?
An incumbent uses government funds to send out a campaign mailing two weeks prior to the election. A presidential candidate accepts a $1,000 donation from a person who is not a U.S. citizen. A congressional candidate sends out an anonymous mailer attacking her opponent. A political party accepts a "soft-money," or nonregulated, donation for election activities. ANSWER→A senate candidate makes a $5 million donation to his own campaign.←
Speaker of the House
An office mandated by the Constitution. The Speaker is chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant.
Office of Management and Budget
An office that grew out of the Bureau of the Budget, created in 1921, consisting of a handful of political appointees and hundreds of skilled professionals. It performs both managerial and budgetary functions.
Interest group
An organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals. They pursue their goals in many arenas.
Political culture
An overall set of values widely shared within a society
political culture
An overall set of values widely shared within a society.
Anti-Federalists
Anti-Federalists rose up as the opponents of the Constitution during the period of ratification. They opposed the Constitution's powerful centralized government, arguing that the Constitution gave too much political, economic, and military control. They instead advocated a decentralized governmental structure that granted most power to the states
Incorporation
Application of portions of the Bill of Rights to the states under Amend. XIV
National chairman
Appointed by the DNC or the RNC as head of the party
supremacy clause
Article Vi of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.
Casework
Assistance given to constituents by congressional members, answering questions/doing favors
Miller v. California (1973)
Attempted to clarify 1st amendment rights by defining obscenity
Lobbying
Attempting to influence policymakers though a variety of methods
Judicial review
Authority given the courts to review constitutionality of acts by the executive/state/legislature; est. in Marbury v. Madison
Project grants
Awarded based on competitive applications. Example: National Science Foundation given to university professors
Limited govt
Basic prinicple of U.S. govt that each person has rights that govt cannot take away
Natural rights
Basic rights that are guaranteed to all persons; basic rights that a government cannot deny-Locke-life, liberty, property
Party competition
Battle of the parties for control of public offices; without it there would be no democracy
Candidate centered politics
Because political parties are too decentralized to take a single national position and then enforce it, most candidates are self-selected with their own efforts and agendas. They do not always go along with their parties' platforms especially when that platform conflicts with their own personal opinion and or the desires of their constituents. This term describes this kind of politics.
Why are people drawn to public interest groups?
Because they support the groups values and goals'
Double jeopardy
Being tried twice for the same offense (if you appealing, it is not double jeopardy because you are asking to be retried)
Political efficacy
Belief that a person can influence politics and public policymaking-vote makes a difference
Standard Operating Procedures
Better known as SOPs, these procedures for everyday decisions making enable bureaucrats to bring efficiency and uniformity to the running of complex organizations. Uniformity promotes fairness and makes personnel interchangeable.
True or False
Between 1981 and 2003, PAC yearly contributions more than quadrupled. True
Impeachment
Bringing charges of wrongdoing against a govt official by the House of Representatives
Which of the following is NOT a tactic interest groups use
C. Fielding candidates for office in general elections
Which of the following is NOT one of the roles regularly played by interest groups
C. Nominating candidates to run for public office
Which of the following is NOT true of the success of interest groups
C. The more potential members a group has, the more successful it tends to be
A state where parties are weak
California
New Jersey Plan
Called for equal representation for each state in Congress regardless of the state's population
Virginia Plan
Called for representation of each state in Congress in proportion to that state's population
Front-loading
Choosing an early date to hold the primary election
Representative democracy
Citizens choose officals (representatives) who make decisions about public policy
Direct democracy
Citizens meet and make decisions abt public policy issues
Political socialization
Complex process by which people get their sense of political identity, beliefs, and values (family, school, media, religion, national events-all help to socialize)
National committee
Composed of representatives from states & territories; keeps party operating between conventions
Constitutional Convention issues and resolutions:
Conflicts on equality lead to the Connecticut Compromise, the 3/5s compromise on slavery, and the decision to leave the issue of voting rights to the states( issue of slavery was a big contentious issue that they avoided addressing). The Framers(elite) believed that the American economy was in shambles and intended to make the national government an economic stabilizer. They knew a strong national government would be better able to ensure the nation's security. The specificity of the powers assigned to congress left no doubt that congress was to forge national economic policy. Framers believed the limited government constructed would protect freedom, so they said little about individual rights in the Constitution.
legislative oversight
Congress' monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed mainly through hearings
select committees
Congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose, such as the Watergate investigation.
conference committees
Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill.
joint committees
Congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from both houses.
The notion that the people must agree on who their ruler will be is referred as ______
Consent of the governed
6.6 Understanding Public Opinion and Political Action
Conservatives typically believe that the scope of American government has become too wide in recent decades. They look to Ronald Reagan's pledge to get the government "off the backs of the American people" as inspiration. In contrast, liberals believe the scope of government should be further increased, and they support policies like the Obama administration's health care reform law.
Party in government
Consists of elected officials who call themselves members of the party
Party as an organization
Consists of national office, full-time staff, budgets, rules, state & local headquarters, and people who keep the party running between elections
Supremacy Clause
Constitution is the supreme law of the land
Equal Rights Amendment
Constitutional Amendment guaranteeing that rights will not be changed because of one's gender.
Twenty-Fourth Amendment
Constitutional Amendment passed in 1964 that made poll taxes illegal.
Thirteenth Amendment
Constitutional Amendment that makes slavery illegal.
How can the Constitution be formally amended? and how does it change informally?
Constitutional change both formal and informal continues to shape and alter the letter and the spirit of the Madisonian system. The formal amendment process, requiring supermajorities in both houses of Congress and among the States, poses difficult hurdles to overcome. However, judicial interpretation, changing political practices, technology, and the increasing demands on policymakers have also changed the constitution
What government does the US have?
Constitutional democratic republic
Separation of Powers
Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law
Civil liberties
Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens
Equal Protection Clause
Constitutional guarantee that everyone be treated equally-14th amendment
Veto
Constitutional power of the president to send a bill back to Congress with reasons for rejecting it. A two-thirds vote in each house can override it.
6.5 How Americans Participate in Politics
Conventional forms of political participation include voting, writing letters or e-mails to public officials, attending political meetings, signing petitions, and donating money to campaigns and political groups. Unconventional participation involves activities such as attending protest demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience. Many studies have found that citizens of higher social economic status participate more in American politics.
interest group that would be most likely to lobby AGAINST a bill that would cap carbon emissions?
Correct The National Association of Manufacturers
The decline of inner-city machines has led to a revitalization of party organization at ... level
County (particularly in suburbs)
Orignial jurisdiction
Court hears and decides a case for the first time
cruel and unusual punishment
Court sentences prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. Although the Supreme Court has ruled that mandatory death sentences for certain offenses that are unconstitutional, it has not held that the death penalty itself constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
Legislative courts
Courts created by Congress for a specialized purpose w/ a narrow range of authority
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Created to allow the free movement of goods between Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. by lessening and eliminating tariffs
Which of the following points was NOT part of James Madison's thinking about interest groups
D. A few wealthy groups will usually exert most of the political power
New York Times v. Sullivan
Decided in 1964, this case established the guidelines for determining whether public officials and public figures could win damage suits for libel. To do so, the individuals must prove that for the defamatory statements were made with "actual malice" and reckless disregard for the truth.
11
Declare war
Hyperpluarlism
Democracy seen as a system of many groups pulling govt in many directinos at the same time, causing gridlock ineffectiveness
Parties of 1796-1824
Democratic-Republicans* & Federalists
Parties of 1860 - present
Democrats & Republicans
In 1964 there were twice as many ... as ...
Democrats as Republicans
2006 midterms
Democrats won control of House after 12 years of being in minority
Policy evalution
Determines if a policy is achieving its goals
Rules committee
Determines the rules of debate for bills in the House of Representatives-also known as the calender committee
According to James Madison, what is the primary source of political conflict?
Different political ideologies
Electioneering
Direct group involvement in electoral process by helping to fund campaigns, getting members to work for candidates and forming PACs
Electioneering
Direct group involvement in the electoral process, for example, by helping to fund campaigns, getting members to work for candidates, and to work for political action committees.
Floor leaders
Direct party strategy &decisions in the House of Representatives &Senate
What is a political issue?
Disagreement/Conflict about public policy agenta ex. Pro-Life vs Pro-Choice, minimum wage
True or False
Donations by PACs declined their peak in the mid 1990s. False
What's with protesting? What's its deal?
Done by people who don't understand the sustem, doesn't get what they want, most dangerous
Declaration of Independence
Drafted in 1776 by T. Jefferson declaring America's separation from Great Britain (3 parts-New theory of government, reasons for separation, formal declaration of war and independence)
Majority-minority districts
Drawing district boundaries to give a minority group a majority
Gerrymandering
Drawing of congressional districts to favor one pol. party/group over another
Explore the reasons why voter turnout has actually declined as the right to vote was extended to new groups.
Due to a drop in American's social and political connectedness. A younger, single and less church-going electorate has resulted in voters who are less socially tied to their political communities. Also, due to declines in partisanship, political interest and belief in gov't responsiveness.
Television's emphasis on the individual has the effect of encouraging greater news coverage of.
E
The nation's policy agenda is best defined as problems that.
E
Which of the following types of interest groups tends to push for a collective good
E. All of the above -Labor groups -Consumer groups -Environmental groups -Equality groups
Which of the following is NOT an element of the pluralist group theory of politics
E. Groups often become too dominant
Checks and balances
Each branch of govt is subject to restraints by the other two branches
Straw poll
Early form of polling that asks the same question of a large number of people
Presidential primaries
Election in which a states voters go to the polls to express their preference for a party's nominee for president. Most delegates to the national party convention are chosen this way.
Direct primary
Election within the party to choose their favorite candidate for a particular office
7
Establish post offices
Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)
Established a three-part test to determine whether state aid to parochial schools was constitutional
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
Established criteria for determining whether an organization or firm should register its employees as lobbyists - those who fit criteria must register with the secretary of senate and file a report regarding clients and contributors
Roth v. United States (1957)
Established that obscenity is not within the area of constitutionally protected speech or press.
Gregg v. Georgia (1976)
Established that the death penalty does not necessarily violate the Constitution
Connecticut Compromise
Established two houses of Congress
What is pure democracy?
Every single citizens represents themselves voting personally on laws.
Independent expenditures
Expenses on behalf of a political message that are made by groups that are uncoordinated with any candidates campaign.
Rational-choice theory
Explains the actions of voters as well as politicians, assumes individuals act in their best interest
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
Extended the Exclusionary Rule to the states, increasing the protections for defendants
Political action committee
Extention of an interest group that contributes money to political campaigns-financial arm of the interest group
Identify the characteristics of voters and nonvoters.
Factors making people more likely to vote: Income: Higher socio-economic status Occupation: White collar (professionals) and blue collar union members Education: Higher educated Age : Older Race: White Gender: Women are slightly more likely Religion: Chrisitians Marital Status: Married Mobility: Same address for a while Region: Northerners Gov't Employees: Very active voters
Labor groups have continued to expand their membership and influence into the twenty-first century
False
Political action committees contribute more or less equally to the campaigns of challengers and incumbents
False
Those who watch the news on television tend to be more engaged in politics than those who read the news.
False
The Constitution went into effect once the delegates in Philadelphia had voted to approve the document.
False, first they had to ratify the constitution among the states.
The Articles of Confederation established a strong central gov. to respond to economic and national crisis.
False, the AoC had a weak central gov. and powerful states leading to an economic crisis among the states.
The Virginia Plan called for each state to be equally represented in the new Congress
False, the New Jersey Plan wanted it representation
(8.7) True/False. So called Blue Dog Democrats are an example of the Democratic Party operating according to the principles of responsible party government.
False. Blue Dog Democrats are the name for fiscally conservative Democrats (they don't want the government to spend too much on public programs for the poor, disadvantaged, etc.) who are mostly from the South and/or rural parts of the United States.
(8.3) True/False. Party machines dominate local party organizations today.
False. Party machines do not dominate local party organizations today.
(8.2) True/False. Ticket-splitting ensures that most states are safely Republican or Democrat.
False. Ticket-splitting often causes states to be divided.
The system of governance set up in the US constitutional republic tends to _______
Favor the status quo and limit political change
What did our founding fathers feel about democracy?
Feared democracy: "Mob Rule," founding fathers were wealthy, property owning, and eduated (the 1%), goal of wealthy is to keep, goal of poor is to get, fear the majority, make it hard for voters to make changes
checks and balances
Features of the Constitution that limit government's power by requiring that power be balanced among the different governmental institutions. These institutions continually constrain one another's activities.
Dual federalism
Fed. &state govts each ahve defined responsibilities w/n their own sphere of influence; "layer cake" federalism
forumla grants
Federal categorical grants distributed according to a formula specified in legislation or in administrative regulations.
project grants
Federal categorical grants given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of the merits of applications.
Constitutional courts
Federal courts created by Congress under Article III of the Constitution, including the district courts, courts of appeals, &specialized courts such as the U.S. Court of International Trade
Courts of appeals
Federal courts that review decisions of federal district courts, regulatory commissions, &other fed. courts
Unfunded mandates
Federal government requires the states to enforce legislation without the funding necessary
Categorical Grants
Federal grants for specific purposes, such as building an airport
Project Grants
Federal grants given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of the merits of applications.
block grants
Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services.
Block grants
Federal grants that allow states or local governments to use money freely. Used for community development.
categorical grants
Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes, or "categories," of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as nondiscrimination provisions.
Define Federalism and contrast it with alternative ways of organizing a nation:
Federalism is a way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same area and people. Federal systems are more decentralized than unitary systems but less so than confederations.
Impact of Federalism on Democratic government and the scope of government:
Federalism provides for effective representation of local interests, reduces conflict at the national level, encourages acceptance of losing elections, and increases the opportunities for citizens to participate in government and see their policy preferences reflect in the law. On the negative side federalism increases the opportunities for local interests to thwart national policy, can result in the election of a president not favored by a majority of the public, and complicates efforts to make government responsive. The national government has grown in response to the demands of Americans for public services it can best provide, but it has not in any way supplanted the states.
Elastic clause
Final paragraph of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which authorizes Congress to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out specified powers.
Articles of Confederation
First constitution of the United States, established a national legislature
Blue Dog Democrats
Fiscally conservative Democrats who are mostly from the South and/or rural parts of the United States.
The Graying of America
Fl - 4th most populous state - Attractive to senior citizens ~ 65+ year olds are the fastest growing age group in the US ~ living longer due to medical advantages and fertility rate has dropped ~ Aging = impact on Social Security (pay-as-you-go system - today's workers pay for today's retirees) ~ 1960 - 5.7 workers per retiree ~ 2012 - 3 workers per retiree ~ 2040 - 2 workers per retiree ~ (Tremendous pressure on Social Security system - 2nd most costly public policy) ~ Promised benefits are expected - trillions of $ ~ Both parties believe that SS is important
Texas v. Johnson (1989)
Flag-burning is symbolic speech with a political purpose and is protected by 1st Amendment.
