Exam 3 Study Guide - Topic 3: Voting and Elections

Flashcards covering important concepts from Voting and Elections, Political Culture, and Interest Groups as addressed in the lecture.

Who was allowed to vote when our nation was founded?

White wealthy property owning men

What amendments impacted voting rights?

1. Fifteenth Amendment (1870): Prohibits denying the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

2. Nineteenth Amendment (1920): Grants women the right to vote, prohibiting any U.S. citizen from being denied the right to vote on the basis of sex.

3. Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971): Lowers the voting age to 18 years, ensuring that younger citizens have the right to vote.

How does US voter participation compare with other democratic countries?

US voter participation is lower than in other democratic countries

What is the voter participation percentage in presidential elections?

Approximately 55% of the voting population

What is the difference between the popular vote and the electoral college vote?

The popular vote is the total votes cast, while the electoral college vote is made by elected officials.

What was the outcome of the 2020 presidential election compared to 2016?

Significant increase in voter turnout and a change in electoral results

Who is responsible for voter registration?

The individual is responsible for registering to vote

Which level of government controls voter registration requirements?

State government controls voter registration requirements

How are political candidates selected in the US?

Through primary elections

What are some impediments to voting?

Voter registry laws and requirements, real IDs

What accounts for decreased voter turnout?

Factors include satisfaction with government, barriers to satisfaction, and rational calculation

What is the incumbent advantage?

Incumbents, or already elected officials, have a 90% chance of being re-elected.

What is divided government?

A situation where two different parties control different branches of government

What is American political culture?

A shared body of values and beliefs that shapes perceptions towards politics and government.

What is public opinion?

The aggregate of attitudes and opinions of individuals on significant issues.

What is political socialization?

Factors that contribute to shaping a person's political beliefs and opinions

What are the agents of socialization?

Family, school, church, generational effects, and media influence

What is public opinion polling?

The process of gauging the attitudes and opinions of individuals regarding significant issues

What can affect the accuracy of opinion polling?

Erroneous methods and sampling errors can diminish polling accuracy

Where do most people get their information about politics?

Mainly through TV

What media outlet is largely unregulated?

The Internet

Why do political candidates engage in negative campaigning?

It tends to attract attention and constitutes a large portion of political ads

What is the most important aspect of the media's role in newsmaking?

Being a gatekeeper and framing

What does muckraking refer to?

investigative journalism that aims to expose corruption, scandals, and societal issues, particularly in politics and business

What is a political party?

An intermediary organization that works between people and government to get candidates elected.

What are the types of political parties?

Ideological (libertarians), protest(populists), single-issue(green), and splinter parties(progressives)

What party system does the US have?

A two-party winner takes all system.

What is a winner-take-all system?

A system where single-member districts elect one person based on who gets the most votes

What is a proportional representation system?

Seats are allocated to parties in proportion to the votes each receives.

What type of party system do we have in the US?

The US uses a winner-takes-all system.

What is a party platform?

A set of principles and goals that political organizations strive to achieve.

What views are typically held by Republicans?

Traditional values, status quo, public order, and free-market.

What views do Democrats typically hold?

An optimistic view of human nature, support for civil rights, and favor regulation.

Which demographic will be important for the future of both parties?

The Hispanic vote.

What is the definition of an interest group?

A political organization that seeks to influence government policy.

What are some types of interest groups?

Business, professional, labor, farm, women's, and religious organizations.

Which type of interest groups are the most numerous?

Business and trade organizations.

What is a collective good?

a resource or service that is provided to all members of a community, which benefits everyone regardless of individual contributions, such as clean air, public parks, or national defense

How do interest groups function?

Direct and indirect lobbying

What is an amicus curiae brief?

A document submitted by interested parties to provide information to the court.

What is an iron triangle?

A mutually beneficial relationship between interest groups, congressional committees, and bureaucratic agencies.

What are direct lobbying tactics?

Public relations, access to government officials, and information sharing.

What are indirect lobbying tactics?

Grassroots mobilization and coalition building.

Why are direct lobbying tactics successful?

build personal relationships with lawmakers, provide specialized information, and exert influence on policy decisions through targeted communication

What is grassroots lobbying?

Mobilizing constituents to influence legislators on issues.