unit 5 packet- political participation

National Voter Registration Act

"Motor voter Act"- required states to allow voters to register when they get their driver's license

member groups

-defined membership fees and offer incentives to members to join -potential for upper class bias in these member groups due to the necessity of required financial contributions

Cons of a two party system

-furthers divisions within public opinion -prevents minority opinions from making an impact -domination of our system of government and process of elections

top network news

ABC, NBC, CBS

top cable News

FOX, CNN, MSNBC

Ideological Groups

Promotes policies based on a set of core political or religious beliefs

splinter/fractional/bolter parties

blocs who break off from existing parties

Super PACs

political action committees established to make independent expenditures

intergovernmental groups

state government officials seeking federal grant money form intergovernmental lobbies with offices in DC

Voting Models

the way people vote or the way they feel influenced to vote

fundraising

through donations and membership fees, well-funded groups can make a larger impact on policymaking

background of US elections

-began as caucuses of important members in society -became an exclusive club of politicians due to patronage and backroom deal (election of 1824) -the primary system was adapted to make elections more democratic

Pros of Interest Groups

-can establish tight, mutually beneficial relationships -can empower the american pic by creating beneficial policy -interest group members feel their voices have been heard

cons of interest groups

-can lengthen the time period of policy creation -empowers corporations who lobby to congress logrolling -can lead to more red tape for everyday citizens

struggles of minor parties

-division of public opinion and the institutional blocks of our election system prevent minor party candidates from being elected -major political parties have billions of dollars spent on each campaign -major parties attempt to prevent minor candidates from even appearing on the ticket

the role of the media in bureaucratic and congressional policy making

-due to the connection to the media, issue networks have grown in size and influence -social media has also grown in size and influence, giving a voice to many Americans regarding public policy -news outlets can choose which stories to run regarding policy creation (gatekeeper) and often narrow-cast based on their network agenda -as watchdog, the media can also uncover scandal within the bureaucracy and pressure committees to take action

primary elections

-elections held prior to the November general election -election of 1968 led to binding primaries that require state delegate to vote at the convention to reflect voter majority

business

-in response to laborers unionizing, businesses soon formed organizations to protect their own interest, businesses had more money than laborers and were able to gain access to policy makers more easily

Pros of a two party system

-involved greater numbers of people in the electoral process -the parties serve as a check on one another -simplifies the voting process for individual voters

categories in running a campaign

-management -public relations -research -advertising -fund-raising -voter mobilization

incumbent advantages

-name recognition -pac and party funding -local offices with employees -coattail effect

labor

-progressive era labor unions helped paved the way for exercising the 1st amendment right -the AFL successfully used tactics like collective bargaining and striking to achieve better working conditions

federal governance of elections

-sets dates for federal, general elections -has judicial jurisdiction on election policy -addresses suffrage in constitutional amendments -enforces relevant civil rights legislation -administration and enforces campaign finance rules (fec regulates)

state governance of elections

-sets times and locations for elections, most dates -chooses format of ballot and how to file for candidacy -creates rules and procedure for voter registration -draws congressional district lines -certifies election results days after election day

congressional campaigns

-to complete in modern campaigns for congress, candidates must operate a well oiled machine of network organization -spend personal money -solicit hundreds of donors -24/7 job

types of realignment

1. major defeat kills a party and it is replaced 2. blocs of voters shift allegiance over wedge issues

what does the media do

1. reports the news 2. acts as intermediary between government and citizens 3. determines which issues should be discussed 4. keeps people actively involved in society and politics

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

1st Amendment protects campaign spending; legislatures can limit contributions, but not how much one spends of his own money on campaigns.

Iron Triangle

A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group

Electoral College

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

caucus

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.

Green Party

A minor party dedicated to the environment, social justice, nonviolence, and the foreign policy of nonintervention. Ralph Nader ran as the Green party's nominee in 2000.

Reform Party

A minor party founded by Ross Perot in 1995. It focuses on national government reform, fiscal responsibility, and political accountability. It has recently struggled with internal strife and criticism that it lacks an identity.

