AP Gov Unit 5

public opinion polls

what the public thinks about a particular issue/set of issues at any point in time

margin of error

natural errors in statistical measurement

sampling error

results from using an improper sample

random sampling

every person has same chance of selection- may over/under sample some groups

tracking polls

continuous surveys that charts a candidates rise/fall of support

exit polls

polls conducted as voters leave polling places on Election Day

push polls

polls taken to give responders negative/untrue information about their opponent
- not scientific

Conservative

defender of the status quo
- favor limited government, especially in economic affairs

Liberal

wants changes in political/economic/social situations and the development of equality
- suport social welfare programs
- oppose government efforts to regulate government behavior

Moderates

centrist view on most political issues
- most people are moderates

political socialization

the process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions

Influences on Political Attitudes/Values and on Voter Turnout

- PARENTS!!!!
- friends
- wealth/incom
- gender
- race/ethnicity
- age
- religion

party realignment

dramatic shifts in partisan preferences that drastically alter the political landscape

secular realignment

gradual realignment of party coalitions

critical elections

signals a party realignment
- 1800 (Federalists to Democratic- Republicans)
- 1860 (Lincoln Winning)
- 1932 (FDR winning, rejected republicans)

political machines

party organization that recruits voter loyalty with tangible incentives (controlled local politicians)
- provide housing, employment, food, entertainment, etc
- part of the Golden Age of political parties
- used illegal methods
- very corrupt
- when stopped, parties become less effected

candidate-centered politics

focuses on candidates, their issues, and character rather than party affiliation
- care more about the candidate than the party they are affiliated with

issue- oriented politics

care more about the issue than political party

ticket splitting

voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices
- increasing in popularity

Minor Parties in Americas 2 Party System

- don't get elected on a national level b/c of lack of funding
- can take away votes from major parties, which allowed the other party can win (spoilers)
- usually get the main party candidate to talk about their issues

plurality system

person with the most votes wins
- a majority is not needed
- not in electoral college

Why are parties most visible in Congress?

the whole structure of congress is based on party
- majority party has control (speaker, chair)

party identification

citizens attachment to a political party based on issues, ideology, etc

National Committees

- RNC and DNC (dems and republicans)
- organize national contention and coordinate presidential campaign
- raise funds and work with media

national convention

nominates presidential candidates (every 4 years)
- mobilizes supporters, create party platform and party rules

National Chairperson

- selected by sitting president/newly nominated candidate
- primary spokesperson for the party between elections
- active all the time

National Party Platform

issues that are going to be important to the party
- set at the national convention

caucus

method of choosing delegates
- listen to speeches made by candidates and make a well informed vote

runoff primary

a 2nd primary election held when no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the 1st primary
- between the top 2 in the 1st primary

ballot measures

give citizens more control over policy making
- initiative, referendum

primary elections

voters decide which candidates will represent the party in the general election- open and closed primaries

closed primaries

only registered party members can vote

open primaries

any qualified voter can participate, not just a party member

frontloading

tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention
- elongates campaign

referendum

state legislature submits proposed legislation to the voters for approval

initiative

allows citizens to propose legislation by submitting to the electorate for popular vote

recall election

elections where voters can remove an incumbent from office before the next election

mandate

a command for the elected officials to carry out a party platform

electoral college

representatives of each state who cast the final ballots that actually elect a president

electorate

citizens eligible to vote

retrospective judgment

a voter's evaluation of a candidate based on past performance on a particular issue

prospective judgment

a voter's evaluation of a candidate based on what he or she pledges to do about an issue if elected

Number To Win the Electoral Vote

270

positive ads

stress candidates qualifications with no references to opponent

negative ads

attacks the opponents character/platform

contrast ads

compares candidates with obvious bias to add sponsor

inoculation ads

preemptive counterattack again suspected attack from opponent

campaign manager

travels with candidate and coordinates the campaign

finance chair

coordinates the financial of the campaign

pollster

conducts public opinion surveys

communications director

develops candidates media strategy

press secretary

interacts and communicates with journalists on a daily basis

campaign consultant

private sector professional who sells a candidate the rech/services/strategies to get elected
- many hire specialized consults with have 1 area of expertise

