AP GOV -- Final Exam Review
Buckley vs. Valeo
1976 Supreme Court case that lifted restrictions on how much of their own money a candidate could use in their political campaign
Ethics in Government Act
1978; barred members of the executive branch (bureaucracy) from lobbying for 2 years after leaving office; enacted because of Watergate
Equal Time Rule
Requires a station selling time to one candidate for office to make the same amount of time available to another.
Press Briefing
Restricted live engagement between Press Secretary and the Press
Gilded Age Interest Groups
Rise of Business Interest Groups and organized labor as a result of the Second Industrial Revolution; Business formally began to lobby government for legislation in their favor (no regulation of corporations, railroads); Unions lobbied for legislation that favored workers against big business
John Peter Zenger
1730s; Colonist who was jailed and had his printing press closed by the British Government for speaking out against British Policy; eventually released through the legal work of Alexander Hamilton; his case is why the protections of speech and press are in the first amendment
Lobbying Disclosure Act
1995; Strictly defined a Lobbyist; Register with the clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate; Report who their clients are and declare their funding; made it easier to monitor the activities of lobbyists.
Citizen's United vs. FEC
2010 Supreme Court case challenging the McCain - Feingold Act on the grounds that Unions and corporations / companies should be able to use their money to support various candidates; Court found in favor of Citizen's United, saying that campaign donations was an act of expression/speech and therefore protected under the 1st Amendment
Proportional System
A candidate will receive a portion of a state's delegates based on the final results of the state's primary results
New Deal
A group of government programs and policies established under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s; the New Deal was designed to improve conditions for persons suffering in the Great Depression.
Delegate
A person sent or authorized to represent the party for a particular state at the presidential convention; the number per state per party is dependent on the party and the result of the state primary; Republicans use the winner-take all and Democrats use the proportional.
Party Conventions
A rally for the major political parties, especially one that nominates a candidate for the presidency that's held every four years; today they act more like pep rallies.
American Association of Retired People
AARP; Organization for people over 50 that offers discounts on drug purchases, health & auto insurance and other things; Salient issues are Social Security, Medicare Activities: Lobbying, Electioneering Activities
American Medical Association
AMA; doctors who considered themselves trained professionals formed this association; organized into a national professional society, called for strict scientific standards in practicing medicine. Activities: Lobbying, Electioneering Activities
Right to Reply Rule
Allows a person who is attacked on a broadcast the right to reply over that same station
Sierra Club
American environmental organization. Helped promote the protection of the environment and nature. Activities: Lobbying, Grassroots Mobilization, Electioneering Activities.
Critical Election
An election that signals a party realignment through voter polarization around new issues
Federal Communications Committee
Bureaucratic agency created to regulate interstate communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 states; sets guidelines that broadcast and electronic media must follow
Political Party
An organized effort by office holders, candidates, activists, and voters to pursue their common interests by gaining and exercising power through the electoral process
Inoculation Ad
Attempts to counteract an anticipated attack from the opposition before the attack is launched
Press & The USSC
Cameras have never been allowed inside USSC proceedings, print/radio media only; Court tries to remain non-political and independent Usually only get coverage when a justice has passed / new justice appointed, confirmed; or a highly anticipated verdict
Hard Money
Campaign contributions that are clearly regulated by the Federal Election Committee
Soft Money
Campaign contributions that are not regulated by the Federal Election Committee (527s, 501cs)
Contrast Ad
Compares the records and proposals of the candidates; Usually has a bias toward the candidate sponsoring the ad
Economic Interest Group
Concerned primarily with profits, prices, and wages; Government can significantly effect them through regulations, subsidies and contracts, trade policy, and tax advantages ex. AFL-CIO, NEA, AMA, US Chamber of Commerce
Public Matching Funds
Donations from general tax revenues to candidates for public office; Must raise $5,000 dollars to be able to apply and a third party candidate must win 5% of the popular vote in the last election for eligibility; once a candidate accepts matching funds they must use them as sole financing with a cap of $92m
Functions of Interest Groups
Enhance political participation; Interest groups work closeley with Congress and the Bureacracy (Iron Triangle); motivate people to work toward a common goal
Party Platform
Formal set of principal goals or a set of positions on issues which are supported by a political party or individual candidate, in order to appeal to the general public
Progressive Reform Era
Formed as a result of the negative consequences of the Second Industrial Revolution in the US; Return of grassroots activism; Many groups emerged to target issues in American society and advocate for reform (Workplace Conditions, Consumer protections, environment, education, Women's rights, temperance)
The Conservative Wave
Formed by Conservatives concerned by the success of liberal interest groups in the 1960s and 1970s; very much rooted in the Christian evangelical faiths; ex. Moral Majority, Christian Coalition
Political Action Committee
Fund-raising organizations created by economic or ideologically driven groups; they represent interest groups in the political process
Muckraking Journalism
Hallmark of late 18th/ealry 19th century magazine and novels where the focus was on reforming the social, political, and economic ills of the Gilded Age ; ex. Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle (1904).