Free-rider problem
For a group, the problem of people not joining because they can benefit from the group's activities without joining.
Free rider problem
For a group, the problen of people not joining because they can benefit from the groups activities without joining. In a small group the shares of collective good are large enough to give incentive to join.
Fourteenth Amendment
Forbids states from discriminating or not giving equal protection of the laws. Also gives, the rights of life, liberty, or property to all.
Formula Grants
Formula grant programs are noncompetitive awards based on a predetermined formula.
Amy McKay
Found intensity of a group predicts whether or not their stance will be adopted, groups advocating against change usually hold more power
1st antislave party
Free Soilers (1850s)
NAACP v. Alabama (1958)
Freedom of association (the right to assemble in groups) was protected here.
Amendment 1
Freedom of speech, press, and assembly. Freedom to petition government. Freedom to exercise religion.
Freedom of expression
Freedom of speech/right to petition the govt for redress as 1st amendment right
Amicus curiae brief
Friend of the court; interest groups may be invited to file legal briefs supporting/rejection arguments of the case
Revenue sharing
Giving money back to the state and local government with no strings attached
Are policy impacts good or bad?
Goal to be positive but implementation scerws people over (Obamacare fine, lead in the water, etc.)
Selective benefits
Goods that a group can restrict to those who actually join.
17
Govern the District of Columbia
Traditional democratic theory
Government depends upon the consent of the governed
Social welfare policy
Government program to enhance quality of life
Expenditures
Government spending. Major areas of federal spending are social services and national defense.
Ralph Nader
Government worker who took on American business almost single handedly, launched first major consumer interest group
Cabinet
Govt depts headed by presidential appointees to help establish public policy &operate a specific policy are of govt activity
Deficit
Govt spending exceeds revenue
8
Grant patents and copyrights
Chains
Groups of newspapers published by media conglomerates and today accounting for over four-fifths of the nation's Dailey newspaper circulation.
Factions
Groups such as parties or interest groups, which according to James Madison arose from the unequal distribution of property or wealth and had the potential to cause instability in government.
Factions
Groups that arose from the unequal distribution of property or wealth and had the potential to cause instability in government
501(c) Groups
Groups that exempted from reporting their contributions and can receive unlimited contributions. Section 501 c of the tax code specifies that such groups cannot spend more than half their funds on political activities.
Single-issue groups
Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics.
Political action committees
Groups that raise money from individuals and then distribute it in the form of contributions to candidates that the group supports.
Imagine that you are a campaign manager and want to create a winning image for your client. What qualities would you emphasize and how would you go about organizing you campaign the ensure that voters embrace the image you have painted of your client?
I would emphasize my candidate's moral values and charisma. I would organize the campaign effectively with tactful ads.
EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
INDEPENDENT agency created in 1964-works to eliminate employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, disability, age or other criteria unrelated to job performance.
Role of interest groups 10.1
INTEREST GROUPS ARE OFTEN POLICY specialists
Reactionary
Ideological view that favors a return to a previous state of affairs
Radical
Ideological view that favors rapid funamental change in teh existing social, economic, or political order
6.1 The American People
Immigration--both the legal and illegal--has accelerated in American in recent decades. Largely as a consequence, the size of the minority population has increased greatly. If current trends continue, by the middle of the twenty-first century non-Hispanic whites will represent less than half of the population. The American population has also been aging and moving to Sunbelt states such as California, Texas, and Florida
What are the primary arguments in favor of and against an active role for government in today's society? Use a current policy example to support your answer.
In favor of an active role, people argue that the government's intervention is sometimes the only means of achieving important goals in society, like making sure affordable healthcare. Opponents argue that it makes more sense for the people to make decisions for themselves instead of government officials making decisions for them, like deciding that citizens must pay for health insurance.
Super PACs
Independent expenditure-only PACs are known as Super PACs because they may accept donations of any size and can endorse candidates. Their contributions and expenditures must be periodically reported to the FEC.
527 groups
Independent political groups that are not subject to contribution restrictions because they do not directly seek the election of particular candidates. Section 527 of the tax code specifies that contributions to such groups must be reported to the IRS.
Issue network
Individuals in WA--located w/n interest groups, congressional staff, think tanks, universities, &the media--who regulary discuss &advocate public policies
factions
Interest groups arising from the unequal distribution of property or wealth that James Madison attacked in Federalist Paper No. 10. Today's parties or interest groups are what Madison had in mind when he warned of the instability in government caused by these.
Trial Balloons
International news leaks for the purpose of assessing the political reaction.
The shift from dual to cooperative federalism ...
Involved gradual change in many policy areas, including education.
What is the goal of an economic interest group?
Is to influence the government for the economic benefit of their members. EX: Higher Wages, Lower Tax Rates, or more favorable regulations.
Political agenda
Issues that merit action, as determined by the public or those in power
The Connecticut Compromise did what?
It created two houses of Congress with different bases (Population [HoR] and 2 Reps [Senate]) for determining congressional representation.
Party Identification
It is a citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other. The American National Election Study uses this data to track changes in voter preferences. The most common answer to this question recently is Independent.
Patronage
It is a key inducement used by party machines, such as a job, a promotion, or contract that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone. This kind of corruption was not kept secret and was routinely used to raise money for the political party or line the pockets of politicians themselves. New York City's Democratic Party leader, William Tweed, or Boss Tweed, was famous for this. Often used to gain ethnic support such as the Irish like Richard Daley in Chicago. Eventually progressive reforms were put in place to weaken this.
Party platform
It is a political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years. The exhibit on page 235 shows differences in beliefs between the two parties. For example, the Republican Party has included restrictions on abortion in its list whereas the Democrats do not believe the Marriage Act should be defended to restrict gay marriage.
Divided government
It is a situation when one party controls the White House and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress. It prevents one party from controlling the legislative agenda without compromise. In other words, both parties have to work together to pass legislation.
Proportional representation
It is a system used in most European countries, where legislative seats are allocated according to each party's percentage of the nationwide vote. If a party wins 15 percent of the vote then it receives 15 percent of the seats. Used successfully by small groups such as the Greens in Germany who are environmentalists.
Winner take all system
It is an electoral system used in the United States in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their elections. Whoever gets the most votes wins, there is no second place. It encourages the existence of two large parties, with smaller parties rarely earning enough votes to win.
Critical election
It is the name of an election where fissures appear ("earthquake") in each party's coalition which begins to fracture, dividing the electorate, often marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election to bring about a new party era.
Party machines
It's a type of political party organization from the late 1800's through the 1930's that rewarded its members in some material fashion to win votes and to govern.
Federalist president
John Adams
Marbury v. Madison
Judicial review!
Concurring opinion
Justice/justices who agree w/ the majority's opinion but not with the reason behind the decision
Dissenting opinion
Justice/justices who disagree with the majority opinion
Affirmative action
LBJ's executive order-designed to correct the effects of past discrimination; requirement by law that positive steps be taken to increase the number of minorities in business, schools, colleges, and labor
True or False
Labor Pacs have grown more rapidly than corporate Pacs over the previous decades. False
Party in the electorate
Largest component of "three heads"; doesn't require dues for members & not binding
Shield law
Law guaranteeing news reporters the right to protect the annonymity of their sources. States have passed this--not the federal government.
Ex post facto law
Laws applied to acts committed before passage of the laws are unconstitutional
Constitutional law
Laws relating to the interpretation of the Constitution
Speaker of the House
Leading officer in the House of Representatives, chosen by the majority party
Federalism ...
Leads to differences among state in levels of funding for policies.
Brief
Legal document submitted to the court setting forth the facts of a case and supporting a particular position
Extradition
Legal process whereby a state surrenders a person charged with a crime to the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.
Pork barrel legislation
Legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary of unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance a memeber's chance of reelection
Connecticut Compromise
Legislative branch-2 houses-one based on population, one based on equal representation
Identify the 3 policy making institutions in the US
Legislative: make laws Executive: regulations (how to enforce laws) Judicial: Interpreting the law
Lemon test
Lemon v. Kurtzman to measure the constituionality of state laws in regard to establishment clause (3 pronged test)
Stare decisis
Let the decision stand; decisions are based on precedents from previous cases
Checks and Balances
Limit government's powers by requiring each branch to obtain the consent of the others for its actions
War Powers Act
Limits the ability of the president to commit troops to combat-48 hours to tell Congress when and why the troops were sent, they have 60-90 to bring them home if they disagree
What are the five central features of American political culture, or the "American creed," according to Seymour Martin Lipset? Why is political culture a key factor in holding American democracy together?
Lipset's five features are liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, laissez-faire, and populism. Because America is so diverse with ancestry, religion, etc., the political culture is our shared set of beliefs and values which the government is built on, rather than a religious text or ancient history.
motion picture association of american
MPAA serves as the voice and advocate of the american motion picture, home video, and television, members are the 6 major motion picture studios
Entitlement program
Madatory payments made by the federal government to people meeting eligibility requirements, such as Social Security, vets, welfare, medicare
Gatekeepers
Media executives, news editors, &prominent reporters who decide what news to present &how it will be presented
National convention
Meeting of delegates every 4 years to choose a presidential ticket & write party's platform
Press Conferences
Meetings of public officials with reporters.
Procedual due process
Method of government action, or how th elaw is carried out according to the established rules and procedures
Politics
Method of maintaining, managing, and gaining control of government (who gets what, when, and how)
Deviating election
Minority party is able to win the support of majority party members, independents, &new voters
Formula grants
Money given based on formula rather than application. Formulas based on population, per capita income, percent of rural population, etc. Example: Medicaid, child nutrition programs, sewage treatment plant construction.
Block grant
Money given to states for general programs within a broad category
Appropriations
Money granted by Congress or to a state legislature for a specific purpose
Single issue groups
Most dramatic political development recently, groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, often draw membership from those new to politics
Which interest group was the driving force behind passage of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which penalized states that did not adopt a drinking age of 21 years old? 10-5
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
Narrowcasting
Nadia programming on cable tv or the Internet that is focused on a particular interest and aimed at a particular audience, in contrast to broadcasting.
Fiscal federalism
National govt's use of fiscal policy to influence states through the granting/withholding of appropriations
Superdelegates
National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the national party convention.
What re the primary factors that weaken the impact of campaigns on votes? Based on your understanding of these factors, which is most important in your opinion and why?
Negative campaign ads from opposing parties and spin from campaign managers, especially in Clinton's '92 campaign, weaken campaigns' impacts. In my opinion, spin is the most important factor because it in a method used to side-step the truth.
Amendment 5
No taking of private property for public use without just compensations, grand jury indictment required for prosecution of serious crime, no second prosecution for the same offense, no compulsion to testify against oneself, no loss of life liberty or property without due process of law,
symbolic speech
Nonverbal communication, such as burning a flag or wearing an armband. The Supreme Court has accorded some symbolic free speech protection under the First Amendment.
Implied powers
Not expressed, but may be considerered through the use of the Necessary and Proper (elastic) Clause
Supremacy CLause
Ntional law supersedes all other laws passed by states (Art VI)
Electoral college
Number each state gets is based on the number of representatives and the number of senators that state has. Need 270 to win election
Party in the electorate/rank and file
One of the 3 heads of the political party - regular joe voters, or ordinary voters. Party identification. These voters can vote in primaries and caucuses, have power in the party nominating process, power is to vote and assist fav candidate to win by voting for them.
Party as an organization
One of the 3 heads of the political party. Unlike Europe, they are decentralized and fragmented, with leaders having little influence and power. Keeps the party running, between elections and writes party rules.
Divided govt
One party controls the executive, &the other party controls on /both houses of Congress
Interest group
Organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try and achieve these goals
Political interest lobbies
Organizations that seek a collective good, the achievement of which will not selectively and materially benefit the membership or activists of the organization.
Newt Gingrich & Dick Armey
Outlined Contract with America
Brown v. BOE of Topeka, KA
Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson: ended legal segregation, said school regulation is unconstitutional
2. ELECTIONEERING • Direct group involvement in the electoral process by helping to fund campaigns, getting members to work for candidates, and forming POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES (to influence elections) (PACs)
PACs → political funding vehicles created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms. Ironically, this laws were intended to lessen the influence of money on elections - though the result has mostly been to shift the way campaign money is spent and by whom. ►Corporate PACs have grown more rapidly than labor PACs ►Between 1981 and 2003, PAC yearly contributions more than quadrupled. Rose from about $50 million to about $250 million.
Which theory of interest group politics best correlates with Madison's ideas for controlling interest groups?
PLURALIST THEORY
Circuit Courts
Part of federal court system-13 federal circuit courts: one for the D.C. and 12 for the rest of the country. Also called "courts of appeal"
establishment clause
Part of the First Amendment stating that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."
due process clause
Part of the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteeing that persons cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property by the United States or state governments without due process of law. See also Gitlow v. New York.
whips
Party leaders who work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party.
Dealigning election
Party loyality becomes less important to voters, &they vote for the other party candidate/independent
Superdelegates
Party officials in the Democratic Party who attend the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses
Party unity
Party unity is a sticky term that doesn't have a single, clear definition, but basically, it's when a major political party is in agreement about their politics, their policies, and/or their leadership.
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Passed in 1883, an act that created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.
Twenty-second amendment
Passed in 1951, the amendment that limits presidents to two terms of office.
Twenty-fifth amendment
Passed in 1951, this amendment permits the vice president to become acting president if the president's cabinet determines that the president is disabled. The amendment also outlines how a recuperated president can reclaim the job.
According to the regulations of privileges and immunities between states, a citizen of Texas who buys a product while visiting a store in California ...
Pays the California sales tax.
A well-organized state with sizable political staff
Pennsylvania
How do people affect public policy within the policymaking system? Why is the policy agenda so important to the policymaking system and how might it help or hinder public influence over policymaking institutions?
People affect public policy by being part of interest groups and voting for candidates and issues in elections. The policy agenda dictates what issues will get the serious attention of officials and when. Policy agenda of candidates for Congress and President give voters a platform to consider. Voters will want to vote for candidates whose policy agenda aligns best with their interests.
Policy Entrepreneurs
People who invest their political capital in an issue.
Sampling errors
Percentage of possible erros in teh polling process
Standing committee
Permanent committees in the House/Senate-every represetative and every senator is appointed to 2 or 3.
Moderate
Person whose views are between conservative and liberal and may include some of both ideologies
Entitlements
Policies for which Congress has obligated itself to pay X level of benefits to Y number of recipients. Social Security benefits are an example.
Soft money
Political contributions earmarked for party-building expenses at the grassroots level or for generic party advertising. For a time, such contributions were unlimited, until they were banned by the McCain-Feingold Act.
