POSC10 Final

What is an open primary?

Any registered voter can participate and it allows crossover voting.

What is a semi-closed primary?

Only party members and Independents can participate.

What is a closed primary?

Only party members can participate.

What is a Top-Two (jungle) primary?

All candidates compete in the same primary election and the top two compete in the general election.

What is front-loading?

The tendency of states to choose an early date on the nomination calendar.

What causes front-loading?

Media focus on first states and voters' desire to cast a meaningful ballot.

How does front-loading affect candidates?

Early performance shapes the narrative; it benefits front runners and leaves less time to raise money.

What is the Electoral College?

Representatives (electors) from each state who cast the final ballots that elect a president.

Why was the Electoral College designed?

To serve as a buffer between the people and the selection of the president.

How are a state's electoral votes determined?

The number of votes equals the state's number of House and Senate members.

How are electoral votes awarded in most states?

Winner take all (except for Maine and Nebraska).

What is the magic number to win the Electoral College?

270 out of 538 total votes.

Can a candidate win the popular vote but lose the Electoral College?

Yes; this happened 3 times in the 19th century and in 2000 and 2016.

What is the incumbency advantage?

Incumbents (those already in office) have a substantial electoral advantage in congressional elections.

What are four reasons for the incumbency advantage?

Staff support; visibility; safe district composition; and the scare-off effect.

What is the scare-off effect?

The ability of incumbents to fend off challenges from well-qualified challengers due to institutional advantages.

Why might incumbents lose elections?

Redistricting to punish them; scandals; presidential coattails; or midterm elections where the president's party loses seats.

What is the initiative process?

It allows citizens or groups to propose legislation or state constitutional amendments for a direct vote.

What is a referendum?

Proposed legislation or constitutional amendments submitted to the electorate by the legislature.

What is a popular referendum?

A citizen or group proposal to repeal an existing law.

What is a recall election?

An election that allows voters to remove an incumbent from office prior to the next scheduled election.

What are political machines?

Organizations that use tangible incentives like jobs and favors to win loyalty among voters.

What tangible incentives did political machines provide?

Housing; employment; food; and entertainment like parades and picnics.

What were the effects of political machines?

They generated intense voter loyalty; provided social mobility; and produced 75% or better voter turnout from 1876 to 1900.

What is the core function of political parties?

Contesting elections to win seats in government and influence public policy.

How do parties help voters make choices?

They provide cues about political and ideological positions even if the voter doesn't know the candidate's name.

How do parties organize government operations?

The majority party organizes its institution to govern; enforces discipline; and implements campaign pledges.

What is the national party's role in federal elections?

They largely play a support role by helping candidates raise money and campaign rather than choosing the nominee.

What is the party's role in state and local elections?

They have greater influence in nominating candidates; organizing messages; and providing resources like polling and manpower.

Why does the U.S. have a two-party system?

Due to the winner-take-all process; the ideological nature of Americans; and laws/regulations governing campaigns.

What is the presidential pre-nomination campaign?

A period where candidates test the waters by talking to insiders; lining up staff; and setting up exploratory committees.

What is the invisible primary?

The competition for frontrunner status by winning broad support; raising money; and topping polls before actual voting begins.

How are presidential delegates selected?

Voters in state contests select delegates to attend the national convention.

What is required to secure a party's presidential nomination?

A candidate needs a majority of delegates at the national convention.

How do Democrats allocate state delegates?

Using proportional representation where candidates must receive at least 15% of the vote.

How do Republicans allocate state delegates?

Allocation varies by state (winner-take-all; proportional; district election; or hybrid).

What is a caucus?

A meeting of party activists taking hours to listen to speeches and select a presidential candidate.

Which voter mobilization tactic is generally the most successful?

Door-to-door canvassing.

What is the main takeaway regarding mobilization tactics?

How you contact is more effective than what you say.

What is the individual campaign contribution limit?

$3.500 per election cycle to a candidate and $44.300 per year to national party committees.

What are the rules regarding personal savings in a campaign?

Spending is unlimited because Buckley v. Valeo ruled it is free speech.

What are 527 political committees?

Organizations influencing electoral outcomes with no spending limits but cannot explicitly advocate for a candidate.

