AP Gov. Unit 5

How do structural barriers impact 3rd party and independent candidate success?

-Winner take all voting districts prevent candidates from receiving electoral votes -incorporation of 3rd party agenda into major political parties -money

How does the media impact politics?

-agenda setting: what issues people focus on -watch dog: keep eye on government -scorekeeping: media will make up news -horse race journalism: popularity contest -24hr news cycle: everything is made to 'sell' to viewers -liberal v conservative bias -traditional v new communication -leaks -coverage of president v congress

Ideological group

-attract members by appealing to their political convictions or principles

How does increasingly diverse choices of media and communication outlets influence political institutions and behavior?

-bias sources -dramatized sources -politicians will respond to media but media can alter how the public views things

Political Action Committee (PAC)

-committee set up to raise and spend campaign money from voluntary donations -huge influence on elections and policy making -labor unions, corporations, interest groups

The structure of political parties is influenced by

-critical elections and regional realignments -campaign finance law -changes in communication and data management technology

Types of Political Realignment

-critical elections: sharp, lasting change in political party loyalty -regional: shift in how regions vote -political: shift in party platform -major policy/initiates: elections, political parties

How does the electoral college impact democratic participation?

-debate over hinders or helps -takes away individual voters ability to select president because electoral votes determined winner

Factors that Affect Voter Turnout

-demographics -voter satisfaction -political efficacy -structural barriers -type of election

Benefits and drawbacks of modern campaigns are represented by

-dependence on professional consultants -rising campaign costs -intensive fundraising efforts -duration of election cycles -impact of reliance on social media for campaign communication and fundraising

Primary election

-determines candidate for general election

How does money impact elections?

-donations are free speech -make elections less competitive? -make elections less fair? -campaign funding

How the electoral college works

-each state has electors (states determined how chosen, winner take all) -electors vote for president -if no majority, House chooses POTUS and Senate chooses VPOTUS

What are the benefits and potential problems of interest groups influence on elections and policy making?

-educate voters and office holders -draft legislation -mobilize membership to apply pressure -work with gov and legislation -iron triangle

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 2002

-effort to ban soft money and reduce attack ads -stand by your ad provision

Single issue group

-focus on narrow, specific issue -economic, political, public interest

The nature of democratic debate and level of political knowledge among citizens is impacted by

-increased media choices -ideologically oriented programming -consumer driven media outlets and emerging technologies that reinforce existing beliefs -uncertainty over the credibility of news sources and information

Congressional Elections are Affected by

-incumbency advantage phenomenon -open and closed primaries -caucuses -general elections -gerrymandering -campaign/issues -general (presidential and midterm) elections

Processes and Outcomes of US presidential election are influenced by

-incumbency advantage phenomenon -open and closed primaries -caucuses -party conventions -congressional and state elections -electoral college

Positives of Interest Groups

-inform officials -push needed policies -civil activity

How do various political actors influence public policy outcomes?

-interest groups, professional organizers, social movements, military, and bureaucrats all have different interest that need to be meet -which interests are pursued are determined by the amount of influence and money each group has

How do variation in types and resources of interest groups affect their ability to influence elections and policy making?

-lack of money means lack of media coverage -lack of media coverage means less attention by politicians -lack of connections means its harder for politicians to notice -lack of attention by politicians means no change will be enacted

Influence of Interest Groups

-level of political resources (public opinion) -level of economic resources ($) -level of access to decision makers (congress, bureau) -'free rider' problem (benefit from public goods but don't contribute)

Interest Group Jobs

-lobby: influence policy -electioneering: campaign, fundraise -court system: amicus curiae brief -mobilize public: advertise, research, alert media

Functions and impact of political parties are shown by

-mobilization and education of voters -party platforms -candidate recruitment -campaign management, including fundraising and media strategy -committee and party leadership systems in legislatures

Function of Political Parties

-mobilization/education of voters -party platforms -candidate recruitment -campaign management -run government

Why do levels of participation and influence in politics vary?

-money -media coverage

How does the organization, finance, and strategies of national political campaigns affect the election process?

-money and organization allows campaigns to reach voters in new ways and give new information

Incumbency advantage phenomenon

-name recognition -proven track record -more donations -campaign as part of the job

Factors that influence vote

-party identification and ideological orientation -candidate characteristics -contemporary political issues -religious beliefs or affiliation, gender, race and ethnicity, and other demographic characteristics

Rational Choice Voting

-perceived individual interest

General election

Winner gets to hold office

Presidential election cycle

Year of election where presidency is at stake

Linkage Institutions

Allow individuals to communicate their preference to policy makers -elections -media -interest groups -political parties

What is the function and impact of political parties on the electorate and government?