Impeachment
Political equivalent of an indictment in criminal law, prescribed by the Constitution. The House of Representatives may impeach the president by a majority vote for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."
(8.1) Political parties are often called three-headed giants. What are these three heads and how do they relate?
Political parties try and win elections as a team - Sometimes referred to as "three-headed giants" (electorate, organization, government). They generate symbols of identification and loyalty, mobilizing majorities in the electorate and in government, recruiting political leaders, implementing policies, and fostering stability ing government.
Party polarization
Political polarization refers to cases in which an individual's stance on a given issue, policy, or person is more likely to be strictly defined by their identification with a particular political party (e.g., Democrat or Republican) or ideology (e.g., liberal or conservative). (not thinking for one's self)
High-Tech Politics
Politics in which the behavior of citizens and policymakers and the political agenda itself are increasingly shaped by technology.
6.3 Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information
Polls are conducted through the technique of random sampling, in which every member of the population has an equal probability of being selected for an interview. A random sample of about 1,000 Americans will yield results that are normally within plus or minus three percentage points of what would be found if everyone were interviewed. The responses from such samples can be important tools for democracy, measuring what the public thinks about political matters between election. Polls also help analysts assess the age-old question of how well informed people are about political issues.
Federal system
Power is divided between the states &the fed. govt
5
Power to coin money
3
Power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce
1
Power to tax and spend for the defense & general welfare of the U.S.
Reserved powers
Powers belonging specifically to the states and the people because they were not delegated to teh national government nor denied to the states
Implied Powers
Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.
Amendment 10
Powers not delgated to the national government or denied to the states are reserved for the states or the people.
Enumerated Powers
Powers of the federal government that are specifically addressed in the Constitution
Enumerated powers
Powers of the federal government that are specifically addressed in the Constitution.
enumerated powers
Powers of the federal government that are specifically addressed in the Constitution; for Congress, these powers are listed in Article I, Section 8, and include the power to coin money, regulate its value, and impose taxes.
implied powers
Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the Constitution. The Constitution states that Congress has the power to "make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution" the powers enumerated in Article I.
Implied powers
Powers of the federal government that go beyond those specifically stated in Constitution. Okay for "necessary and proper" laws.
Concurrent powers
Powers shared by the federal and state govts (tax, to define crimes and punishments)
Delegated powers
Powers specifically granted to the national govt by the Constitution
Federalism
Powers that are shared and divided among federal and sub-divisional government (state/local)
Inherent powers
Powers that exist for the national govt b/c the govt is sovereign
Cloture rule
Prevents filibustering (16 signatures) and ends debate in the Senate, by a 3/5s vote of the Senate
Franking privilege
Privilege that allows member sof Congress to mail letters &other materials to constituents postage-free
Referendum
Procedure whereby the state submits legislation to its voters for approval, allowing citizens to vote directly on issues
What is politics?
Process of Who gets What, takes place in Legislative, executive and judicial branches aka the institutions of government
Social insurance programs
Programs to help the elderly, ill, and unemployed if the claimant has paid into them
Grants-in-aid
Programs, money, &resources provided by the fed. govt to state &local govts to be used for specific projects &programs
Bills of attainder
Prohibits a person being found guilty of a crime w/o a trial
Hatch Act
Prohibits govt employees from engaging in pol. activities whle on duty/running for office/seeking poli. funding while off duty; if in sensitive positions, may not be involved w/ pol. activities on/off duty
Establishment Clause
Prohibits the establishment of a national religion-1st amendment
The two types of categorical grants
Project grants Formula grants
15
Provide and call for the militia/National Guard to execute federal laws
13
Provide and maintain a navy
18
Provide for the laws necessary and proper for carrying out all other listed powers
Exit poll
Public opinion surveys used by major media pollsters to predict electoral winners with speed and precision
exit polls
Public opinion surveys used by major media pollsters to predict electoral winners with speed and precision.
School District of Abington Township, Pennsylvania v. Schempp (1963)
Public schools cannot sponsor Bible readings and recitations of the Lord's Prayer under the First Amendment's Establishment Clause.
6
Punish counterfeiters of money and securities (stocks)
Federalist & Anti-Federalists
Ratification of the constitution was not a foregone conclusion. The Federalists, who were largely from the economic elite, supported a strong national government and preferred to insulate public officials from public opinion. Anti-Federalists, largely from the middle class, supported a weaker national government and direct forms of democracy, and they wanted stronger protection of individual liberties than the original Constitution offered. As a result, the Federalists promised to propose what became the Bill of Rights.
The "full faith and credit" clause in Article IV of the Constitution is primarily designed to ensure ___ between the states.
Reciprocity.
Reapportionament
Redistribution of the congressional seats among the states after the census determines changes in population distribution
Impoundment
Refusal of the president to spend money Congress has appropriated
Blanket primary
Registered voters may vote for candidates from either party on the same primary ballot
Ascertain the role that voter registration procedures and requirements have played in structuring voter turnout.
Registration procedures differ greatly from one state to another. 1. States in the upper Great Plains and the Northwest make it easiest to register; there is no registration at all in North Dakota; and four states permit registration on election day. 2. States in the South still face the most difficult forms of registration (and they also record lower voter turnout rates). 3.This changed somewhat when the 1993 Motor Voter Act went into effect in 1996. The act requires states to permit people to register to vote at the same time citizens apply for driver's licenses. It makes voter registration much easier by allowing eligible voters to simply check a box on their driver's license application or renewal form.
Executive Orders
Regulations originating with the executive branch. This is one method presidents can use to control the bureaucracy.
Intergovernmental Relations
Relationships between and among different governments that are on the same or different levels.
U.S. Constitution
Replaced the Articles of Confederation, sets forth the institutional structure of U.S. government
House of Representatives
Representation is based on state population
Contract with America
Republican contract that listed reforms they wanted to enact on the 1st day of their new Congress & 10 bills they wanted to put up for vote
1994 midterms
Republicans took control after 40 years of Democrat control
Mandatory spending
Required govt spending by permanent laws
Environmental impact statement
Required studies &reports of likely environmental impacts, filed w. the Environmental Protection Agency prior to the beginning of a project
Rule of four
Requirement that a case can only be heard by the Supreme Court if four justices vote to hear the case
Mandates
Requirements imposed by the national govt on state &local govts to comply w/ fed. rules ®ulation
Mandate
Requirements put on states and local governments to provide certain services by threat of penalty or a condition of federal aid. Example: Medicaid.
Separation of Powers
Requires three branches of government to be relatively independent of the others so that one cannot control the others
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
Resolved differences btwn northern and southern states; Congress could not tax exports nor ban the slave trade for 20 yrs.
Diversity in policy among states
Result of federalism. --allows different public policies among the states that reflect their ideas (death penalty). --allows like a test run for national policies. Most national policies were once just state policies. Able to see affects and issues before it is able to be consistent throughout the 50 states. --allows states to compensate for federal acts that don't represent views of the people. Examples: raised minimum wage, environmental protection, immigration. --discourages states from providing services they might otherwise provide. Better benefits in a particular state would attract the poor to that state and strain state treasury. Leads to states avoiding beneficial services.
Tax expenditures
Revenue losses that result from special exemptions, exclusions, or deductions allowed by federal tax law.
Judicial Review
Review by a court of law of actions of a government official or entity or of some other legally appointed person or body or the review by an appellate court of the decision of a trial court
Markup
Rewrite of a bill after hearings have been held on it (happens in sub-committee)
Income tax
Share of individual wages and corporate revenues collected by the government. The Sixteenth Amendment explicitly authorized Congress to levy a tax on income.
Cooperative federalism involves...
Shared costs Federal guidelines Shared administration
Critical election
Sharp changes in the existing patterns of party loyalty due to changing social and economic conditions
Sound Bites
Short video clips of approximately 10 seconds. Typically, they are all that is shown from a politician's speech on the nightly television news.
Describe the US Debt Clock.
Shows how much the US owes at that moment
Incrementalism
Small changes in policy over long periods of time; usually in reference to budget-making--that th ebest indicator of this year's budget is last year's budget plus a small increase
True or False
Soft money donations grew rapidly from 2000-2002, just before the McCAIN-FEINGOLD banned them. True pg 289
Evaluate today's primary and caucus system. What are some of the major criticisms of the current system? In you opinion, is the current system the best way to pick a president? If so, why? If not, what alternatives might be better?
Some criticisms are people's inability to vote in the caucuses or primaries and the value put into poll results. I think that the current system is the best way to pick a president. This is because representation is centralized.
astroturf lobbying.
Some interest groups fund locally based activities to give the impression of grassroots support for their cause
Recall
Special election initiated by petition to allow citizens to remove an official from office before his or her term expires
Beats
Specific locations from which news frequently emanates, such as Congress or the White House. Most top reporters work a particular beat, thereby becoming specialists in what goes on in that location.
Schenck v. United States (1919)
Speech may be punished if it creates a clear-and-present-danger test of illegal acts.
Discretionary spending
Spending set by the govt through appropriations bills, including operation expenses &salaries of govt employees (defense, environment, education, space exploration)
Precedents
Standards or guides based on prior decisions that serve as a rule for settling similar disputes
Congressional districting
State legislatures draw congressional districts for Congressional elections
Privileges and Immunities Clause
States are prohibited from unreasonably discriminating against residents of other states
Privileges and immunities
States are prohibited from unreasonably discriminating against residents of other states (article 4)
Full Faith &Credit Clause
States are required to recognize the laws &legal documents of other states-Article 4 for Federalism!
Full Faith and Credit Clause
States are required to recognize the laws and legal documents of other states
Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)
States can regulate abortion but may not impose an "undue burden" on women seeking one.
Extradition
States may return fugitives to a state from which they fled to avoid criminal prosecution at the request of the state's gov
What was the shift from dual to cooperative federalism? and what is the role of fiscal federalism today?
States no longer have exclusive responsibility for government functions within their sphere but instead share these responsibilities with the federal government. Through categorical and block grants, the federal government provides state and local governments with substantial portions of their budgets, and it uses this leverage to influence policy by attaching conditions to receieving the grants. Sometimes Washington mandates state policy without providing the resources to implement the policy.
State Riders party leader
Strom Thurmond (1948)
Iron triangles
Subgovernments are composed of interest group leaders, interested in a particular policy, the government agency in charge of administering that policy, and the members of congressional committees and subcommittees handling that policy; they exercise a great deal of control over specific policy areas.
Iron Triangles
Subgovernments; composed of key interest group leaders interested in policy x, the government agency in charge of policy x, and the members of congressional committees handling policy x
Rogan Kersh
Success of lobbyists depends on ability to deploy information strategically on behalf of clients, according to ______________
(8.1) True/False. Successful political parties in the US remain close to the midpoint of public opinion.
Successful political parties in the US DO (True) remain close to the midpoint of public opinion.
Federalists
Supported a strong central govt &expanded legislative powers
Federalists
Supporters of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption.
Marbury v. Madison
Supreme Court created judicial review
Near v. Minnesota (1931)
Supreme Court decision holding that the First Amendment protects newspapers from prior restraint
McCulloch v. Maryland
Supreme Court decision upholding the supremacy of the national government over the states/implied powers clause also strenthened-national bank established because this supported power to tax
New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)
Supreme Court ruled that freedom of speech takes precedence - with public officials
McCulloch v. Maryland
Supreme Court ruling (1819) confirming the supremacy of national over state government
Gibbons v. Ogden
Supreme Court ruling (1824) establishing national authority over interstate business
Brown v. Board of Education
Supreme Court ruling that stated that school segregation was unconstitutional, because it violated the equal protection clause within the Fourteenth Amendment. This case ended legalized segregation within the United States.
Gitlow v. New York (1925)
Supreme Court says the First Amendment applies to states
Scott v. Sanford
Supreme court ruling that states that slaves that escaped to a free state were not given the rights of a citizen, and that the US Congress did not have any authority to ban slavery in the territories.
Seniortiy system
System in which the chairmanship of a committee is given tot eh member with the longest continuous service
False
T or F: The Articles of Confederation established a strong central government to respond to issues of economic and national crisis
False
T or F: The Constitution went into affect once the delegates in Philadelphia had voted to approve the document
True
T or F: The Equal Rights Amendment is an example of a constitutional amendment that failed to be ratified
True
T or F: The Framers believed that, like the separation of powers and checks and balances, federalism would act as a check on the national government
True
T or F: The delegates at the Philadelphia convention believed that humans were primarily self interested
False
T or F: The original Constitution provided for universal suffrage for males
What powers are given to congress in the US Constitution?
Tax and borrow money, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, broadly protect property rights, and print and coin money.
Incumbency effect
Tendency of those alrady holding office to win reelection due to advgs b/c they already hold the office
Harold Lasswell defined politics as "who gets what, when, and how." Explain what he meant by this definition as you apply it to an issue area of your choice. (My answers use gay rights)
The "who" in LGBTQ* rights includes presidential candidates who supported/supports furthering gay rights, like Obama, Clinton, - now, but that's a recent development - and Sanders. The "who" also includes many democrats, groups like HRC and All Out, and many younger voters. The "what" are issues like gay marriage and transgender rights and protection. The "how" can be bringing gay marriage cases to Supreme Court, having Pride Parades, and bringing attention to problems in the media.
Marbury v. Madison
The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress, (the Judiciary Act of 1789).
Marbury vs. Madison
The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress, in this case the Judiciary Act of 1789.
Barron v. Baltimore
The 1833 Supreme Court decision holding that the Bill of Rights restrained only the national government, not the states and cities.
Gitlow v. New York
The 1926 Supreme Court decision holding that freedoms of press and speech were "fundamental personal rights and liberties protected by the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment from impairment by the states" as well as by the federal government. Compare Barron v. Baltimore.
Mapp v. Ohio
The 1961 Supreme Court decision ruling that the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable search and seizures must be extended to the states as well as to the federal government.
Engel v. Vitale
The 1962 Supreme Court decision holding that state officials violated the First Amendment when they wrote a prayer to be recited by New York's schoolchildren.
Gibbons v. Wainwright
The 1963 Supreme Court decision holding that anyone accused of a felony where imprisonment may be imposed, however poor he or she might be, has a right to a lawyer. See also Sixth Amendment.
Miranda v. Arizona
The 1966 Supreme Court decision that sets guidelines for police question of accused persons to protect them against self-incrimination and to protect their right to counsel.
Lemon v. Kurtzman
The 1971 Supreme Court decision that established that aid to church-related schools must (1) have a secular legislative purpose; (2) have a primary effect that neither advances nor inhibits religion; and (3) not foster excessive government entanglement with religion.
Roe v. Wade
The 1973 Supreme Court decision holding that a state ban on all abortions was unconstitutional. The decision forbade state control over abortions during the first trimester, permitted states to limit abortions to protect the mother's health in the second trimester of pregnancy, and permitted states to protect the mother's health in the third trimester.
