CSU POLS 101 Exam 2

Pluralism (interest groups)

Many interest groups for any interest

3 Functions of Today's Political Parties

1. Governing bodies

2. Ideological bodies

3. Run campaigns

Dealignment

Unaffiliated with any political party

Realignment

When one party has been in power for a long time and it switches over.

Election Cycle Step 1

Money Primary (2 yrs before election)

Election Cycle Step 2

Primary/Caucus Season(Jan-June)

Election Cycle Step 3

National Convention (Summer)

Election Cycle Step 4

"Bounce" (of public opinion) (Right After N.C.)

Election Cycle Step 5

Campaign (Up to election)

Election Cycle Step 6

Election Day (1st tues after 1st Mon of Nov.)

Election Cycle Step 7

Gathering of Electoral College (December)

Group Joining

Has had a gradual downfall in America

Inside Game

Professional Lobbyist

Outside Game

Interest group telling people to apply pressure

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.

Dimensions of Public Opinion

Breadth, Salience, Intensity, Stability, Translation into behavior

Lifecycle of Social Movements

Coalescing, Agenda, Institutionalization, Revitalization, Ceases to Exist

Barriers to Voting

Registration requirements, Election day timing, Too much complexity

Who votes?

older, educated, employed, high income, white

Who does not vote?

young, unemployed, uneducated, low income

Linkage

The way the public communicates with the government

Public Opinion

Surveys/Polls

Breadth

Multiple Choice

Salience

Open Ended

Intensity

How strongly people feel about certain political issues.

Stability

Public opinion being stable over time

Translation of Behavior

Personal & Voting behavior

Public Opinion Influences

Media, social & economic change, focusing events (usually crisis)

Social Movement

A loosely organized collection of people and groups who act over time, outside established institutions, to promote or resist social change

Partial Policy Success

"Throwing them a bone"

Interest Group

An association of people with common interests who organize to influence policy change

Interest Group Strategies

Gifts, lobbying

Direct Lobbying

Direct interaction with public officials for the purpose of influencing policy decisions

Indirect Lobbying

attempts to influence government policymakers by encouraging the general public to put pressure on them

Orchestrated Events

Events put on by interest groups

Long term media campaigns to influence public opinion

PSA, Filing lawsuits, campaign contributions