Political Parties and Campaigns in the U.S.

What two figures were the first political parties in the United States centered around?

Hamilton and Jefferson.

What is a key restriction on how PACs can spend money to support a candidate?

The spending effort cannot be coordinated with the candidate.

What was one of the greatest setbacks to the organizational strength of political parties in the United States?

The direct primary.

What demographic are both political parties trying to attract for future electoral success?

Hispanic voters.

What medium is predicted to become the most important in election politics?

The Internet.

Did the issue of slavery give birth to the Whig Party as a major political party?

False.

Which party is an example of a single-issue party?

Greenback Party.

What was Andrew Jackson's contribution to the development of political parties?

Formation of a new type of grassroots party organization.

What type of voting is based on judgment about the past performance of an elected official or political party?

Retrospective voting.

What do 'linkage institutions' do?

They connect citizens with government.

Who are some active participants in political campaigns?

Media consultants, pollsters, campaign consultants, fundraising specialists.

What characterizes prospective voting?

Choices based on what candidates promise to do if elected.

What is the majority of the money used for in political campaigns?

Paying for television ads.

What is the most important and influential media source for modern election campaigns?

Television.

What voting behavior reflects strong party loyalty?

Straight-ticket voting.

What is straight-ticket voting?

Voting for all candidates of one party in an election.

What is split-ticket voting?

Voting for candidates from different parties in the same election.

What is the winner-take-all system also known as?

The plurality system.

What are proportional representation systems?

Systems where seats in the legislature are allocated according to each political party's share of the popular vote.

What is impossible to separate from the history of democratic government?

Political parties.

What is one of the strongest evidences of a recent party realignment?

The tendency of the South to vote Republican.

Do political parties ensure the acknowledgment and celebration of political victories?

False.

What is the main criticism of Super PACs?

They give too much influence to the wealthy.

What defines a collective good?

A good that cannot be selectively granted or denied to individuals; it belongs to all.

What is a purposive incentive?

The satisfaction of contributing to a worthy goal or purpose.

What is an iron triangle?

A small and informal but relatively stable set of bureaucrats, legislators, and lobbyists who promote a particular interest.

What does pluralist theory suggest?

Society's interests are most effectively represented through group action.

What was the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) about?

It allows corporations and labor unions to spend unlimited funds on campaigns as long as there is no coordination with the candidate.

What is a major function of political parties?

To organize elections and facilitate governance.

What is a lobbyist?

An individual who attempts to influence legislation on behalf of a special interest.

What is the role of economic activity in organized interests?

It is often the primary purpose for the most fully organized interests.

What is the relationship between high voter turnout and democratic government?

They are closely linked and often influence each other.

What is the significance of party realignment?

It indicates significant shifts in voter behavior and party support.

What is the difference between majority and plurality systems?

A majority system requires more than 50% of the votes, while a plurality system only requires the most votes.

What is the purpose of campaign contributions from PACs?

To support candidates who align with their interests.

What is the impact of economic recessions on political parties?

They can lead to shifts in party support and voter alignment.

What does the term 'political victories' refer to?

Achievements or successes gained by political parties or candidates in elections.

What advantage do economic groups have over other interest groups?

They have greater access to financial resources.

What is an informal grouping of officials, lobbyists, and policy specialists around a policy problem called?

Issue network.

How do interest groups seek to influence the courts?

By both initiating lawsuits and lobbying for certain judges to be appointed to the bench.

What is the term for the situation where individuals are tempted not to contribute to a cause because they will receive benefits regardless of their participation?

Free-rider problem.

Are business groups the most numerous economic groups?

True.

What do interest groups NOT do?

Address a broad and diverse range of public issues.

To whom do PACs tend to contribute the most money?

Incumbents.

What is an amicus brief?

A written document in which a group explains to a court its position on a legal dispute.

Which type of PACs make up the largest number?

Business PACs.

What did James Madison acknowledge about group activity?

He worried that government would be overly dominated by groups but recognized that a free society must permit advocacy of self-interest.

What type of group is the National Rifle Association an example of?

Single-issue group.

What are the water we drink and the air we breathe examples of?

Collective good.

What type of events is the news media most likely to focus on?

Timely events.

What is a characteristic of partisan-centered communications?

Fox and MSNBC use a largely partisan model of newscast presentation.

What regulatory body has oversight over broadcast radio?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

What did the Fairness Doctrine require from broadcasters?

To afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views of public importance.

Why is the news product designed to fascinate as well as inform?

News organizations are fundamentally businesses and must obtain revenue to survive.

What distinguishes objective journalism from yellow journalism?