Gregg v. Georgia
The 1976 Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty, stating, "It is an extreme sanction, suitable to the most extreme of crimes." The court did not, therefore, believe that the death sentence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
McCleskey v. Kemp
The 1987 Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty against charges that it violated the Fourteenth Amendment because minority defendants were more likely to receive the death penalty than were white defendants.
Zelman v. Simmons-Harris
The 2002 Supreme Court decision that upheld a state providing families with vouchers that could be used to pay for tuition at religious schools.
Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the Constitution.
The American Revolution was built on the foundation of belief in natural rights, consent of the governed, limited government, the responsibility of government to protect private property and the equality of citizens. The Constitution would reflect all of these beliefs.
How did the weakness of the Articles of Confederation lead to its failure?
The Articles of Confederation established a government dominated by the states, without a permanent executive or national judiciary. A weak central government could not raise sufficient funds to support a national defense, regulate commerce to encourage trade, protect property rights, or take action without the unanimous consent of the states.
A
The Bills of Rights was adopted primarily to.. A. Allay fears that the Constitution would restrict freedom B. Ensure that the Constitution had the support of the Federalists C. Protect the states against the potential for abuses by the national government D. Guarantee that Congress had sufficient authority to address national economic crises E. Satisfy Madison's concerns about factions and to check their effects
Constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments:
The Constitution divides power between the national (federal) government and state governments and makes the national government supreme within its sphere. The national government has implied as well as enumerated powers. The Civil War also helped establish the preeminence of the national government, and over the years the Supreme Court has interpreted these powers-broadly, as Washington has taken on more responsibilities to deal with matters such as the economy and civil rights. States have obligations to give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and civil judicial proceedings of other states, return a person charged with a crime in another state to that state, and accord citizens of other states the privileges and immunities enjoyed by their own citizens.
Madisonian system: majority rule & minority interst
The Founders reconciled majority rule with minority interests by constraining both the majority and the minority. The Madisonian system did this primarily by dispersing power among separate branches of government, each with some what different constituency, and giving them shared powers so that each branch had a check on the others.
Describe the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the core ideas they shared:
The Framers of the Constitution were more educated, wealthy, and urban than most Americans. They shared some core ideas, including that people were self-interested, that the distribution of wealth was the principal source of political conflict, that the main object of government was protecting private property, and that power should be set against power to balance government.
House Ways and Means Committee
The House of Representatives committee that, along with the Senate Finance Committee, writes the tax codes, subject to the approval of Congress as a whole.
The fact that both John McCain and Barack Obama expressed strong support for hunters and fishermen in interviews with Field & Stream magazine during the 2008 campaign reflects the power of which interest group in American presidential elections?
The NRA National Rifle Association
Senate Finance Committee
The Senate committee that, along with the House Ways and Means Committee, writes the tax codes, subject to the approval of Congress as a whole.
Plessy v. Ferguson
The Supreme Court case that upheld separate-but-equal segregation in 1896
Reed v. Reed-
The Supreme Court case where the Supreme Court upheld that gender discrimination was unconstitutional.
Near v. Minnesota
The Supreme Court decision holding that the First Amendment protects newspapers from prior restraint.
NAACP v. Alabama
The Supreme Court protected the right to assemble peaceably in this 1958 case when it decided the NAACP did not have to reveal its membership list and that subject its members to harassment.
McCleskey v. Kemp (1987)
The Supreme Court rejects a challenge of Georgia's death penalty on grounds of racial discrimination
A
The U.S. Constitution in its original form, prior to amendment... A. Dealt more thoroughly with economic issues than with issues of equality B. Dealt more thoroughly with issues of equality than with economic issues C. Emphasized both economic and equality issues to a large degree D. Mentioned both economic and equality issues only in passing E. Dealt with neither economic nor equality issues
Administrative Discretion
The authority of administrative actors to select among various responses to a given problem. Discretion is greatest when routines, or standard operating procedures, do not fit a case.
Jurisdiciton
The authority of the courts to hear &decide issues in certain cases
Concurrent jurisdiction
The authority to hear cases is shared by federal &state courts
Dual Federalism
The belief that having separate and equally powerful levels of government is the best arrangement.
Civic duty
The belief that in order to support democratic government, a citizen should vote.
Political Efficacy
The belief that one's political participation really matters-that one's vote can actually make a difference.
Connecticut Compromise
The compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention that established two houses of Congress: the House of Representatives, in which representation is based on a state's share of the U.S. population, and the Senate, in which each state has two representatives.
Does the Constitution establish a majoritarian democracy and how does it limit the scope of government?
The constitution did not create a majoritarian democracy. Majorities do not always rule in America. Nevertheless, there has been a gradual democratization of the Constitution as the right to vote has expanded, direct election of senators has been instituted, electors have become agents of political parties, and technology has facilitated direct, two-way communication between office holders and the public. By protecting individual rights, and thus limiting the ability of officials to restrict them, the Constitution limits the scope of government. By dispersing power among institutions, it increases the access of interests to government but also allows these interests to check each other and produce a stalemate.
Fourteenth Amendment
The constitutional amendment adopted after the Civil War that states, "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges and immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any citizen of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny any person within its jurisdiction equal protection of the laws," see also due process clause.
First Amendment
The constitutional amendment that establishes the four great liberties: freedom of the press, of speech, of religion, and of assembly.
Eighth Amendment
The constitutional amendment that forbids cruel and unusual punishment, although it does not define this phrase. Through the Fourteenth Amendment, this Bill of Rights provisions applies to the states.
Policy formulation
The crafting of a policy to resolve public problems
Political Party
The definition given by Anthony Downs for the "team of men (and women) seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election." They try and win elections as a team. Sometimes referred to as "three-headed giants" (electorate, organization, government). No fee is required to join nor is membership legally binding.
Party realignment
The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period, which is rare and considered a political revolution. Typically associated with a major crisis or trauma in America's history like when the Republican Party emerged during the Civil War or during the Great Depression of the 1930's when the majority Republicans were replaced by the Democrats.
public opinion
The distritbution of the population's beliefs about politics and policy issues.
Public opinion
The distrubution of the population's beliefs about politics and policy issues
Declaration of Independence
The document approved by representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence.
Constitution
The document setting forth the laws &principles of the govt; a plan of govt
U.S. Constitution
The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of U.S. government and the tasks these institutions perform. It replaced the Articles of Confederation.
Intergovernmental relations
The entire set of interactions among national, state, and local governments (including regulations, transfers of funds, and the sharing of information).
Watergate
The events and scandal surrounding a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972 and the subsequent cover-up of White House involvement, leading to the eventual resignation of President Nixon under the threat of impeachment.
Logrolling
The exchange of pol. favors for support of a bill
Public policy
The exercise of government power in doing those htings necessary to maintain legitmate authority and ocntrol over society
elastic clause
The final paragraph of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which authorizes Congress to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out the enumerated powers.
Revenues
The financial resources of the government. The individual income tax and Social Security tax are two major sources of the federal government's revenue.
Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution-guarantees liberties to the people-written in 1789-ratified in 1791
Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which defines such basic liberties as freedom of religion, speech, and press and guarantee defendants' rights.
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of the United States, adopted by Congress in 1777 and enacted in 1781. It established a national legislature, the Continental Congress, but most authority rested with the state legislatures.
Independent Executive Agencies
The government agencies not accounted for by cabinet departments, independent regulatory commissions, and government corporations. Administrators are typically appointed by the president and serve at the president's pleasure. NASA is an example.
Merit Principle
The idea that hiring should be based on entrance exams and promotion ratings to produce administration by people with talent and skill.
Mandate theory of elections
The idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his or her platforms and politics. Politicians like the theory better than political scientist do.
(8.3) The internal organization of political parties in the United States is best characterized as: a) Hierarchical b) Fragmented c) centralized d) rigidly determined e) usually marked by strong leadership
The internal organization of political parties in the United States is best characterized as b) fragmented.
Policy Agenda
The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actively involved in politics at the time.
Battleground states
The key states that the presidential campaigns focus on because they are most likely to decide the outcome of the Electoral College vote.
random sampling
The key technique employed by sophisticated survey researchers, which operates on the principle that everyone should have an equal probability of being selected for the sample.
Random sampling
The key technique employed by survey researchers, which operates on the principle that everyone should have an equal probability of being selected for the sample
incorporation doctrine
The legal concept under which the Supreme Court has nationalized the Bill of Rights by making most of its provisions applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.
civil liberties
The legal constitutional protections against government. Although our civil liberties are formally set down in the Bill of Rights, the courts, police, and legislatures define their meaning.
Extradition
The legal process by which a fugitive from justice in one state is returned to that state
Suffrage
The legal right to vote
Suffrage
The legal right to vote in the United States, gradually extended to virtually all citizens over the age of 18.
Sampling error
The level of confidence in the findings of a public opinion poll. The more people interviewed, the more confident one can be of the results
sampling error
The level of confidence in the findings of a public opinion poll. The more people interviewed, the more confident one can be of the results.
Deregulation
The lifting of government restrictions on business, industry, and professional activities.
Majority opinion
The majority of justices agree on the decision &the reasons for th edecision
Campaign Strategy
The master game plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign.
melting pot
The mixing of cultures, ideas, and peoples that has changed the American nation. The United States, with its history of immigration, has often been called a melting pot.
committee chairs
The most important influencers of the congressional agenda. They play dominant roles in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house.
Blue Dog (conservative) Democrats
The name for fiscally conservative Democrats (they don't want the government to spend too much on public programs for the poor, disadvantaged, etc.) who are mostly from the South and/or rural parts of the United States. They often say they have been squeezed so often by the liberals in the Democratic leadership that they have turned blue. Even though they are Democrats, they did not support Obama's health care proposal.
New Deal Coalition
The name of a coalition forged by the Democrats when Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected, that dominated American politics from the 1930s to the 1960s. It included the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals. Many of these groups continue to be part of the Democratic Party today.
Encyclopedia of Associations
The number of interest groups in U S has been increasing rapidly over the past have century . In 1959, there were about 6,000 groups; by 2009, the Encyclopedia of Associations
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
The office in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal government, using elaborate rules in the process.
Nomination
The official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party. Generally, success in the nomination game requires momentum, money, and media attention.
Fiscal Federalism
The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system
Fiscal federalism
The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system. Distribution of federal funds to state and local governments.
fiscal federalism
The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; it is the cornerstone of the national government's relations with state and local governments.
Actual group
The people in a potential group who actually join
Actual group
The people in the potential group who actually join.
Consent of the Governed
The people must agree on who their rulers will be
Invisible primary
The period before any votes are cast when candidates compete to win early support from the elite of the party and too create a positive first impression of their leadership skills.
Incumbent
The person currently holding office
Selective perception
The phenomenon that people's beliefs often guide what they pay the most attention to and how they interpret events.
Fiscal policy
The policies of taxation &spending that comprise the nation's economic policy
(8.1) What is a political party's core function? a. to field candidates for elected office b) to provide a voting cue to the electorate c) to try to win elections d) to organize a national office e) to guide policy makers' decisions
The political party's core function is to c) to try and win elections
Judicial Review
The power of the courts to determine whether acts of Congress and the executive branch are constitutional
Tenth Amendment
The powers not delegated to the U.S. By the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
Senatorial courtesy
The practice of allowing senators form teh president's party who represent the state where a judicial district is located, to apporve or diapprove potential nominees for the lower federal courts ONLY
Line item veto
The president can reject a par tof a bill while approving the rest; declared unconstitutional
Executive order
The president directs an agency to carry out policies/existing laws (informal power)
E
The primary result of Shay's Rebellion was to... A. Spread similar, unruly behavior to ever larger and more effective groups B. Force states to pass "force acts" and print money C. Calm the elite's fears about the economic climate D. Serve as a factor motivating the American Revolution E. Precipitate a review of the Articles of Confederation in Annapolis
minority leader
The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate.
majority leader
The principal partisan ally of the Speaker of the House or the party's manager in the Senate. The majority leader is responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes in behalf of the party's legislative positions.
Reapportionment
The process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census
reapportionment
The process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census.
Political socialization
The process through which individuals in a society acquire political attitudes, views, and knowledge, based on inputs from family, schools, the media, and others
Selective Exposure
The process through which people consciously choose to get the news from information sources that have viewpoints compatible with their own.
New Jersey Plan
The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.
Virginia Plan
The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for representation of each state in Congress in proportion to that state's share of the U.S. population.
Privileges and immunities
The provision of the Constitution according citizens of each state the privileges of citizens of other states.
libel
The publication of false or malicious statements that damage someone's reputation.
Frontloading
The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention.
Gender gap
The regular pattern in which women are more likely to support Democratic candidates, in part because they tend to be less conservative than men and more likely to support spending on social services and to oppose higher levels of military spending
Brief orders
The returning of a case to a lower court b/c a smiliar case was recently decided
Exclusionary Rule
The rule that evidence, no matter how incriminating, cannot be introduced into a trial if it was not constitutionally obtained. The rule prohibits use of evidence obtained likewise though
probable cause
The situation occurring when the police have reason to believe that a person should be arrested. In making the arrest, people are allowed legally to search for and seize incriminating evidence.
Minority majority
The situation, likely beginning in the mid-twenty-first century, in which the non-Hispanic whites will represent a minority of the US population and minority groups together will represent a majority
Policy Implementation
The stage of policymaking between the establishment of a policy and the consequences of the policy for the people affected. Implementation involves translating the goals and objectives of a policy into an operating, ongoing program.
National Party Convention
The supreme power within each of the parties. The convention meets every four years to nominate the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates and to write the party's platform.
A
The system of governance set up in the U.S. constitutional republic tends to.. A. Favor the status quo and limit political change B. Be relatively efficient in producing political results C. Encourage direct democracy D. Centralize Power E. All of the above
Cooperative Federalism
The theory that the states and the national government should cooperate in solving problems.
Command-and-Control Policy
The typical system of regulation whereby government tells business how to reach certain goals, checks that these commands are followed, and punishes offenders.
Regulation
The use of governmental authority to control or change some practice in the private sector.
Investigative Journalism
The use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams, and schemes, at times putting reporters in adversarial relationships with political leaders.
intergovernmental relations
The workings of the federal system- the entire set of interactions among national, state, and local governments.
Why was the revolution considered "conservative"?
Their lives were not drastically altered, and they wanted to restore their rights that the colonists already felt like was theirs.
Pluralism
Theory of government and politics emphasizing that many groups compete and counterbalance each other in the political marketplace
Hyperpluralism
Theory of government and politics that says groups are too strong and if the government attempts to please them all the govt. will be weakened
Elitism
Theory of government and poo olitics that says an upperclass elite will hold the most power and thus run the government
(8.1) Explain three of the five ways in which political parties act as linkage institutions.