Yellow Journalism
Hallmark of late 18th/ealry 19th century newspaper articles that included sensationalized reporting; ex. USS Maine explosion in 1898.
On the Record
Information provided to a journalist that can be released and attributed by name to the source
Off the Record
Information provided to a journalist that will not be released to the public and not used
Individual Campaign Financing
Individuals are limited in how much they can donate directly to a candidate; limits depend on the office and level of election (state/national) and the cap is $117,000 / election cycle (2 years)
Citizen Journalists
Individuals who collect, report, and analyze news content usually put out for public consumption through social media, especially blogs
Deep Background
Information provided that will not be attributed to any source; it's origin is unknown
On Background
Information provided to a journalist is used but not attributed to a named source.
Grassroots Mobilization
Inspiring and organizing members to become active; This can be done in a number of ways: email/text messaging; letter writing campaigns; petition drives; fundraisers; protest / radical activism
National Rifle Association
Interest Group organized to defend the rights of gun owners and defeat efforts at gun control. Activities: Lobbying, Electioneering Activities, Litigation
Equality / Social Justice Interest Group
Interest groups have championed equal rights and justice especially for minorities. ex. NAACP, NOW, ACLU
Electronic Media
Internet technology and access has transformed communications in a very short period of time; can be used as a Research Tool or a Communication Tool or a Source of Entertainment; Social Media (blogs, websites, twitter, Facebook, etc) influence politics and election outcomes
Antebellum Reform Movements
More like national groups; Most were single issue in nature; Very rooted in the Christian revivalism that was sweeping the nation then; Concerned with humanitarian issues (Abolition, education, women's rights, temperance)
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
NAACP; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, founded in 1909 to abolish segregation and discrimination, to oppose racism and to gain civil rights for African Americans; Successful in attaining their goals Activities: Litigation, Grassroots Mobilizaiton
National Organization for Women
NOW; called for equal employment opportunity and equal pay for women; also championed the legalization of abortion and passage of an equal rights amendment to the Constitution. Activities: Litigation, Grassroots Mobilization
Free Rider Problem
Occurs when people take advantage of being able to use a common resource, or collective good, without paying for it
Conservative
One who holds on to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion or the economy.
Super-Delegate
Only used by the Democrat party; these are party leaders that are not bound to any state primary result and can therefore tip the balance in favor of any candidate regardless of the number of delegates already acquired.
Consumer / Public Interest Group
Over two thousand groups champion causes "in the public interest."; Seek a collective good, benefits for everyone, not just the members of the interest groups themselves. ex. Common Cause, Sierra Club, Audubon Society
Political Party Financing
Parties contribute about 20% of a candidate's campaign funds; contribute different amounts for different parts of Congress with House members getting the least because of the volume and Senators getting more
Transaction Theory
People don't form groups, only elitists and therefore they run the country; public policies are a result of narrowly defined exchanges among political actors
Nominating Campaign
Phase of the political campaign aimed at winning a primary election as the opponents are challengers from the same party; Candidates must impress the political base of the party as well as interest groups
General Campaign
Phase of the political campaign aimed at winning election to office; one candidate represents each party running against each other; Candidates must impress the middle, "swinging for the fences".
Print Regulations vs. Broadcast/Electronic Regulation
Print media has much fewer government restrictions than does electronic media; A newspaper or magazine may be sued or prosecuted for libel or obscenity; Press sources must be released in criminal investigations
Agenda Setting
Process of forming a list of issues to be addressed by the government; the media has the ability to draw public attention to particular issues (political, social, and economic power); This can add or detract from a candidate/official's agenda
Electioneering Activities
Providing money for political campaigns contributions (done through PACs, 527s, 501cs); Candidate recruitment & endorsements; Getting out the vote (ex. MoveOn.org (D), Progress for America (R))
Broadcast Media
Radio (1920s-1940s) and Television (since the 1950s); Although TV is so wide spread, radio still remains the most effective tool of disseminating info because of commuters in cars
Functions of Political Parties
Run candidates for office; Formulate and promote policy; Connect citizens to the government; Organize government
501(c) Group
Soft money group; nonprofit and unregulated; they do not have to disclose who their donors; focus on specific causes or policy positions and attempt to influence voters; can only use half of their money on campaign politics
Collective Good
Something of value (money, a tax write-off, prestige, clean air, and so on) that cannot be withheld from a group member.
Positive Ad
Stresses the qualifications, family and issue positions; There is usually no reference to the opponent
Mass Media
Term that refers to the means of communication through broadcast, print or electronic.