Objective journalism is based on the communication of facts in a fair manner, while yellow journalism often exaggerates or sensationalizes.

What is a reason the news often presents an exaggerated picture of reality?

It emphasizes dramatic and compelling news stories.

What describes a low-choice media system?

Most locations had a single daily newspaper and three television networks—ABC, CBS, and NBC.

What does priming refer to in media context?

When a news viewer expects violent crime to escalate because the evening news starts with a violent crime each night.

Did early American newspapers rely on political party support for survival?

True.

What is framing in media reporting?

The process of selecting certain aspects of reality and then crafting news stories around those aspects.

What is a common effect of exposure to partisan news outlets?

People who have heavy exposure to partisan news outlets tend to misunderstand their own party's philosophy.

What is the impact of partisan Internet sites on public opinion?

Most partisan Internet sites seek to intensify partisan outrage.

How do liberal and conservative partisan talk shows differ?

They differ in the nature of language and images they use to achieve their goals.

What is a misconception about the presentation of opinions and news on the Internet?

The presentation of opinions and news on the Internet has recently been trending less partisan.

What is a common misconception about yellow journalism?

That it attempts to describe what is taking place or has occurred.

What is the 'Equal Time' rule in broadcasting?

A regulation that requires broadcasters to provide equal opportunities for political candidates to communicate their messages.

What is a potential consequence of biased news reporting?

It can lead to the formation of less extreme political opinions.

What is a key aspect of the media's obligation in reporting?

To convey a uniform and standard interpretation of a situation.

What does the term 'common-carrier function' refer to in media?

It refers to the media's role in providing a platform for all viewpoints without bias.

What is a potential outcome of sensationalized news stories?

They can distort public perception of reality.

What is the significance of the term 'signaling function' in media?

It refers to the media's role in highlighting important issues and events to the public.

How does the media's portrayal of events influence public perception?

It can shape what is on people's minds regarding certain issues.

What is the basis of objective journalism?

Objective journalism is based on the idea that the reporter's job is to scrutinize the partisan debate, not to inform the audience about which party has the better argument.

What significant event demonstrated the power of the media as a watchdog?

Watergate demonstrated the power of the media to serve as a watchdog to safeguard against abuses of power.

What characterizes the signaling function of media?

The signaling function of media is characterized by informing the public of breaking events and new developments.

What led to the start and proliferation of conservative talk radio?

The start and proliferation of conservative talk radio began after the abolition of the Fairness Doctrine.

Which institution receives the most news coverage from the national press?

The presidency receives the most news coverage from the national press.

What led editors to substitute news reports for partisan commentary?

The telegraph led editors to substitute news reports for partisan commentary.

What characterized yellow journalism of the late 19th century?

Yellow journalism was characterized by an emphasis on sensationalism as a way of selling newspapers.

Why was the federal government's licensing of broadcasting primarily based?

The licensing of broadcasting occurred primarily because of the scarcity of broadcasting frequencies.

Who can formally introduce bills in Congress?

Bills can only be formally introduced in Congress by members of Congress.

Which profession is more likely to have majority representation in Congress?

Lawyers are more likely to have a majority representation in Congress.

What is expected to happen to the president's party during midterm elections?

It is expected that the president's party usually loses seats in Congress during midterm elections.

How are differences between bills passed in the House and Senate reconciled?

Differences between bills passed in the House and Senate are reconciled by a conference committee.

What majority is needed to overturn a presidential veto in Congress?

A presidential veto can be overturned by a simple majority in the House and a three-fifths majority in the Senate.

What is required to overturn a presidential veto in Congress?

A two-thirds majority in each chamber.

What problem are Senate incumbents more likely to face than House incumbents when facing reelection?

A strong challenger.

What procedural tactic is employed in the Senate to prevent a bill from coming to a vote?

Filibuster.

How do most congressional staffers spend their time?

On legislative matters and constituency service.

What is the minimum age to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate?

25 years for the House; 30 years for the Senate.

What is the process of redistricting conducted by?

State legislatures.

What procedure in the Senate can end a filibuster?

Cloture.

Which institution was viewed by the framers of the Constitution as the most powerful?

Congress.

Who is considered the second-most powerful elected national official after the president?

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

What percentage of the time can members of the House of Representatives expect to be reelected?

92 percent.

Where is most of the work on legislation in Congress done?

By committees and their respective subcommittees.

What is legislation that targets benefits solely at a particular legislator's constituency often criticized as?

Pork.

How often does redistricting occur according to the Constitution?

Every 10 years following the census.

What is one of the three major functions of Congress's policymaking role?

Lawmaking.

How many voting members are there in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate?

435 in the House; 100 in the Senate.