gov u4/5

political spectrum (ideology)

Communists
liberals
Conservatives
Fascists

political spectrum (generalized)

radical (revolutionary)
moderate
radical (reactionary)

Individualism

a social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective of state control

Equal opportunity

a state of fairness in which individuals are treated similarly unhampered by artificial barriers of prejudices or preferences, except when particular distinctions can be explicitly justified

Free enterprise

an economic system in which private business operates in competition and largely dree of state control (market economy)

Rule of law

the restriction of the arbitrary exercise of power by subordinating it to well defined and established (no one is above the law)

Limited government

restricted power over a governments citizens and economy; often bound by a constitution to protect civil rights

Keynesian economic theory

driven be demand for good

Supply side economic theory

driven by supply

Monetary policy

actions of central gov to achieve macro level objectives bolster the economy at large

Fiscal policy

actions of federal government

liberal economic policies

Restrict economic freedom
Regulate capitalism
Tax wealthy
Less money to the military

conservative economic policies

More economic freedom
Free enterprise
Flax tax
More money to military

Ideology

a person's ideas or beliefs about what role government plays in life

Liberalism

looks to the future

classic liberalists

fought to minimize the role of government
Thought that government could be a threat against people's liberties

current liberals

thought that gov should be positively used to being about justice and equality of result
Believed in possibility of progress
Equality main political value

Conservatism

looking to the past

classic conservatives

rooted in framework of european monarchy

current conservatives

Emphasized smaller governments and strong states rights
Liberty is primary political value

Barry goldwater

considered father of modern republicanism/conservatism

Socialism

transitional stage between capitalism and communism
Economic governmental system based on public ownership of productions, distribution, and exchange

American socialists

favor largely expanded role for government

american socialist policies

Nationalization of industries
Expanded welfare and healthcare programs
Much higher taxes on rich

Libertarianism

believes that above all else the government should absolve itself in our lives

libertarianism ideas

Anti government
Opposes virtually every government program
(prevent me from getting murdered or dying bc of drinking water and thats all you should be doing in my life)

Populism

belief that virtuous citizens are mistreated by a small circle of elites who can be overthrown if ppl recognize danger

Most common american political ideologies

liberalism and conservatism
Democratic and republicans ]

Political socialization

ppl slowly acquire attitudes and opinions that deal with politics

Political socialization is influenced by

Family
Mass media
School
Economic status
Occupation
Religion
age
Major events

Family socialization

young children are influenced by family thought direct and indirect

direct family socialization

Child is influenced politically by in terms of having discussions or going to political events

indirect family socialization

when a child watches or overhears political discussions

Political party

groups of persons who seek to control government by winning elections and holding office

What parties do

Nominate candidates
Inform and activate supporters
Insure good performance
Govern according to party
Act as a watchdog

Single party system

1 major political party holds all the power

2 party system

2 major political parties

Multiparty system

3 or more political parties holding office

Single member districts

only have 1 person to vote for in your district

duvergers law

Single member districts
Winner takes all system
(supports 2 party system)

Proportional system

party receives the same % of seats as their votes

Coalition government

have to form a coalition to govern (wie im deutschland)

Winner takes all

you get most events you govern everything

Electorate

voters

Ticket splitting

voting with one party for one office and the other party for another office

Federalists

Led by hamilton
Represented wealthy and upper class interest
Favored strong executive leadership
Liberal interpretation of the constitution

Democratic republicans

Led by thomas jefferson
Represented the “common man”
Favored congress as the strongest arm of government
Strict interpretation of the constitution

Democratic era (1800- 1860)

Dominate all but 2 presidential elections
Whig party emerges in 18434, but declines by the 1850s electing only 2 presidents
Republican party founded in 1854

Republican era (1860-1932)

Republicans dominate all but 4 presidential elections
Civil war disables the democratic party for the remainder of the 1800s

Return of the democrats (1932-1968)

Democrats dominate all but 2 presidential elections
FDR is elected president 4 times

Richard Nixon (interlude) (1968)

southern strategy
Democrats was most of the south's seats in 1960s and then it flipped 1995 to
1969 democrats outnumber republicans in the south
2017: southern house seats balance has tilted to republicans

Southern strategy

support states rights, law and order, strong military

Divided government (1968-today)

No one has dominated the presidency
Congress usually controlled by opposing party

Ideological parties

based on a set of beliefs- comprehensive view of social economic and political matters

Ideological parties ex

libertarians, communists, socialists, constitutionalist

Single issue parties

concentrate on only one public policy matter

Single issue parties ex

Right to life, prohibition party, green party

Economic protest parties

rooted in periods of economic discontent

Economic protest parties ex

Greenback party, populist party, tea party

Splinter parties

parties that split away from one or other major parties

splinter parties ex

Bull moose, progresssive, dixiecrat

importance of minor parties

Spoiler role
Critic
Innovator

Spoiler role

candidates pull decisive votes away from major parties candidates

Critic

take stance/draw attention to controversial issues major parties ignore

Innovator

draw attention to important issues and propose the innovative solutions to problems

Future of government

Voters don't want to label themselves and are split ticket voting more often
More divided on issues
Changes in technology has caused the independent it rise
Growth of single issue organizations

Suffrage

the right to vote

Disenfranchised ppl

Women
Poor ppl
African americans
Native americans
Asian immigrants

Restrictions today

Convicted felon
Under 10
Mentally incompetent

Voter eligibility based on 3 factors

Citizen of the US
Must be a legal resident of the state for a minimum amount of time
At least 18

15th amendment

right of citizens to vote can’t be denied based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude

Voting rights act (1965)

outlawed discriminatory voting practices

17th amendment

required senators to be directly elected by the people

17th amendment expanded

Changed the way america chose senators
2 per state 6 year terms
Previously chosen by state legislature

19th amendment

right to vote ca’t be denies based on sex

23rd amendment

granted citizens in DC the right to vote for presidential electors

24th amendment

eliminated poll taxes and any other taxes from being a requirement of voting

26th amendment

right to vote cant be denotes based on agee (18 and older can vote)

Denying the vote

Poll tax
Literacy test
Grandfather clause

Grandfather clause

anyone who had been able to vote before the 15th amendments and their descendants

grandfather clause expanded

If ur grandpa couldn't vote then you cant either
Used in the south to disenfranchises african americans

Registration

procedure of voter identification intended to prevent fraudulent voting

Nonvoting voters

people who can vote but don’t

Ballot fatigue

voters who complete only part of the ballot

Rational choice

a political science theory explaining the actions of voters and politicians

Retrospective

voting made after taking into consideration factors like the performance of a political party, an officeholder, and/or the administration

retrospective expanded

People more concerned w policy outcomes than policy instruments
What has the candidate done/not done to accomplish the goals i am interested in
What have you already done for me

Prospective

voters decide what the government will do in the near future by choosing a certain political party with distinct stances on issues

prospective expanded

Ppl are more concerned w policy instrument than policy outcomes
What will the candidate do for me in the future to accomplish the goals i am interested in
What are you going to do for me

Party line voting

voting for everyone in the party i like regardless of what they have done stand for

2 steps of election proces

Nomination
General election

nomination

field of candidates narrowed

general election

regularly scheduled election were votes make the final choice of officeholder

5 ways to nominate

Self announcement
Petition
Caucus
Direct primary
Convention

Self announcement

person wants to run for office announced their candidacy

Petition

candidate gathers a required # of signatures

Caucus

private meetings for local bigwigs, not widely used since 1820s

Direct primary

party election to choose candidate

Convention

delegates selected to chooses candidates

Absentee voting used for

Disabled or ill
Those who expect to be away
Military