govt 2306 exam 3

elect office, peaceful transition of power, means of expression, law making, amending constitution

5 functions of elections

referendum

vote on a particular proposition

initiative

propose legislation

recall

vote to remove elected officeholders from position

texas limits on referendum

citizens cannot place a proposition on the ballot

texas limits on initiative and recall

no statewide policy, only local

closed

primary - register for specific party, vote on party-specific ballot

open

primary - choose which party ballot you’d like when you arrive to polling location

wide open blanket

primary - two ballots, can cross-party vote

nominee represents party loyalists, low info cost, no manipulation

advantages to closed primary

limited to your party, doesn’t represent average voter

disadvantages to closed primary

nominee reflects all voters, anyone can participate

advantages to open primary

doesn’t reflect party loyalists, nominees may be to similar

disadvantages to open primary

cross-party vote, all parties have a candidate on ballot (partisan), maximizes choice

advantages to wide open primary

high info cost, all candidates may be from same party in general (non partisan)

disadvantages to wide open primary

little representation, polarization, non-competitive elections

consequences of low voter turnout

1 ½ party system: republic of texas, entrance into texas, civil war, post 1990s

historical reasons for low voter turnout

business + trade, professional, labor union

three economic organized interests

reap benefits without doing the work

free rider problem

material incentives

incentives - money, insurance, trips, events

soliditary incentives

incentives - community, networking

purposive incentives

incentive - doing the right thing

grassroots lobbying

mobilizing the public to support

astroturf lobbying

small group pretends they mobilized the public

professional lobbying

hire a lobbyist

grasstop lobbying

mobilize influential community leaders

issue advocacy

OIs advocate for specific issues without endorsing the election / candidate

struck down limits on campaign expedintures, upheld limits on individual contributions, method of appointing members to FEC was unconstitutional

Buckey v Valeo (1976)

restrictions on independent expedintures by unions and corporations, political spending is protected, upheld requirements for disclosure

Citizens United v FEC (2010)

texas ethics commission

who regulates lobbying, interest groups, and campaign contributions

tax collection, record keeping, law enforcement, road/bridges, elections, health

responsibilities of country governments

separation of powers

what do counties violate

general law cities

state law specify structure of govt, types of ordinances, limits to annexation, election system

home rule cities

5000 residents, write city charter, residents vote on it

mayor-council

elected mayor + elected council

council-manager

elected council + hired manager

city commissioner

elected dept. heads

geographical representation, low info cost, equal representation

adv of single member district

gerrymandering, redraw districts

dis of single member district

no gerrymandering, elected represents all voters

adv of at large

high info cost, minority struggles, lack of true majority

dis of at large

organized ballot

adv of at large by place

can’t vote for everyone you like

dis of at large by place

intensity of vote, minority representation, maximize choice

adv of cumulative

lose track of votes, not 1 vote 1 person

dis of cumulative