There are five things that linkage institutions perform: pick candidates with an official endorsement or nomination, run campaigns, give cues to voters, articulate policies, coordinate policymaking.
How American party system affects the scope of gov't
There is a lack of cohesion, so the scope is not as broad as other democracies (Europe)
Swing voters
These are people that do not identify with either party can split their votes between different parties. They are most often young and vote as Independents.
Swing states
These are states that typically do not vote for one party or the other. Their vote can be different election to election.
Presidential coattails
These occur when voters cast their ballots for congressional candidates of the president's party because they support the president.
Who are policy entrepreneurs and how do they seek to affect the policy agenda through the media?
They are people who invest their political capital in an issue. They can use social media for example, to self promote themselves and help to raise attention on an issue.
Single member district plurality (SMDP)
They cast a vote for one candidate. The candidate with the most votes wins. Used in the United States. Leads to a 2 party system -- weaker parties want to merge with mainstream ones bc ppl don't want to vote for losers
Party de-alignment
This happens when people from both parties disengage or move to Independents, as seen by shrinking party identification. It is different from realignment where people change from one party to another.
8.1 Main Idea: Identify the functions that political parties perform in American democracy
This is Main Idea 8.1 that states that political parties are a key LINKAGE between policymakers and the people, operating at THREE LEVELS 1) in the electorate 2) as organizations and 3) in government. They PERFORM MANY FUNCTIONS in our democracy including picking candidates, running campaigns, giving cues to voters, articulating policy, and coordinating policymaking between the branches of government.
8.2 Main Idea: Determine the significance of party identification in America today.
This is Main Idea 8.2 that states that PARTY IDENTIFICATION (one's self-proclaimed general preference for one party or the other) is the most important factor in explaining the political behavior of American voters. Political INDEPENDENTS, however, can be SWING VOTERS and can split their voting. They are most often young adults.
8.3 Main Idea: Describe how political parties are organized in the United States
This is Main Idea 8.3 that states that American political party organizations are DECENTRALIZED and FRAGMENTED, with the NATIONAL PARTY ORGANIZATION having little power over state and local party organizations. The supreme power of each party is the NATIONAL CONVENTION which is held every 4 years and elects the candidates for president and vice president and sets party policy.
8.4 Main Idea: Evaluate how well political parties generally do in carrying out their promises.
This is Main Idea 8.4 that states POLITICAL PARTIES affect policy through their PLATFORMS which serve as roadmaps for elected officials one they come into office. More promises are kept than broken.
8.5 Main Idea: Differentiate the various party eras in American history.
This is Main Idea 8.5 that explains the PARTY ERAS of American history. The Republican Party came to be in 1860 as a bi-product of the Civil War and was dominant until 1928 (they were anti-slavery). The Great Depression and the New Deal reversed the majority to Democrats who were prominent from 1932 until 1964. Since 1968 neither party has been able to be in power for long, and has lead to a DIVIDED GOVERNMENT, with one party controlling the presidency and the other in control of Congress.
8.6 Main Idea: Assess both the impact of third parties on American politics and their limitations
This is Main Idea 8.6 that explains that THIRD PARTIES have brought in new groups into American elections, bringing with them protest messages; however the WINNER-TAKE-ALL electoral system makes it hard for third parties to win elections. European countries use PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION which guarantees that any party has a least a percentage of the legislative seats.
8.7 Main Idea: Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of responsible party government.
This is Main Idea 8.7 that explains the theory that in a RESPONSIBLE PARTY GOVERNMENT candidates follow clear policy guidelines to produce predictable outcomes. However, that theory is impractical, because politicians have their own individual agendas that inspire democracy, making a true responsible government impossible.
Linkage Institution
This is what translates inputs from the public into outputs from the policymakers. They sift through all the issues identifying those most important and put them on government agendas. They are necessary to ensure individual voices are heard. In the US there are 4 main linkage institutions: parties, elections, interest groups, media. They perform 5 things: pick candidates, run campaigns, give cues to voters, articulate policies, and coordinate policymaking.
National Convention
This meets every four years with its main task to write the party's platform and then nominate its candidates for president and vice president. It is the supreme power within each of the parties.
National Committee
This organization is responsible for keeping the party operating between conventions and is composed of representatives from the states and territories. The chairperson of this group is picked by the presidential nominee for each party.
incumbents
Those already holding office. In congressional elections, incumbents usually win.
Opinion leaders
Those individuals held in great respect becasue of their position, expertise, or peronsality, who may informally and unintentionally influence others
Why do the fifty states each have lobbyists in Washington?
To attempt to influence federal policy directly.
Primary result of shay's rebellion was _____
To precipitate a review of the articles of confederation in Annapolis
Legislative veto
To reject the actions of the president/executive agency by a vote of one/both house of Congress w/o the consent of th epresident; ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Immigration &Naturalization Service v. Chadha
Maintaining elections
Traditional majorty power maintains power based on voters' party loyalty
Devolution
Transferring responsibility for policies from the federal government to state and local governments.
Linkage institutions
Translate inputs from the public into outputs from the policymakers; ensure public preferences are heard
Donations to Super PACs can be in unlimited amounts as long as they are disclosed to the FEC.
True
Single-issue groups often succeed by using an emotional issue to their advantage
True
The ERA is an example of a constitutional amendment that failed to be ratified
True
The Internet appears to be increasing public interest in political news.
True
Identify the conditions that must be present for true policy voting to occur.
True policy voting can take place only when several conditions are met: 1. Voters must have a clear view of their own policy positions. 2. Voters must know where the candidates stand on policy issues. 3. Voters must see a difference between candidates on these issues. 4. Voters must actually cast a vote for the candidate whose policy positions coincide with their own.
(8.4) True/False. By and large, American political parties have kept most of their platform promises and translated them into public policy.
True. American political parties have kept most of their platform promises and translated them into public policy.
Political machine
Type of party organization that depends on rewarding its members in some material fashion
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
U.S. Supreme Court decision gauranteeing legal counsel for indigent felony defendents.
united auto workers union
UAW negotiated industry-leading wages and benefits for its members: employer health care insurance, allowances, product improvements, educational programs
Compare voter turnout in the United States with that of other democracies.
US turnout is comparatively low to other modern industrialized democracies. Reasons: 1. Stricter voter registration 2. More elections and offices to elect 3. Candidates are more centrist; no serious far left-wing socialists/communists
Party elites
Up until the late 1960's the vast majority of delegates at the national party convention were the political elite - or elected officials and heads of the local party organizations.
Sampling
Using a represenative cross-seciton of the general population chosen at random in the polling process
Symbolic speech
Using actions and symbols rather than words to convey an idea
Crossover sanctions
Using federal dollars in one program to influence state and local policy in another. Example: highway funding for support of 21 drinking age.
Speech plus
Verbal and symbolic speech used together
Pure speech
Verbal communication of ideas and opinions
Pocket veto
Veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.
Political party
Voluntary association of people who seek to control the government through common principles, based on peaceful and legal actions such as the winning of elections
Blanket primaries
Voters are presented with a list of candidates from all parties and can pick some Democrats & some Republicans
Open primaries
Voters can decide on Election Day whether or not they want to participate in Democratic/Republican contests
General election
Voters choose officeholder form among all the candidates nominated by pol. parties/running as independents
Presidential preference primaries
Voters select delegates to the presidential nominating convention
Party image
Voters' perception of what Republicans/Democrats stand for
Straight-ticket voting
Voting for candidates all of the same party on the same ballot-creates the coattail effect
Split-ticket voting
Voting for candidates form more than one party in the same election
Ticket splitting
Voting with one party for an office & with another for other offices
Ticket Splitting
Voting with one party for one office and then the other party for another office is called xxxxxx. It has become very commonplace in America voting behavior recently. It can result in a state never being truly one party.
Party Competition
What is the battle between Democrats and Republicans for the control of public offices called? Since the early 1880's, It is one of the most important elements in American politics because it allows for choice.
Wealth bias
What is the major failure of the American interest group system?
Lobbying
What term comes from the location where petitioners used to petition legislators?
Runoff primary
When no candidate receives a majority of votes, an election held betweent eh two candidates who received the most votes in the primary
Gridlock
When opposing parites &interests often block each other's proposals, creating a pol. stalemate/inaction btwn the esecutive &legislative branches of govt
What is political apathy? Who does is typically affect and why?
When someone doesn't care about politics. Ususlly 18-26 y/os becuse older people have more to loose like soc. security and health insurance
E
Which of the following economic powers are given to Congress in the US Constitution? A. The power to tax and borrow money B. The power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce C. The power to broadly protect property rights D. The power to print and coin money E. All of the above
D
Which of the following means of amending the Constitution has never been used to date? A. Proposal by two-thirds support in both houses of Congress B. Ratification by three-fourths of state legislation C. Ratification by three-fourths of state conventions D. Proposal through a national convention called by Congress E. Each of the above has been used at least once
B
Which statement is correct? A. Members of the eighteen-century upper class generally supported democracy B. The Constitution has gradually been democratized over time C. A republic is a form of democracy in which voters directly control the government D. As the country has grown, elected officials are less close to those they represent E. The Constitution encourages efficiency in policymaking
Parties of 1828-1856
Whigs* & Democrats
Until the 20th century, parties chose candidates...
With little/no input from voters
Explain the phrase, "information is the fuel of democracy" and evaluate its accuracy in the context of today's high-tech media society. If the media fall short in "fueling" democracy, is this a problem and what do you think can be done? Are the media justified in giving people what they want?
Without information, the people of America will be unable to get any knowledge on current issues. They need to be fueled on the information to get a say on how they feel. It is a problem if they can't fuel us because no real progress can be made in the country if the people can't construct an opinion on how the country should be. They are justified as they have all the abilities to be able to give us what we want.
Comparable worth
Women should be paid salaries equal to men for equivalent job responsibilities &skills
Federalist Papers
Written by Hamilton, Jay, & Madison to support ratification of the U.S. Constituiton
indictment
Written statement of criminal charges brought against a defendant
Smaller groups
________________ have organizational advantage
responsible party model
a view favored by some political scientists about how parties should work. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters, who can then use those choices as cues to their own preferences of candidates. Once in office, parties would carry out their campaign promises
How was the AoC a failure and a positive influence?
a)It was a failure because states would produce their own money making it worthless. Also, congress had no power to stop it, leading to economic failure. b) It was a positive influence because it showed what not to do and how to keep a balanced gov.
According to the text, the main benefit of campaign finance laws has been to
a. provide full disclosure of who gives money to campaigns and how it is spent.
Why is a campaign manager important to a well-organized campaign?
a. to help ensure the candidate's compliance with campaign finance laws
public interest lobbies
according to Jeffrey Berry, organizations that seek "a collective good, the achievement of which will not selectively and materially benefit the membership or activities of the organization"
public interest lobbies
according to Jeffrey Berry, organizations that seek a collective good, the achievement of which will not selectively benefit members of the group
lobbying
according to Lester Milbrath, a "communication, by someone other than a citizen acting on his own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his decision"
winner-take-all system
an electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the the candidates who come first in their constituencies. (President who wins popular vote in state takes all the electoral votes)
proportional representation
an electoral system used throughout most of Europe that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election
PAC (Political Action Committee)
an independent organization established by interest groups, political candidates, and people who hold office. PACs serve to raise and contribute money to the political campaigns of individuals whose platforms agree with the aims of the PAC.
(8.7) Which of the following is NOT true about the responsible party model of government? a) both parties present comprehensive and distinct policy programs b) both parties' candidates are committed to carrying out the party's program c) the majority party must accept responsibility for government's performance d) both parties operate much as the major parties do today e) the minority party must state what it would do if it were in power
d) both parties operate much as the major parties do today
handgun control inc
dedicated to enacting and enforcing sensible gun laws, regulations, and public policies through grassroots activism, electing public officials who support gun laws, and increasing public awareness of gun violence
the vast majority of interest groups in the United States are formed around
economic interests
third parties
electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections
traditional democracy theory
equality in voting, effective participation, enlightened understanding, citizen controlled agenda, and inclusion.
Civil Service
hiring government employees on the basis of merit. Also refers to government employees outside the military.
party eras
historical period in which a majority of voters cling to the part in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections
interest group explosion
in number and diversity of interest groups, technology helped
national farm bureau federation
independent, non governmental, voluntary governed by and representing farm and ranch families united for the purpose of analyzing problems, voice of agricultural producers at all levels
Policymaking Institutions
institutions such as Congress, the presidency, and the courts established by the Constitution to make policy
NRA
nation rifle association - group of gun owners, defenders of 2nd amendment, committed to firearms education
family research council
non profit organization, promotes faith (religious) based work as it applies to freedom and family
patronage
one of the key inducements used by party machines. A patronage job, promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone
political action committees (PACs)
political funding vehicles created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms, a corporation, union, or some other interest group can create a PAC and register it with the Federal Election Commission which will meticulously monitor the PAC's expenditures
Heritage Foundation
provides research on issues, formulate and promote conservative public policies based on free enterprise, limited gov, freedom, american values, and strong national defense
union shop
provisions found in some collective bargaining agreements requiring all employees of a business to join the union within a short period and remain a member as a term of employment
Grand Jury (5th amendment)
ranges in size from 6 to 23, depending on the state, and functions to determine whether there is enough evidence available against a person accused of a crime to justify a trial.
2 types of lobbyists
regular paid employees of a corporation, union, or association or people available for hire on a temporary basis
Zurcher v. Stanford Daily (1978)
reporters have to give notes to police if asked
AFL-ClO
represents 12.1 million members including teachers, miners, firefighters, farm workers, bakers, engineers, pilots, public employees, doctors, nurses, painters, plumber, etc
beats
specific locations from which news frequently emanates, such as Congress or the White House. Most reporters work at a particular beat, thereby becoming specialists on what goes on at that location
policy agenda
the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actively involved in politics at the time
linkage institutions
the political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda.
