American Political Parties and Systems

Flashcards covering American political parties, voting behavior, media influence, and democratic reforms based on weeks 8 through 15 of the lecture notes.

What were the two primary concerns the Founding Fathers had regarding political parties (factions)?

They worried parties would divide the country and put party loyalty over national interest.

When did the first American political parties emerge and what were they called?

They emerged in the 1790s as the Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party.

What are the three parts of political parties as described by the PIG-PIE-PO framework?

1. Parties in Government (PIG): Elected officials making laws. 2. Parties in the Electorate (PIE): Ordinary voters. 3. Parties as Organizations (PO): Party leaders, staff, and fundraising groups.

What event in the 1960s triggered the Southern Realignment, and what was the result?

The Civil Rights laws (e.g., Civil Rights Act of 1964) caused the South to shift from Democratic to Republican support.

According to Duverger’s Law, why does plurality voting lead to a two-party system?

Because voting for small parties is seen as a ‘wasted vote,’ leading people to choose viable candidates.

What is the difference between symbolic and operational ideology?

Symbolic ideology is what you call yourself (liberal/conservative), whereas operational ideology refers to your actual policy views.

How does ‘sorting’ differ from ‘polarization’ in political parties?

Sorting is when parties become ideologically consistent, while polarization is when parties move farther apart from one-another.

What are the three steps in Zaller’s RAS Model?

1. Receive (get info), 2. Accept (if it fits beliefs), and 3. Sample (use what is ‘on top of mind’).

What is the primary motivation for modern media outlets?

Profit, driven by ratings and clicks.

Explain the difference between Priming and Framing in media coverage.

Priming influences which issues people think about, while framing influences how those specific issues are presented (e.g., ‘tax relief’ vs. ‘tax cuts’).

What is the ‘Miracle of Aggregation’ in polling?

The idea that while individual opinions may be messy, group averages remain stable and accurate.

What are the three principles of effective polling?

Random sampling, large sample size, and neutral wording.

What is the ideal sample size for a poll, and is bigger always better?

The ideal size is approximately $1,000$ to $1,500$; after that, a bigger sample is not significantly better.

What are the typical turnout rates for Presidential versus Midterm elections in the U.S.?

Presidential elections have higher turnout ($\approx 60\%$) whereas midterms are lower ($\approx 40\%$).

What is the difference between an Australian ballot and a party ballot?

A party ballot is party-controlled, while an Australian ballot is secret and government-controlled.

What was the significance of the Buckley v. Valeo court case?

It established that money equals speech, which allows for limits on donations but protects spending.

What did the Citizens United v. FEC ruling allow?

Unlimited independent spending in political campaigns.

What is the ‘revolving door’ in the context of lobbying?

The practice of individuals moving between government jobs and lobbying positions.

Distinguish between de jure and de facto discrimination.

De jure is discrimination by law, and de facto is informal discrimination that exists in practice.

What were the three waves of immigration in U.S. history?

1. Early (Europe), 2. Industrial era (Southern/Eastern Europe), and 3. Post-1965 (Latin America, Asia).

What does the 14th Amendment establish regarding citizenship?

Birthright Citizenship: anyone born in the U.S. is a citizen.

What are the four components of the ‘American Creed’?

Liberty, Equality, Individualism, and Democracy.

What is the difference between retrospective and prospective voting?

Retrospective voting judges a candidate on past performance, whereas prospective voting is based on future promises.

What does the Median Voter Theorem suggest about candidate behavior?

It suggests candidates will move toward the center (median) voters to capture the majority.

What is ‘Ranked Choice Voting (RCV)’?

A system where voters rank candidates; the lowest-ranked are eliminated until one candidate reaches a majority.