Press Secretary
The President's liaison to the media; in charge of media relations on a daily basis; gives briefings everyday; one of the few positions that doesn't need Senate confirmation
Negative Ad
The ad attacks the opponent's character or platform
National Committee
The governing body of a political party; headed by a chair person; is responsible for setting the position of the party on certain issues that is adopted by the delegates at the National Convention
Press Release
The official comment on an issue or event; Directly goes to the press through either a fax, an email, or a letter
Press & the President
The president commands the most media attention; commands air time easily; Covering the White House is a prestigious position for any correspondent.
Framing
The process by which a news organization defines a political issue and consequently affects opinion about the issue; ex. Tet Offensive in 1968
Winner-Take-All System
The winner in American elections is the one who receives the largest number of votes in each voting district; Effects the
Press Conference
Unrestricted session with the Elected Official
Litigation
Using the courts to get what they want by either filing lawsuits or Amicus Curiae briefs in support of either the petitioner or the respondent in a case
Press & Congress
Volume of Congress makes it the most difficult to cover; sought after in this order: Congressional leaders, then committee chairs, then individual congressmen as necessary; Press plays up the conflict between parties which directly impacts public perception.
Get-Out-The-Vote
When groups, candidates, parties engage in efforts intended to encourage people to vote in an election. (GOTV)
Finance Chair
a professional who coordinates the fund-raising efforts for the campaign; must account for all money coming in and going out
Great Society
a domestic program launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson that instituted federally sponsored social welfare programs in an effort to eradicate poverty in America; many programs picked up where the New Deal left off.
Class Action Lawsuit
a single suit where plaintiffs in cases are similar; ex. Brown vs. the Board of Ed
Third Party
aka Bolter Party or Splinter Party or Minor Party; form when parts of the major party are do not agree with certain points of the party platform; Introduce new ideas and pull support from major parties; and can affect the outcome of an election
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
aka The McCain - Feingold Act; banned soft money to national parties and placed curbs on the use of campaign ads by outside interest groups over a two-year election cycle. The act did not ban contributions to state and local parties.
Interest Group
an organization of people who enter the political process to try to achieve their shared goals
Lobbying
attempt to influence government policies by target lawmakers, bureaucratic agents; Lobbyists can do any of the following: contact gov't officials by phone/letter; meeting/socializing at conventions; taking officials to lunch/dinner; testifying @ committee hearings
Prior Restraint
attempt, usually by the government, to prevent the publication of information; declared unconstitutional in 1931 and usually doesn't hold up in court. ex. NY Times vs. US (1971)
Honest Leadership and Open Gov't Act
banned gifts to members of Congress, requires tougher disclosure requirements, and stricter eligibility rules for former Congressmen -turned-Lobbyists
Liberal
believes in the need for government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all; the duty of the government to alleviate social ills and to protect civil liberties and individual and human rights; policies generally emphasize the need for the government to solve problems.
Pollster
campaign consultant whose job is to conduct surveys of public opinion on issues close to the candidate; influences the candidate's message
Horse Race Journalism
concept that political campaigns are covered like the frenetic pace of a race; political scientists say that this is the new trend in election coverage; this can impact/influence voter choice / turnout
Libel
defamation by written or printed words, pictures; the crime is publishing it
Slander
defamation, especially false or malicious, expressed by spoken word
Experts
fill in gaps where correspondents lack experience and knowledge; aka Political Pundits, Talking Heads
Population Ecology Theory
formation of political organizations is conditional on the resources allocated to a given issue area; only a certain amount of groups can be supported; there is a growth period, a boom period and then levels off
Campaign Manager
individual who travels with the candidate and coordinates the many different aspects of the campaign.
Lobbyist
interest group member who seeks to influence legislation; Reputation is key, credibility and access are crucial to success
Disturbance Theory
interest groups form as a result of changes in the political system; one wave of groups gives way to another that represents a different perspective. (Business ig's of the Gilded Age led to Progressive Reform groups)
527 group
named for their tax code and are not limited or subject to regulations by the FEC; do not donate to candidates rather they pend on electioneering activities
Pluralist Theory
political power is distributed among a wide array of diverse and competing interests; interest groups benefit democracy because they bring representation to all
Voter Canvass
process by which a campaign reaches individual voters, either by door-to-door solicitation or by telephone
Fairness Doctrine
required broadcasters to give time to opposing views if they broadcast a program giving one side of a controversial issue; FCC took it away in 1987 and is followed on a volunteer basis
Narrowcasting
targeting media programming at specific populations within society; helps minorities left out of mainstream media coverage; ex. MSNBC vs. FOX News
Print Media
term used to refer to magazines, newspapers who readership is in the decline but was once the major source of news since the days of colonization; replaced by Broadcast and electronic media
Barriers to Third Party Success
their points of view tend to fall under the umbrella of one or both of the big parties; the winner take all electoral system; campaign fundraising is hard and can't keep pace with larger parties