Democracy, Public Opinion, and Political Action
~ Democracy is representative not direct (elect leaders -- say in choosing leaders) ~ Citizens take advantage on being able tot vote against candidates ~ Protest is directed at making gov listen to specific demands (not overthrowing) ~ Americans generally know little about politics ~ Choose performance criteria over policy criteria ~ Hold politicians accountable for their actions
How Polls Are Conducted
~ George Gallup developed public opinion polling (mother-in-law fro ace of state) ~ Sample - blood tests, 1,000-1,500 people represent the "universe" of potential voters ~ Key to accuracy is Random Sampling - chances are as good as anyone else (race, gender, age) ~ Polling = estimation - sample = certain degree of confidence ~ Sampling Error - 1,500 - 2,000 respondents = +/- 3% ~ Infamous 1936 Literary Digest survey - underestimated TR's vote by 19% - predicted a landslide victory for Alf Landon ~ 2,376,000 people but badly flawed - found names form the biggest lists they could find: telephone books and motor vehicle records (Great Depression = wealthy people had these items and were more likely to vote Republican) ~ Accurate representation, not # of respondents ~ computers and technology = cheaper and easier polls ~ Before = door-to-door; Now = telephone ~ Random - Digit Dialing ~ Disadvantages to RDD - 2% of population does not have a telephone and people are less willing to participate over the phone (hang up) ~ 1/4 households only use cell phones (federal law prohibits the use of automated dialing programs to cell phones, so pollsters have to manually and expensively (5-15x more expensive than interviewing landlines) dial cell phone numbers) ~ costs have increased been though poll firms have adapted ~ Internet - Knowledge Networks - contact people on phone to complete web-based polls/surveys via emails ~ paid a small sum to participate ~ quickly and economically - reduces burden - Web = more interesting ~ Polling = big business
What Polls Reveal About American's Political Information
~ Jefferson = people have good sense and education would create serious citizenship ~ Hamilton = lacked confidence in people's capacity for self-government ~ Level of public knowledge about politics is low!! - not well informed (young people!!) ~ unaware of detailed policy platforms and candidates' stances ~ <1/2 of public can name their House Representative ~ lack of geographically knowledge (lack basic awareness of the world) ~ 74% can name 3 stooges but only 42% can name the 3 branches of US gov ~ Schools fail to reach cultural literacy (lack basic contextual knowledge necessary to understand and use info from news or listening to political candidates) ~ Americans to not remember much about what they are exposed to (news) through media - fails to provide meaningful info ~ Paradox of mass politics - US political system works well even with the lack of public knowledge about politics (vote for one issue; rely on simple info regarding which groups are known for or against a proposal; siding with group they trust the most) ~ Vote for or against incumbent officeholders based on satisfaction of the job the gov is doing
6.5 How Americans Participate in Politics
~ Many ways to politically participate (voting, demonstrations, lawsuits, writing letters) ~ Political Participation (Overt, subtel, violent, peaceful, organized, individual, casual, consuming) ~ US culture values political participation - pride (80%) ~ only 59% voted in 2012 election... 40% in midterm 2010... Local level is even worse 10% ~ Conventional Participation ~ Protest as Participation ~ Class, Inequality and Participation
The American Melting Pot
~ Melting Pot and Minority Majority ~ 2010 whites = 63%; Hispanics = 16%; African Americans = 13%; Asian = 6%; Native = 2% ~ Minority populations are growing at faster rates ~ Mid 21st Century = Whites = 48% ~ Immigration into US will continue to be mostly Hispanics and Asian Americans & Birth rates are higher among minorities ~ Most of US history = African Americans were the largest minority group ~ Reluctant immigrants - slaves ~ Legacy of racism = African Americans are economically disadvantaged ~ 2011 - 26% lived under poverty line (Whites = 6%) ~ still economically disadvantaged but they exercise more political power and the # of elected black officials has increased by 600% since 1970 ~ 2000 census - Hispanics outnumbered African Americans for the first time (cities, gaining political power) ~ issue = illegal immigration (to escape poverty) ~ 2010 - 10.8 million illegal immigrants living in the US (75% from Mexico and Central America) ~ 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli Act - law requires that employers document the citizenship of their employees (Us citizens and legal immigrants are allowed to work) or they will be subjected to civil and criminal penalties (if they knowingly employ illegal immigrants - hard to prove) ~ Asian motives = professional workers looking for greater opportunity (most highly skilled immigrant group and super achievers of emerging minority groups) ~ 53% over 25 have college degrees and median income has surpassed whites ~ political successes ~ Americans live in a multilingual and multicultural society ~ Political Culture ~ integration fo immigrants into American identity = growing diversity ~ Concerns: racial animosity is enduring - conflict and hostility; inhabitants of diverse communities tend to withdraw from collective life and distrust neighbors (e pluribus unum) ~ Major democratic changes: minority majority, moving and aging
Who Are the Liberals and Conservatives?
~ More labelled conservative than liberal ~ 41% conservatives, 36% moderates, 21% liberals ~ Conservative thinking =restrained scope of gov ~ 30- slightly more liberal (younger = less likely to be conservative) ALSO they are less likely to vote = liberals are underrepresented at polls ~ Groups with political clout tend to be conservative ~ Excluded groups look to gov to fix inequalities they've faced ~ Ex. Civil Rights Bill in 1960s (Today, African Americans leaders have high priorities for social welfare and affirmative action programs (more liberal than national average) ~ Hispanics tend to be more liberal too ~ Women are not minorities (54%) bu they have been politically and economically disadvantaged ~ Gender Gap ~ More traditional course of division = financial status/social class (relationship between family income and ideology now = weak!; less predictive) ~ Role of religion influencing political ideology has changed (Catholics and Jews who struggled for equality tend to be more liberal than Protestants) ~ Jews remain the most liberal demographic group (ideological gap between Protestants and Catholics is now smaller than gender gap) ~ Ideology is now determine more by religiosity - degree to which religion is important in one's life than by religious denomination ~ New Christian Right - born-again Catholics and Protestants who believe in morality and traditional family values; the most conservative group ~ People with no religious affiliation (15%) are more liberal ~ Political Ideology doesn't guide political behavior ~ NOT EVERYONE THINKS IN IDEOLOGICAL TERMS
The Regional Shift
~ Most of US history = most populated states = N of Mason-Dixon Line and E of Mississippi River ~ Much of US growth now is centered in W and S ~ People have moved to Sun Belt (pop growth: 29% AZ, 19% TX, 16% FL, 3% NE) ~ Demographic changes influence political changes (states lose/gain congressional representation as their population changes - power shifts) ~ Reapportionment ~ 435 seats - reflect each state's proportion of the population (TX ^, NY \)
Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Action
~ Obama's healthcare reform problems - guarantee health insurance coverage for almost all Americans ~ Public Opinion - creation of a gov-administered health insurance program that would be available to individuals and small companies at competitive market rates ~ faced problems: getting the public to understand the essences of public opinion (lost details) ~ Public Opinion polling has grown: media; journalists & public policy and debate elements ~ Democracy = people guide public policy, but people know little about policy issues ~ US = diverse with no right or wrong opinion - tolerates diversity and individualism ~ Public Opinion - complex, involves interviews and careful wording of questions ~ For US gov to work efficiently and effectively, the diversity of the US public and its opinions must be faithfully channeled thought the political process 6.1 The American People 6.2 How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization 6.3 Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information 6.4 What Americans Value: Political Ideologies 6.5 How Americans Participate in Politics 6.6 Understanding Public Opinion and Political Action
6.4 What Americans Value: Political Ideologies
~ Political Ideology 1) Liberal - supports wide scope for central gov, policies that promote equality 2) Conservative - supports a less active scope of gov, freer rein to the private sector ~ Who Are the Liberals and Conservatives? ~ Do People Think in Ideological Terms?
6.2 How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization
~ Political Socialization ~ People become more socialized and political presentations grow firmer as they age ~ Govs aim socialization efforts at the youth ~ The Process of Political Socialization ~ Political Learning over a Lifetime
Political Learning over a Lifetime
~ Politics is a lifelong activity ~ Aging increases political participation and strength of party attachments (young adults lack experience with politics; political behavior is learned behavior) ~ Politics is a learned behavior (learn to vote, pick a political policy, evaluate political events in the surrounding world) ~ One of the products of learning is public opinion
The Rolls of Polls in American Democracy
~ Polls help candidates detect public differences and a tool for democracy ~ provides a way for public desires to be heard at times other than elections (people without voices get voices and power) ~ Critics: ~ Makes politicians concerned with following then leading ~ Discourages bold leadership (Buying Alaska, Louisiana Purchase, Declaration of Independence) ~ Political leaders track public opinion to craft public presentations and win support for policies and supporters (key words and phrases to promote policy) ~ Avoid compromise by strengthening message and persuade people ~ Polls weaken democracy - distort election by bandwagon effect - support candidates because others are; polls play to media's interest in who's ahead ~ Exit Poll (Election Day - 1/10 asked to project outcomes of close races before the votes are even counted and sometimes before the West Coast has even voted ~ Discourages people from voting & affects the outcome of races ~ Altering wording of questions manipulate results ~ Polls results are not solid fact ~ Informed consumers of polls = questions fair and unbiased? ~ good or harm of polls depends on how well data is collected and how thoughtfully the data is interpreted
6.3 Measuring Public Opinion and Political Information
~ Polls provide skeptical answers (accuracy?) ~ How Polls Are Conducted ~ The Rolls of Polls in American Democracy ~ What Polls Reveal About Americans' Political Information ~ The Decline of Trust in Government
Protest as Participation
~ Protest - Boston Tea Party and burning draft cards (Media's coverage makes protests worthwhile - draws attention to point - 89 year old walker- campaign finance reform & Occupy Wall Street - economic inequality) ~ Civil Disobedience ~ 1840s - Henry David Thoreau refused to pay taxes as protest against the Mexican War and went to jail for a day - Emerson paid taxes ~ MLK - civil rights movement in 50s and 60s to bring an end to segregationist laws (Letter from a Birmingham Jail) Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 ~ Sometimes it can become violent -- nation born in rebellion ~ 1960s outbreaks of violence - college campuses -protestors of Vietnam War vs National Guard at Kent State and Jackson State - students were killed ~ Violence was resorted to as a means of pressuring gov to change policies ~ Not many Americans have protested (Americans are more likely to employ conventional political participation than to engage in protests)
Class, Inequality and Participation
~ Rates of political participation among Americans is unequal (high economic statuses participate more in politics as well as high incomes, high education levels and occupations - participate in other ways $$ = America ruled by small wealthy elite) ~ race affects participation to a point (voter turnouts are similar in LA even though gov was slow to help African Americans after Katrina - lower 9th Ward has normal turnout rates too!) ~Small participation gap in minorities is due to minorities having a group consciousness that gives them the incentive to vote (Same education = African Americans tend to vote (11%) more than Whites) ~ Inequalities of political participation - concerning (participators are easy to listen to and nonparticipators are easy to ignore) ~ Many politicians don't concern themselves much with the views of groups with low participation rates (young people and poor) ~ Who gets what in politics depends on who participates
Public Attitudes Toward the Scope Government
~ Republicans = scope fo gov is too wide ~ gov = problem - "get off backs of American people" ~ limited gov (52% gov does too much; 40% gov should do more; 8% don't know, don't care AKA me right now) ~ 50% people said gov should do more, after 9/11 ~ Public opinion on the scope of gov is complex and inconsistent (plurality has called for more spending on programs) ~ Americans are ideological conservatives but operational liberals (oppose the idea of big gov, but favor it in practice) ~ Contradictory public opinon = policy gridlock - both liberal and conservative politicians can make a plausible case that the public is on their side
Do People Think in Ideological Terms?
~ The American Voter study - 12% showed ideological thinking ~ ideologues - connect opinions and beliefs with broad policy positions taken by parties or candidates ~ 42% = group benefits voters - thought of politics mainly in terms of the groups they liked and disliked ~ 24% = nature of the times voters - handle on politics was limited to whether the times seem good or bad to them and vaguely link the party in power with the country's fortune or misfortune ~ 22% = no issue content group - no ideological or issue content in making political evaluations or vote routinely for a party or judge candidates by personality ~ Americans seemed to care little about the differences between liberal and conservative politics in the 50s. ~ People seem more informed and ideological now because question wording has changed ~ The American Voter Revisited - survey data from 2000 election (20% ideologues) ~ problematic to attribute ideological meaning to aggregate voting patterns when most of the individuals making their decisions about the candidates are not motivated by ideological concepts ~ Does not mean no political ideologies = terms liberal and conservative are not important as they are for political elite (few people have clear/exact ideologies) Voters don't think in such terms ~ US in midst of political cultural war???? ~ NOPE (Media = America is divide on issues - 2 different nations liberal blue vs conservative red) Morris Florin concludes that US = moderate not extreme and NOT AT WAR ~ 1 issue that has led to culture war = gay rights (but growing acceptance over the years in all ideologies) ~ All ideological groups have changed with the changing school mores of the times
The Immigrant Society
~ US = nation of immigrants; "nation of nations" ~ All Americans are descended from immigrants or are immigrants themselves ~ 1 million new legal immigrants per year and 500,000 illegal immigrants per year (12% of nation are immigrants) ~ 3 great waves of immigration to the US 1) early-mid 1800s - northwestern Europeans (English, Irish, Germans, Scandinavian) 2) late 1800s - early 1900s - Southern and Eastern Europeans (Italians, Jews, Poles, Russians) - came through Ellis Island, NY 3) Recent - 1960s on - Hispanics (Cuba, Central American, Mexico) and Asians (Vietnam, Korea, Philippines) ~ 1st century - US was an "open door" for anyone to fill up territory ~ 1875 - 1st restrictions on immigrants - limited criminals and prostitutes from staying in US; later lunatics and people with serious diseases were banned too ~ 1882 - 1st geographically based restrictions - Chinese Exclusion Act ~ 1924 - Johnson - Reid Immigration Act - (concern over flood of new immigrants from S or E Europe) established official quotas for immigrants based on national origins - based on # of people from each particular country living in the US at the time of the 1890 census (tied quotas to a time when NW Europeans came, law greatly cut down on the flow of migrants from elsewhere) ~ 1965 - Hart - Celler Immigration and Nationality Act - abolished quotas; made family integration the prevailing goal for US immigration policy (family unification) ~ Today, many politicians = US competitiveness in the globalized economy would be better served by reducing the emphasis on family unification in immigration policy and reallocating a substantial percentage of immigrant visas to people with special talents
The Decline of Trust in Government
~ US public = dissatisfied with gov (1950s = 3/4 trusted gov, late 60s = drops - Vietnam War, Watergate, economic struggles and Tran hostage Crisis) ~ 1980s = 1/4 trusted gov, then ^, \ after 9/11 ~ democracy = consent of governed - lack of public trust= reflection that system is not doing well ~ questions if cynical populations would unite (cynicism will not stop Americans from rallying behind their gov in times of national crisis; has not eroded the US faith in democracy) ~ impact of trust = drain public support for policies that address poverty and rail inequality ~people need trust to pay costs and do not receive benefits ~ Caused many people to believe that "big gov" solutions to social problems are wasteful and impractical - draining public support from then ~ Goal = convince public to put trust in gov's ability to carry out reforms ~ Deficit of trust = doubts about how DC works
The Process of Political Socialization
~ small portion of US political learning is formal (civics/gov classes) ~ informal learning = more imprint - accidental -pick up and absorb ----- The Family ~ central = monopoly of time and emotional commitment ~ parents into politics = you are exposed to politics ~ pick up political leanings from parent attitudes ~ Usually, young people vote by parents' party identification ~ Sometimes, rebellions occur - 60s and 70s generation gap opening - radical youth condemned backward thinking parents but found more agreement than disagreement in the end ~ Genetics - identical twin agreements (same environment) ----- The Mass Media ~ "new parent" - chief source of info ~ young adults are less likely to watch/read news than elders ~ Lack of political knowledge of youth is due to media consumption ~ 1965 - Gallup found no difference between age groups in frequency of following politics though media ~ Recently, age gap has opened - older people pay the most attention to the news and young people the least ~ media age of news watcher is 62... ----- School ~ Govs use schools to promote national loyalty and support for basic values (Pledge - free enterprise and democracy) ~ Want students to learn about the positive features of democracy and this helps ensure that the youth become supportive citizens ~ + child feelings = + adult feelings) ~ not always the case = well socialized youths in the 60s led the opposition to the Vietnam War - goal of most activists was to make the system more democratically response rather than change the US gov radically ~ most are public schools - financed by US gov (certified textbooks) ~ schooling is the most obvious intrusion of gov into US socialization ~ education influences political attitudes and behaviors ~ better educated citizens are more likely to vote, exhibit more knowledge about politics and public policy, and are more tolerant of opposing (radical) opinions. ~ Educated citizens = democratic citizens
6.6 Understanding Public Opinion and Political Action
~3rd world countries call for democracy - rising countries want American gov systems so that ordinary people's opinions determine how gov is run ~ Limits on role public opinion plays in US political system - average person is not well informed about political issues including the crucial issue of the scope of gov ~ Public Attitudes Toward the Scope of Government ~ Democracy, Public Opinion, and Political Action
4. GOING PUBLIC
• Groups try to 1)cultivate a good public image; 2) build a reservoir of goodwill with the public; 3) use marketing strategies to influence public opinion of the group and its issues; and 4) advertise to motivate and inform the public about an issue.