Libertarian Party

A minor party that believes in extremely limited government. Libertarians call for a free market system, expanded individual liberties such as drug legalization, and a foreign policy of nonintervention, free trade, and open immigration.

objective journalism

A model of news reporting that is based on the communication of "facts" rather than opinions and that is "fair" in that it presents all sides of partisan debate.

national party convention

A national meeting of delegates elected in primaries, caucuses, or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president, ratify the party platform, elect officers, and adopt rules.

open primary

A primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place

closed primary

A primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote

Realignment

A process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape.

Federal Election Commission

A six-member bipartisan agency created by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974. The federal Election Commission administers and enforces campaign finance laws.

bundling

A tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals (each limited to $2000) and present them to a candidate or political party as a "bundle," thus increasing the PAC's influence.

501(c)(3) organization

A tax code classification that applies to most interest groups; this designation makes donations to the group tax-deductible but limits the group's political activities.

16th Amendment

Allows the federal government to collect income tax

Federal Communications Commission

An agency of the federal government with authority to develop regulations for the broadcast media.

safe seat

An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted.

proportional representation

An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.

single-member district

An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

Banned soft money donations to political parties (loophole from FECA); also imposed restrictions on 527 independent expenditures (issue ads only, not direct advocacy for a candidate). Declared unconstitutional by Citizens United case. Also known as McCain-Feingold Act.

soft money

Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.

17th Amendment

Direct election of senators

midterm election

Elections held midway between presidential elections.

revolving door

Employment cycle in which individuals who work for governmental agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern.

Lobbying

Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact.

independent expenditures

Expenses on behalf of a political message that are made by groups that are uncoordinated with any candidate's campaign.

Federal Election Campaign Act

First major federal law (1971) to regulate federal elections. Created Federal Election Commission (FEC). Required disclosure of sources of campaign funds (transparency), set limits on contributions to candidates (individuals = $1000, PACs = $5000), spending limits for candidates, limits on independent expenditures.

19th amendment

Gave women the right to vote

Professional Associations

Groups of individuals who share a common profession and are often organized for common political purposes related to that profession.

candidate appeal

How voters feel about a candidate's background, personality, leadership ability, and other personal qualities.

Help America Vote Act

Legislation passed in 2002 to aid states in upgrading voting equipment

501(c)(4)

Nonprofit group that is permitted to lobby and campaign; donations to it are not tax deductible.

527 organizations

Organizations that, under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, raise and spend money to advance political causes

Socialist Party

Political Party in the United States which supports socialism - working people own and control the means of production and distribution through democratically- controlled public agencies, cooperatives, or other collective groups.

hard money

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed.

issue network

Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share a common policy concern.

Branzburg v. Hayes

Reporters do not have right of confidentiality, no special privilege

Democrat platform

Strong civil rights program, medical insurance for elderly and poor, help under developed nations, clean up slums in american cities, space race needs to speed up, more money for conservation -factions include moderate wing, conservative wing etc

Schenck v. United States

Supreme court decides that any actions taken that present a "clear and present danger" to the public or government isn't allowed, this can limit free speech

broadcast media

Television and radio -more Americans get their news from tv than any other sources

political efficacy

The belief that one's political participation really matters - that one's vote can actually make a difference

coattail effect

The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot, especially the president.

national tide

The inclination to focus on national issues, rather than local issues, in an election campaign. The impact of the national tide can be reduced by the nature of the candidates on the ballot who might have differentiated themselves from their party or its leader if the tide is negative, as well as competition in the election.

Gatekeeper

The media can influence what subjects become national political issues and for how long.

selective perception

The phenomenon that people often pay the most attention to things they already agree with and interpret them according to their own predispositions.

watchdog

The role played by the national media in investigating political personalities and exposing scandals.

scorekeeper

The role played by the national media in keeping track of and helping make political reputations.

Federalist 10

Topic = factions (interest groups); minority factions controlled by majority; majority faction controlled by greater size of USA + virtuous leaders

issue advocacy

Unlimited and undisclosed spending by an individual or group on communications that do not use words like "vote for" or "vote against," although much of this activity is actually about electing or defeating candidates.