Get Out The Vote

a push at the end of a political campaign where the candidate encourages supporters to go to the polls

Candidate Debates

- increases knowledge about candidate
- doesn't change the outcome of the elections much
- help voters see diffrences

conventional political participation

activism that attempts to influence the political process through commonly accepted forms of persuasion

unconventional political participation

activism that attempts to influence the political process through unusual/extreme methods- ex; boycotts, protests, etc

reapportionment

reallocation of House seats after a census

incumbency advantage

- congressional staffers promote the legislator through constituency services
- high visibility in districts b/c they have access to events and media
- scare off effect
- access to free mass mailing
- have name recognition

presidential coattails

winning candidate party tends to get more Congress seats

midterm elections

- usually a decline in votes for presidents party
- lower voter turnout

census

population count that happens every 10 years
- congressional redistricting after every census

redistricting

redrawing of congressional after the census
- to accommodate population shifts and keep districts equal

Citizens United v. FEC

corporations and unions have the same free speech rights as individuals (1st Amendment)
- means they cant be prevent from using their money to support a candidate

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)
(aka McCahin-Feingold)

regulates political advertising and funding (created black out period and regulated soft money)
- 2007 SC Decision: 30 & 60 day blackout placed on ads was unconstitutional
- 2008 SC Decision: overturned limit on amount of the candidates own money they can spend

soft money

unregulated and unlimited campaign contributions

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

independent regulatory agency that enforces election laws

Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

established disclosure requirements for contributions to federal campaigns

dark money

political spending meant to influence the decision of a voter where the donor isn't disclosed and the source of the money is unknown
- ex; political nonprofits
- give tons to super pacs
- spend alot on ads

super PAC's

political action committees established to make independent expenditures

527 political committees

organizations created to influence electoral outcomes
- basically Super PAC's

"leadership" PAC's

congressional leadership will set up a PAC to help their party members get reelected

Problems with the Electoral Process

- excessive campaign length
- campaign financing
- irrational nomination process

rapid response techniques

if there's a scandal; background research -\> opinion poll -\> spin -\> reply
- trying to counter fast

George Washington Farewell Warning

factions/political parties are bad
- weakens the public administration
- increases conflict

Democratic Party

generally liberal idea

Republican Party

generally conservative ideas

party dealignment

people gradually moving away from
political parties
- lower party identification

Madison's Definition of Faction

a group of people united by a common interest, contrary to the rights of others and of the common good

Causes of Factions

- differences in religion
- differences in ideas about government
- charismatic leaders
- class/economic differences

Possible Ways to Combat Factions

- remove causes (wont work)
- control effects (larger republics work to stop factions)

Madison solution to the problem of faction

- you cant prevent factions from forming
- representative democracy/large republic will reduce effects of factions

gerrymandering

redrawing congressional districts to benefit a party/person/group of people

19th Amendment

gave women the right to vote

26th Amendment

lowered the voting age to 18

advocacy ads

support a specific candidate

12th Amendment

separated votes for President and Vice President
- they run together on one ticket

bandwagon effect

a shift in electoral support to the candidate who public opinion polls report as the front-runner
-"i should think this way because everyone else does"

libertarians

government needs to stay out of peoples lives
- conservative on economic issues, liberal on social issues

Why is voter turnout important?

the more people that vote the more legitimate the election is

Voting Rights Act of 1965

law designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African-American suffrage
- ending literacy tests and poll taxes

National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (Motor Voter Act)

when you get your license, you can register to vote

internet voting

proposed but hasn't happened b/c of hacking

mail-in ballots

used to be absentee only, but now more popular

delegates

representatives chosen in the primary
- cast your vote or whoever your state nominated

superdelegates

national party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot
- Democratics only

electors

people elected by the voters in a presidential election
- members of house + members of senate (2)

Bush v. Gore

declared that Florida vote recount violated equal protection clause
- judicial review decided 2000 election

Solutions To Electoral College

- national popular vote (plurality vote issue)
- congressional district plan (each district gets 1 vote, state winner gets 2 from senators)

Why don't people vote?

- lack of interest
- don't like any of the candidates
- election day weather is bad
- failure to register