10.5 Types of interest groups and their policy concerns. 1. ECONOMIC INTERESTS
• Labor →Union organizations press for polices to ensure better working conditions and higher wages. • Business→Interests generally are unified when it come to promoting greater profits but are often fragmented when policy choices have to be made.
10.4 Summary (how groups try to shape policy)
• Lobbying is one group strategy and lobbyists are more effective with those legislators already sympathetic to their side. •Electioneering becomes critical because it helps put supportive people in office. •Groups operate in the judicial as well as the legislative process using litigation in the courts when lobbying fails or is not enough. •Many groups project a good image employing public relations techniques to present themselves in the most favorable light.
4. CONSUMER AND OTHER PUBLIC INTEREST LOBBIES
• Public interest lobbies→groups that seek a collective good, the achievement of which will not selectively and materially benefit the membership or activists of the organization. • Consumer groups→in 1973, congress responded to consumer advocacy by creating the Consumer Product safety commission, which it authorized to regulate all consumer products and to ban products that were dangerous.
3. EQUALITY INTEREST
• two sets of interests groups, representing minorities and women, have made = rights their main policy goal. •Equality groups press for equality at the polls, in housing, on the job, in education, and in all other facets of American life.
2. ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS
•Environmental groups promote polices to control pollution, combat global warming, protect wilderness, and preserves species. •They process supersonic aircraft, nuclear power plants, drilling in AK's Artic National Wildlife Refuge, and strip mining.
What is the understanding of the diff interest groups?10.6 Summary
•The issue of controlling interest groups remains as crucial to democracy today as it was in James Madison's time. •Some scholars (pluralist theory) believe that the growth of interest groups has worked to divide political influence just as Madison hopped it would. •Critics of the pluralist Theory (Elite Theory and Hyperpluralist Theory) focus on the political action committee (PAC) system as the new way in which special interests corrupt American democracy as well as the problem of too many groups having too much power to block policy change.
3. LITIGATION (to influence policy through the courts)
•amicus curiae briefs- written arguments submitted to the courts in support one side of a case. •class action lawsuits- enable a group of people in a similar situation to combine their common grievances into a single suit.
why campaign finance reform passed in early1970s?
→The amount of money being spent on federal election was rapidly rising, leading to fears of corruption and bought elections →the water gate scandal of early 1970s involved campaign money and fueled reform desires →the rapid spread of tv was making election advertising far more expensive and leading to escalating sums of money shaping
10.6 How well Madison's ideas for controlling the influence of interest groups have worked in practice
♣interest groups and democracy. • James Madison wanted a wide-open system in which groups compete. • pluralists- public interest prevails from this competition. • Elite theorists- proliferation of business PACs is evidence of interests group corruption. • Hyperpluralists- influence of groups lead to policy gridlock. ♣Interest groups and the scope of gov. •interest groups seek to maintain policies and programs that benefit them. • Interest groups pressure gov. to more things. • as the gov. does more, more groups form to get more.
The emergence of media events has contributed to each of the following trends EXCEPT
D
Mancur Olson
"All groups are in the business of providing collective goods"
Alexis de Tocqueville
"Americans of all ages, all conditions, all dispositions constantly form associations"
Equal Rights Amendment
"Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any other state on account of sex"
INTENSITY
* a larger potential group may be mobilized through an issue that people feel intensely about. *politicians are more likely to listen a group that shows it cares deeply about an issue. *single-issue groups- narrow interest, dislike compromise, and members are new politics.
policymaking institutions
* congress *presidency *courts (power of bureaucracy is considered 4 by many)
key differences between parties and interest groups
*Political parties fight election battles; interest groups do not field candidates for office but may choose sides. *Interest groups are often policy specialists, whereas parties are policy generalists. Most interest groups have a handful of key polices to push.
SURPRISING INEFFECTIVENESS OF LARGE GROUPS
*Potential group- people who might be group members because they share some common interest. *Actual group- Potential group members who actually join group. *collective group- something of value that cannot be withheld from a potential group member. *free-rider problem- problem of people not joining because they can benefit from the group's activities without joining. *selective benefits- goods that a group can restrict to those who actually join.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
*not all groups have = amounts of money. *monetary donations translate into access to the politicians, such as a phone call, meeting, or support for policy. *wealthier groups have more resources and access but they do not always win on policy.
What does the Lobbying Disclosure Act require?
- A law that requires lobbyist to report how much they are paid, who pays them, and what issues they are promoting.
In what three ways are social protest effective?
- Provide a way for people to publicly express their disagreement with a government policy or action. - Aims to gain support of citizens who have not yet formed an opinion on an issue. - Organize social protest activities such as demonstrations and strikes, boycotts, and acts of civil disobedience.
What six roles do interest groups play in American politics?
- Representation - (Make sure that government officials hear the group members concerns as well as lobbying government officials a certain way) - Participation - (Provide citizens with a way to participate in politics beyond voting) - Education - ( Educate policy makers about issues important to the group, they can also educate larger public on issues important to the group in hopes of building more support for their positions) - Agenda building - ( They make sure their groups issues become part of the government officials agenda or "to-do list") - Alternative policy proposals - ( Can supply good alternative suggestions for dealing with issues) - Program Monitoring - ( Once laws are enacted the interest groups keep tabs on their consequences and then inform congress or regulatory agencies about the effects)
Whom do interest groups approach when lobbying the House or the Senate?
- Senators and representatives who work on specific congressional committees.
Craig v. Boren
- Supreme Court ruling that established " medium scrutiny" as the standard for gender discrimination.
What office is the official contact point between the White House and interest groups?
- The Office of Public Liaison
What do mobilization efforts encourage citizens to do?
- To write letters, send e-mails or faxes, or make phone calls to legislators about a bill being considered in congress.
Why do larger interest groups have an advantage over smaller ones?
- because they can mobilize more people all over the country giving them a broader influence across the nation.
Symbiotic relationship of PACs and Candidates
- candidates need money which they insist can be obtained without compromising integrity - PACs want access to office holders without buying votes
Hyperpluralist position on group politics
- groups come to be too powerful in political process because - interest group liberalism aggravated by iron triangles - trying to please every group results in a contradictory and confusing policy
Why is a charismatic leader important for an interest group?
- help a group organize even if it lacks resources
Negatives of mandates
--State bind. Don't necessarily mean financial aid of government, so states might find it difficult to afford it though they are forced to follow. With something like No Child Left Behind Act, schools threatened with loss of federal funding if academic performance did not improve, but the government did not supply funding to make improvements. --Minimum quality. When required of states to improve public housing yet gave no funds to improve, it discouraged local governments from demolishing unsafe and inadequate housing. Hurt the poor instead of bringing about the change it was intended to bring.
An examination of the historical growth of federal responsibilities over policy reveals that ...
--The federal government can handle many policy areas more efficiently than can the states. --The federal government responds to interest group demands to take on a more active policy role. --The federal government expanded its role over policy as the nation industrialized. --The federal government's share of governmental expenditures has grown rapidly since the New Deal.
Politics
--The process determining the leaders we select an the policies they pursue -produces authoritative decisions about public issues
Collective goods
-Goods and services such as clean air and clean water that by their nature cannot be denied to anyone
Government
-The institutions through which public policies are made for a society
Representation
-a basic principle of traditional democratic theory that describes the relationship between the few leaders and the many followers
Explain why party identification is crucial for many voters and review the decline of party affiliation since the 1950s.
1. Because of the importance of party identification in deciding how to vote, the parties tended to rely on groups that lean heavily in their favor to form their basic coalition. 2. With the emergence of television and candidate-centered politics, the hold of the party on the voter eroded substantially during the 1960s and 1970s, and then stabilized at a new and lower level during the 1980s. 3. Scholars singled out party affiliation as the single best predictor of a voter's decision in the 1950s. Voting along party lines is less common today, particularly in elections for the House of Representatives, where incumbency is now of paramount importance.
What are the six main ideas of America?
1. Equality under law 2. Diversity 3. Individuality 4. Unity 5. Liberty 6. Self Government
2 main questions asked in government?
1. How should we govern? 2. What should government do?
Establish how elections may affect public policy and how public policy may affect elections.
1. The greater the policy differences between the candidates, the more likely it is that voters will be able to influence government policies by their choices. 2. As long as politicians can take refuge in ambiguity, the possibility of democratic control of policy is lessened. 3. When individual candidates offer a clear choice, voters are more able to guide the government's policy direction. 4. Most policies have consequences for the well-being of certain groups or for society as a whole. According to the theory of retrospective voting, voters essentially ask the question, "What have you done for me lately?" 5. Public policy—especially the perception of economic policy impacts—can affect elections. In presidential elections, people who are unhappy with the state of the economy tend to blame the incumbent.
Downs Model
1. Voters want to maximize the chance that policies they favor will be adopted by gov't 2. Parties want to win office
Analyze how elections influence the scope of government in a democracy.
1. While the threat of election defeat constrains policymakers, it also helps to increase generalized support for government and its powers. Elections legitimize the power of the state, thereby making it easier to expand the scope of the government. 2. When people have the power to dole out electoral reward and punishment, they are more likely to see government as their servant instead of their master. As a result, citizens in a democracy often seek to benefit from government (rather than to be protected from it). As democracy has spread, government has come to do more and more, and its scope has grown.
The 5 main principals of government?
1. maintain a national defense 2. provide public goods and services 3. preserve order 4. socialize the young 5.collect taxes
PAC gives money to candidates
1. on a committee important to their interests 2. supportive of issues important to them 3. from district or state where they had facilities 4. helping them with executive or or regulatory agencies 5. in leadership positions that let them influence PAC related issues
Proportion of states that enables voters to cast votes for all of one party's candidates
1/3
Declaration of Independence
1776 statement, issued by the Second Continental Congress, explaining why the colonies wanted independence from Britain.
Trace the historical evolution of the American style of campaigning from 1800 to 2000.
1800: Candidates nominated by party members in Congress; candidates did not campaign in person; state and local parties promoted their candidate; focused on state legislaturres who chose state electors. 1896: National nominating conventions were well established; candidates actively campaigned in person. Today: Campaigns are high-tech, slick affairs.
McCulloch v. Maryland
1819. Established national government over state government and implied powers.
Gibbons v. Ogden
1824. Supreme Court interpreted the elastic clause and gave Congress power to regulate interstate commerce.
Plessy v. Ferguson
1896 Supreme Court Ruling that stated that, " equal but separate accommodations" was Constitutional.
Filibuster
A lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate
Constitution
A nation's basic law, creates political institutions, assigns or divides powers, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens
constitution
A nation's basic law. It creates political instituitions, assigns or divides powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. Can be either written or unwritten.
Nomation
A party's endorsement
Budget
A policy document allocating burdens (taxes) and benefits (expenditures).
Self-incrimination
Accusing oneself or giving evidence that may prove oneself guilty
National Security Council
An office created in 1947 to coordinate the president's foreign and military policy advisors. Its formal members are the president, vice president, secretary of state, and secretary of defense, and it is managed by the president's national security assistant.
Watergate
Break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate building in 1972 that resulted in a cover-up and the subsequent resignation of Nixon
Policy implementation
Carrying out a policy through government agencies and courts
Constituency service
Casework, assistance to constituents by congressional members
Prior restraint
Censorship of information before it is published or broadcast (unconstitutional in most cases)
Limited Government
Certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens
Interest group liberalism
Coined by Theodore Lowi, the problem for hyperpluralists, a situation in which the government is excessively differential to all groups - budget skyrockets - too many rules and loopholes - promoted by network of subgovernments
Joint committee
Committee made up of members of both house of Congress-housekeeping issues decided
Select committee
Committee selected for a specific purpose-investigation-hearing
commercial speech
Communication in the form of advertising. It can be restricted more than any other types of types of speech but has been receiving increased protection from the Supreme Court.
Free Exercise Clause
Congress may not make laws restricting/ prohibiting a person's relgious practices-1st amendment
Oversight
Congress monitors policies of the executive branch (money, hearings, investigations)-checks and balances
Policy voting
Electoral choices that are made on the basis of the voters' policy preferences and where the candidates stand on policy issues.
Uncontrollable expenditures
Expenditures that are determined by how many eligible beneficiaries there are for a program or by previous obligations of the government and that Congress therefore cannot easily control.
First 2 political parties
Federalists & Anti-federalists
Liberals v Conservatives on Different Issues
Foreign Policy: Military Spending: L: spend less C: maintain peace through strength Use of Force: L: less willing to commit troops to action C: more likely to support military intervention Social Policy: Abortion: L: "freedom of choice" C: "right to life" Prayer in Schools: L: opposed C: supportive Affirmative Action: L: favor C: oppose Economic Policy: Scope of Gov: L: gov = regulator in public interests C: favor free-market solutions Taxes: L: tax rich more C: keep taxes low Spending: L: spend more on poor C: keep spending low Crime: How to Cut Crime: L: solve problems that cause crime C: stop "coddling criminals" Defendants' Rights: L: guard them carefully C: stop letting criminals hide behind laws
Said, "Read my lips - no new taxes."