Republican National Committee

a U.S. political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy.

coalition

a group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends

voting blocs

a group of voters that are strongly motivated by a specific common concern or group of concerns to the point that such specific concerns tend to dominate their voting patterns, causing them to vote together in elections

blanket primary

a primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties

confirmation bias

a tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence

interpretive journalism

a type of journalism that involves analyzing and explaining key issues or events and placing them in a broader historical or social context

Democratic National Convention

a us political committee designed to develop the democratic party's platform, strategizing for elections, and campaign fundraising

issue ads

ads that focus on issues and do not explicitly encourage citizens to vote for a certain candidate

Republican Platform

against raising taxes, antiabortion, less government control/influence. -factions include libertarians, anti-communist etc

primary election

an election held to choose candidates for office

winner-take-all system

an election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins

public interest group

an organization that seeks a collective good that will not selectively and materially benefit group members

how do you become a delegate

be a top offical in the state party, be chosen by a national campaign to serve as a delegate, be elected directly at the stae primary, be appointed directly by the state party committee

economic protest parties

concerned with current economic trends

single-issue parties

created to advance a particular policy or to solve one particular political concern

1932-present realignment

democratic platform slowly becomes socially liberal

1824-1860 realignment

democrats emerge, whigs emerge then die, republicans emerge

1860-1896 realignment

democrats falter

1800-1824 realignment

federalist die

ideological parties

follow a prescribed ideology alternative to current government

war chest

funds collected by a candidate to spend on a political campaign

Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)

funds the public broadcasting service (PBS) and National public radio (NPR) with grants in order to offer tv programming to children and less privileged citizens. public funding is also vital for these networks to remain on the airways

news media

groups that communicate information to the public through a variety of means -methods: tv, websites/social media

party convention

held every four years by each of the major political parties to nominate a presidential candidate

corporations

hire professional lobbyists and attorneys to represnt their interests in DC

delegate

individuals chosen to represent their state at their party conventions prior to a presidential election

Internet Media

media that include websites, blogs, and social media sites that can be accessed through an internet connection

horse race journalism

news coverage that focuses on who is ahead rather than on the issues

partisan journalism

news sources that serve as the voices of political parties

print media

newspapers and magazines readership has rapidly declined

limitations of the media

no slander or libel (defamation)

divided government

one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

political parties

organized groups of people who share similar beliefs about how the government should be run and how the issues facing our country should be solved. -parties work together to nominate candidates for office and then fund raise and campaign to get those candidates elected -once elected these officials work to implement the party's desired policies

Constitution Party

political party that recognized no political principles other than the constitution, the union, and enforcement of the laws

1896-1932 realignment

populists and progressives merge with the democrats

national popular vote plan

proposal for electing the President whereby each State's election laws would provide for all of the State's electoral votes to be awarded to the winner of the national popular vote and enter into an interstate compact agreeing to elect the President by national popular vote

interest groups

purpose: protect the general welfare of citizens from the government method of action: lobbying at both the state and national level; make legislation that acts in the best interest of the people effect: increased political participation, increased polarization and division among the general public

party realignment

realignments occur when voters switch party allegiance during times of crisis or uncertainty, usually marked by critical elections

yellow journalism

reporting shocking and sordid stories in order to attract readers and sell more subscriptions

1980-present realignment

republican platform increasingly becomes more conservative

the amount of delegates needed

republicans; 2,472 (1,237 to win) democrats: 4,750 (2,382 to win) super delegates (712 democrats)

1960s and 70s

social movements after WWII sparked the creation of multiple interest groups and organizations

society

social movements have led to governmental reform across the board, including congressional laws, constitutional amendments, executive actions and supreme court decisions

Bipartisanship

support from both parties for policy, e.g., a bipartisan foreign policy.

Narrowcasting

targeting media programming at specific populations within society

Bias in the media

the bias or perceived bias of journalists and news producers within the mass media in the selection of events and stories that are reported and how they are covered

local new

the chief source for how the majority of Americans obtain news updates

selective attention

the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

front-loaded campaign

the practice of moving presidential primary elections to the early part of the campaign, to maximize the impact of certain states or regions on the nomination.

New York Times v. Sullivan

the press is not guilty of libel unless actual malice can be proven