Gov: influence politicians that are elected, which polices to pursue Electorate: influence how electorates vote and who they vote for

Midterm election cycle

In between presidential election years

Iron Triangle

Interest groups, bureaucratic agencies, congressional committees

Political Realignment

Major, lasting shift in balance of power between parties

Caucus

Meeting to back a candidate in primary

Interest groups

Organization of like minded people whose goal is to influence public policy and legislation

Political parties

Organizations that try to get people elected to public office locally and nationally

Straight Ticket Ballot

POTUS Andre VOPUS have same ideals

Split Ticket Ballot

POTUS and VOPTUS have opposing, balancing ideals

Electorate

Those qualified to vote in election

Closed primary

Registered party members vote

Suffrage

Right to vote

How have changes in technology influenced political communication and behavior?

-political knowledge is instant -information could be bias -politicians respond to events on media and reactions of people -how information is conveyed, perceived, and taken by the people will influence what politicians will do

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission 2010

-political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions are protected speech under 1st amd -increase in campaign sending -rise of super PAC

Perspective Voting

-prediction of how will perform in future -party or candidate

Protest Movement

-protest status of its members and demand gov to take remedial action

What are thee different modes of voting behavior?

-rational -retrospective -perspective

Interest Group Role

-represent special or general interests -inform voters/office holders -draft legislation -get earmarks in legislation -mobilize membership

Retrospective Voting

-should be reelected based on recent past -party of candidate

Negatives of Interest Groups

-special interest over common good -gridlock in dc -elections less competitive -influence of money inhibits progress -innovation -needed change

What are other factors that influence voter turnout?

-state voter registration laws -procedures on how, when, and where to vote -mid term (congressional) or general presidential elections

Political Platform

-stated set of beliefs -policy views

Party Line Voting

-support one political party for all public offices across the ballot -'straight ticket ballot'

How effective are the various methods of political participation in shaping public policies?

-the issues that get the correct media coverage are very effective -issues that don't receive media coverage are overlooked

Role of Media for Political Parties

-use communication technology and voter data management -clarify political messages (control perception) -enhance outreach -mobilization efforts

Social movement

-widely shared demand for change in some aspect of the social or political order

Presidential Election Process

1. Decision to run 2. State primaries/caucuses 3. Win delegates 4. National convention (platform, delegates, superdelegates) 5. Nominated by party (split or balance ticket?) 6. General election

How do the 15th, 17th, 19th, 24th, and 26th amendment's expand political participation?

15th: cannot deny vote because of race 17th: direct election of senators 19th: women can vote 24th: no poll tax 26th: 18 yrs old to vote

Party Realignment Time Periods

1840s-1960s: solid south (D) Early 1900s: labor unions (D) Early 1970s: states rights (R) 1980s: social conservatives (R) Present day: urban=liberal, rural=conservative

Incumbent

Current officeholder

Open primary

Declare party on ballot

Defranchise

Denied the right to vote

Frontload

Get primary/caucuses as early as possible to her greater impact on nomination conventions

[T/F] Debates have increased over free speech and competitive and fair elections related to money and campaign funding (including contributions from individuals, PAC, and political parties)

True

[T/F] Different types of political action committees (PACs) influence elections and policy making through fundraising and spending.

True

[T/F] Elections and political parties are related to major policy shifts or initiates occasionally leading to political realignments of voting constituents.

True

[T/F] Factors associated with political ideology, efficacy, structural barriers and demographic influence the nature and degree of political participation.

True

[T/F] Parties have adopted candidate centered campaigns and their role in nominating candidates has weakened.

True

[T/F] Parties modify their politics and messaging to appeal to various demographic conditions

True

[T/F] Political participation is influenced by a variety of media coverage, analysis, and commentary on political events

True

[T/F] Political parties, interest groups, and social movements provide opportunities for participation and influence how people relate to government and policy makers.

True

[T/F] The impact of federal policies on campaigning and electoral rules continues to be contested by both sides of the spectrum.

True

[T/F] The media's use of polling results convey popular levels of trust and confidence in government can impact elections by turning such events into 'horse races' based more on popularity and factors other than qualifications and platforms of candidates

True

[T/F] The rapidly increasing demand for media and political communication outlets form an ideological diverse audience have led to debates over media bias and the impact of media ownership and partisan news sites

True

[T/F] The various forms of media provide citizens with political information and influence the ways in which they participate politically.

True

[T/F] Traditional use of the media, new communication technologies, and advances in social media have profoundly influenced how citizens routinely acquire political information, including new evens, investigative journalism, election coverage, and political commentary.

True

[T/F] Winner take all allocations of voters per state (except Maine and Nebraska) under the setup of the electoral college compare to the national popular vote for president raises questions about whether the electoral college facilities or impedes democracy.

True

Blanket primary

Vote for whatever party anytime

Election

Voting for public office