George Bush (1988)
American Independents party leader
George Wallace (1968)
Necessary and Proper Clause
Gives Congress the powers to pass all laws necessary to carry out their constitutional duties; "elastic" clause (Art. I, Sec 8, clause 18)
Selective benefits
Goods that a group can restrict to those who actually join
political action committees
Groups that raised money for individuals and then distribute it in the individuals and the distributions to candidates that the group supports. PACs must register with the FEC and report their donations and contributions to it. Individuals contributions to $5,000 per year, and a PAC may give up to $5,000 to a candidate for each election.
Whig presidents
Harrison & Taylor
Judicial restraint
Holds that the Court should avoid taking the initiative on social &pol. questions, operation strictly w/n the limits of the Constitution
2005, 35% of voters were for this party
Independent
How does the media's role as watchdog affect the scope of government? Why do you think the public supports the role of the news media?
It sometimes constrains expansions of the scope of the government by forming skepticism about what the government accomplished. The public supports the media as a source for news because that is pretty much all they use now of days to get the news.
Patronage
Jobs awarded for political reasons rather than merit or competence alone
14
Make laws governing the armed forces (different from civilian law)
nation beer wholesalers of american
NBWA represents the interests of more than 2850 licensed independent beer distributors before gov and public, promotes responsibility in the manufacture, distribution, sale, and consumption of alcohol
Chamber of Commerce
NSL, to fight for free enterprise before Congress, the white house, courts, agencies, public opinion, and govs around world
Strict constuctionist
Narrow interpretation of the Constitution
unreasonable searches and seizures
Obtaining evidence in a haphazard or random manner, a practice prohibited by the Fourth Amendment. Probably cause and /or search warrant are required for a legal and proper search and what police are searching for.
Who actually votes in America?
Older people; when things are bad more people vote; yonger people more knowlegable in past
Appellate jurisdiction
On appeal from lower courts-Supreme Court is mostly an appellate court
Party in government
One of the 3 heads of the political party. Elected officials or spokespeople for the party.
Civil rights
Positive acts of govt designed to prevent discrimination &provide equality before the law
2
Power to borrow money
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
Prohibited state-sponsored recitation of prayer in public schools
12
Raise and support an army
Shays' Rebellion
Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.
Executive Order
Regulations originating with the executive branch. Executive orders are one method presidents can use to control the bureaucracy.
standing committees
Separate subject-matter committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas.
President pro tempore
Serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the VP; chosen by the majority party
Coalition
Set of individuals and groups supporting it
Two-party system
Several political parties exist, but only two major political parties compete for power and dominate elections
Imagine that you are charged with writing a brief report that outlines the possible causes of low turnout in the United States and offers some possible solutions. Specifically address possible causes and solutions for low turnout among different age groups: older, middle-aged, and younger.
Some reasons for the older people not voting include accessibility to voting locations and a lack of information about candidates. Some reasons for the middle-aged people not voting are time constraints and accessibility to voting location. Some reasons for younger people not voting are a lack of information about candidates and apathy.
Collective goods
Something of value that cannot be withheld from a potential group member
Collective good
Something of value that cannot be withheld from a potential group member.
Declaration of Independence
Stated the American grievances against the British monarch
Federalists
Supporters of the Constitution
Fifteenth Amendment
The Constitutional Amendment that gave African Americans the right to vote.
Judicial activism
The Court should play an active role in determining national policies
Legislative veto
The ability of Congress to override a presidential decision. Although the War Powers Resolution asserts this authority, there is reason to believe that, if challenged, the Supreme Court would find the legislative veto in violation of the doctrine of separation of powers.
Policy adoption
The approval of a policy by legislation
Tenth Amendment
The constitutional amendement stating, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people."
Sixteenth Amendment
The constitutional amendment adopted in 1913 that explicitly permitted Congress to levy an income tax.
Majority leader
The elected leader of the party with the most seat in the House of Representatives/Senate
Which of the following institutions was specifically outlined in the Constitution?
The electoral college,
minority majority
The emergence of a non-Caucasian majority, as compared with a white, generally Anglo-Saxon majority. It is predicted that by about 2060, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans together will outnumber white Americans.
limited government
The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.
Consent of the Governed
The idea that government derives its authority by sanction of the people.
consent of the governed
The idea that government derives its authority by sanction of the people.
Elastic clause
The necessary &proper clause/Art. I, Sec. 8, Clause 18/imlied powers clause- that allows Congress to pass laws to carry out its powers
self-incrimination
The situation occurring when an individual accused of a crime is compelled to be a witness against himself or herself in court. The Fifth Amendment forbids self-incrimination.
Party Image
This is the voter's perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for, that helps influence their decision to join, such as pro-choice or pro-life.
Discrimination
Unfair treatment of a person based on race/group membership
Amendment 9
Unlisted rights are not necessarily denied.
Lobbyist
Uses pol. persuasion to influence legislation &benefit his/her org.
Continuing resolutions
When Congress cannot reach agreement or pass appropriations bills, these resolutions allow agencies to spend at the level of the previous year.
Crosscutting requirements
When a condition on one federal grant is extended to all activities supported by federal funds. Example: if a university discriminates illegally in one program(athletics as example), it may lose federal aid it receives for all programs, historic preservation.
Dealignment
When a significant # of voters choose to no longer support a particular pol. party
coalition government
When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. This form of government is quite common in the multiparty systems of Europe
representation
a basic principle of traditional democratic theory that describes the relationship between the few leaders and many followers.
Representation
a basic principle of traditional democratic theory that describes the relationship between the few leaders and the many followers
Public Policy
a choice that government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem
party identification
a citizen's self-proclaimed preference for on party or the other
New Deal coalition
a coalition forged by the Democrats, who dominated Americans politics from the 1930s to the 1960s. Its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals.
Policy Gridlock
a condition that occurs when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy, so nothing gets done
Policy gridlock
a condition that occurs when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy, so nothing gets done.
Majority Rule
a fundamental principle of traditional democratic theory. In a democracy, choosing among alternatives requires that the majority's desire be respected
coalition
a group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends
American with Disabilities Act of 1990
a law passed in 1990 stating that employers and buildings for public use must be reasonably accessible, and they must make reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities. It also makes discrimination against the disabled unconstitutional.
subgovernments
a network of groups within the American political system that exercise a great deal of control over specific policy arenas, also known as iron triangles, they are composed of interest group leaders interested in a particular policy, the government agency in charge of administering that policy, and the members of congressional committees and subcommittees handling that policy, they all want to protect their self interests
Political Culture
a patterned and sustained way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out
Affirmative action
a policy designed to help a previously discriminated group by giving them compensation for wrongs done previously.
Democracy
a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
high-tech policies
a politics in which the behavior of citizens and policymakers and the political agenda itself are increasingly shaped by technology
rational-choice theory
a popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. it assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives
Minority Rights
a principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities
Olson's law of large groups
a principle stating that "the larger the group, the further it will fall short of providing an optimal amount of a collective good"
Bill
a proposal for a law
union shop
a provision found in some collective bargaining agreements requiring all employees of a business to join the union within a short period, usually 30 days, and to remain members as a condition of employment
talking head
a shot of a person's face talking directly to the camera (the media rarely shows a politician talking one on one with someone, it's not appealing to the audience)
right-to-work laws
a state law forbidding requirements that workers must join a union to hold their jobs, state right-to-work laws were specifically permitted by the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947
Elitism
a theory of American democracy contending that an upper-class elite holds the power and makes policy, regardless of the formal governmental organization
Hyperpluralism
a theory of American democracy contending that groups are so strong that government, which gives in to the many different groups, is thereby weakened
hyperpluralist theory
a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened, it is an extreme, exaggerated, or perverted form of pluralism
elite theory
a theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upperclass elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization
Pluralism
a theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group
Politics is?
about setting our priorities
trial balloons
an intentional news leak for the purpose of assessing political reaction
Political Issue
an issue that arises when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it
political issue
an issue that arises when people disagree about a problem and how to fix it.
Interest group
an organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process are several points to try to achieve those goals. INTEREST groups typically LOBBY Congress, bureaucrats or the court or engage in electioneering or grassroots organization to achieve their goals. NEVERtheless, many interest groups gain influence by developing expertise and investing in research. *interest groups pursue their goals in many arenas.
interest group
an organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals, they pursue their goals in many arenas
Whips
assistant to the floor leaders, keeps a head count of votes, rounds up members for important votes
Congressional caucuses
association of members created to support a political ideology or regional economic interest (black caucus, women's caucus...)
Loose constructionist
broad interpretation of the Constitution
Monetary policy
controlling the money supply-Federal Reserve (independent agency)
hyperpluralists think relations between...
interest groups and the government are too cozy
Speaker of the House
decides who willbe recognized to speak- rules whether motions are relevant to the business at hand; decides which bills where the bills will go (committees)-influencial as to what bills are brought up for a vote-appoints members to special and select committees
electioneering
direct group involvement in the electoral process, groups can help fund campaigns, provide testimony, and get members to work for candidates, and some form of political aciton committees
challenges of democracy
increased complexity of issues, limited participation in government, diverse political interest.
PAC money goes overwhelmingly to...
incumbents because they are investments for the future and incumbents are most likely to return the investment
Council on Foreign Relations
independent, non partisan membership publishing resource for every citizen that helps them better understand the world and foreign policy
Hall and Deardorff argue the purpose of lobbying
is to help one's political allies, not change anyone's mind but sometimes lobbying can persuade legislators to support a certain policy
What does success of an interest group depend on?
its size, intensity, and financial resources, but small groups are more likely to achieve their goals than larger
national education association
mission is to advocate for education professionals and to unite members and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in this world
class action lawsuits
more direct judicial strategy which enables group with common grievances to file a collective suit
EOP (Executive office of the President)
name for the group of agencies, councils, and staff members which advise the president and help run the federal bureaucracy-was established by an executive order from FDR
NAACP
nation association for the advancement of colored people - to ensure the political, educational, social, ad economic equality of all people, eliminate discrimination
policy entrepreneurs
people who invest their political "capital" in an issue
Constituent
people within a district or state-government official represents them.
General Accounting Office (GAO)
performs routine financial audits of money spent by the executive departments and investigates agencies
Lame Duck
person holding office after his or her replacement has been elected to the office, but before the current term has ended.
Gubernatorial
pertaining to a governor
What is a government's policy agenda? Who makes up the agenda?
plans for making policy; reps make, influences by voters, influenced by media, influenced by corporations (money)
10.2 theories of interest groups politics
pluralist- competition among groups trying to get their preferred polices. elitist- upper-class elite holds most of the power and run gov. hyperpluralist- groups are so strong that government is weakened.
Civil rights
policies created to protect people from the government treating individuals arbitrarily or discriminatorily
soft money
political parties solicit unlimited funds from individuals, corporations, spend on voter registration campaigns and get-out the-vote drives and "not on behalf of specific candidates"
White primary
primaries in the democratic south that excluded African Americans from voting, this prohibited African Americans from having a major voice in elections
free-rider problem
problem faced by unions and other groups when people do not join because they can benefit from the group's activities without officially joining, the bigger the group the more serious the problem
planned parenthood
promotes health care, education, family planning; deliver reproductive health care, family planning, sex education, and info
Writ of habeas corpus
right to be told what you are being held for and shown evidence against you-used in death penalty case appeals.
right to work laws
state law forbidding requirements that workers must join a union, specifically permitted by Taft-Hartley Act of 1947
public policy
statute, presidential action, court decision, budgetary choice, regulation
party realignment
the displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period
Policy Impacts
the effects a policy has on people and problems. Impacts are analyzed to see how well a policy has met its goal and at what cost
party dealignment
the gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification
Policymaking System
the process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time. People's interests, problems, and concerns create political issues for government policymakers. These issues shape policy, which in turn impacts people, generating more interests, problems, and concerns
policymaking system
the process by which policy comes into being and evolves. People's interests, problems, and concerns create Political Issues for government Policymakers. These issues shape Policy, which in turn impacts people generating the cycle over again.
politics definition
the process determining the leaders we select and the policies they pursue. politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues.
What do interest groups do?
they support candidates but don't run their own slate of candidates, they make their voices heard by the government
investigative journalism
the use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams, and schemes, at times putting reporters in adversarial relationships with political leaders
national association of manufacturers
the voice for manufacturing in the u.s, to inform legislators, the administration, the media, policy influencers, and the public about manufacturing's vital leadership in innovation, job opportunity, technical progress and economic security
party image
the voter's perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism
lobbyists success depends on...
their ability to strategically deploy information on behalf of their client
pluralist theory
theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies
4 ways lobbyists can help members of congress
they are an important source of information, they help politicians with political strategy for getting legislation through, they help formulate campaign strategy and get group's members behind a reelection campaign, and source of ideas an innovations
majority/minority districts
those with a majority of residents who are part of an ethnic minority
american israel public affairs committee
to help make israel more secure by ensuring that american support remains strong, 100,000 member national grassroots movement
hyperpluralism
too many groups try to control policy and end up canceling each other out.
Trustee/Delegate-roles Congressman play
trustee--do what is best regardless of voter opinion; delegate--do what the voters want
malapportionment
unfair proportional distribution of representatives to a legislative body
Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002)
upheld an Ohio policy allowing public vouchers to be used to pay for tuition at religious schools.
national association of broadcasters
voice for the nation's radio and television broadcasters. NAB
ticket splitting
voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. It has become the norm in voting behavior.
Describe politics:
who gets what, when, and how
Conventional Participation
~ 2 types: conventional and unconventional ~ Conventional: includes many widely accepted modes of influencing gov -* voting*, persuading others, ringing doorbells, petition, running for office ~ Voting, working in campaigns, contacting gov officials, signing petitions, working on community issues and participating in political protests ~ Unconventional: includes activities hat tare often dramatic, such as protesting, civil disobedience, and violence ~ Voting = only aspect of political participation that a majority of the population engage in. ALSO the only political activity with evidence of a decline in participation in recent years ~ increase in giving $ to candidates and contacting public officials ~ disappointing voter turnouts (concern) but + developments for participatory democracy
6.1 The American People
~ Democracy and Census ~ Census Bureau trues to conduct the most accurate population count to properly allocate its billions of federal dollars (2010 - 72% of households responded, so door-to-door was employed) ~ Participation is important! It determines how much federal funding is spend on infrastructure and services: hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, bridges, tunnels, and other public works projects, and emergency services ~ Undercounted communities do not get the funding they deserve/need ~ Changes in US population impacts culture and political system ~ The Immigrant Society ~ The American Melting Pot ~ The Regional Shift ~ The Graying of America
ESSAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY QUESTION ABOUT MAKING GREAT POLLS
~ RANDOM SAMPLING ~ SAMPLE ~ UNBIASED QUESTIONS ~ RDD ~ SAMPLING ERROR