What are 501(c) non-profits in elections?

Groups that can engage in campaign activity as a non-primary purpose and do not have to disclose donors.

What are Super PACs?

Committees making independent expenditures with no limits on raising money but cannot give directly to candidates.

What did Buckley v. Valeo (1976) establish?

That money is speech; maintaining direct donation limits but allowing virtually unregulated Super PACs.

What is reapportionment?

The proportional allocation of the 435 congressional seats based on population following each census.

What tactics are used in redistricting?

Packing and cracking of districts to split votes or give an overall majority to the party in control.

How does the power structure differ between the House and Senate?

They have a near equal sharing of legislative power which makes passing new laws difficult and slow.

Why did the Framers design Congress to move slowly?

To ensure Congress is careful in adopting laws and that change is well contemplated.

What is the purpose of congressional committees?

The bulk of work on legislation (generating ideas; debating; investigating) takes place here.

What are standing committees?

Permanent committees dealing with a particular area of public policy or procedural matters.

What is the reporting power of standing committees?

The full chamber cannot vote on a bill unless the committee approves it first.

What are select committees?

Temporary committees established for a specific purpose that lack the power to report legislation.

What are conference committees?

Joint committees used to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

What are joint committees?

Standing committees with members from both chambers that conduct investigations or oversight but do not propose legislation.

What is the delegate theory of representation?

The representative is delegated to carry out the preferences of their constituents.

What is the trustee theory of representation?

The representative listens to constituents but uses their own judgment to make the final decision.

What is the politico theory of representation?

Voting as a delegate on issues constituents care strongly about and acting as a trustee otherwise.

What is the top influence on how congresspersons vote when visibility is low?

Political party.

What is logrolling?

Exchanging favors; such as voting for a colleague's bill if they vote for yours.

What are inherent powers?

Presidential powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but that can be inferred.

How does the President act as Chief Legislator?

By setting the legislative agenda; making budget proposals; using veto power; and issuing executive orders.

What are presidential signing statements?

Written comments about a signed bill providing legal interpretation or noting unconstitutional portions to ignore.

What is the President's role as Chief Executive?

The responsibility to execute; implement; and enforce laws passed by Congress.

What is the President's role as Head of State?

A symbolic and ceremonial role that includes meeting foreign heads of state and recognizing foreign governments.

What is the War Powers Resolution of 1973?

An attempt to rein in presidential war-making that requires reporting combat deployments to Congress within 48 hours.

What is fast track authority?

Congress grants the president power to negotiate trade agreements requiring an up or down vote without amendments.

What is an executive agreement?

A pact between the president and a foreign government that sidesteps the necessity of Senate ratification.

What is the difference between a pardon and a reprieve?

A pardon releases an individual from legal consequences; a reprieve reduces punishment severity without removing guilt.

What are executive orders?

Rules or regulations that have the effect of law without congressional approval.

What is the president's power to persuade?

The ability to convince different constituencies to do things they would not ordinarily do.

What does it mean for a president to go public (bully pulpit)?

Bypassing Congress and directly appealing to the electorate to advocate their agenda.

How does presidential popularity typically trend?

It is highest when coming into office and generally erodes over time as actions upset groups.

What is a major limitation on courts initiating cases?

They cannot initiate lawsuits and only hear true cases or controversies rather than hypothetical issues.

What does proper standing mean in a lawsuit?

Those bringing the suit must be singularly or uniquely affected by the controversy.

Why do courts rely on other branches for enforcement?

Courts have no power to put opinions or orders into direct effect.

What is the Rule of Four in the Supreme Court?

Four justices must agree to take up a case for the Court to hear it.

What factors increase the likelihood of the Supreme Court accepting a case?

Federal government petitioning; conflict among Courts of Appeals; civil rights questions; or significant political interest.

What is Stare decisis?

The reliance on past decisions or precedents to formulate decisions in new cases.

What is judicial restraint?

The belief that courts should allow decisions of other branches to stand even when they offend a judge's own principles.

What is judicial activism?

The belief that judges should use their power broadly to further justice.

What is the free rider problem in interest groups?

Individuals who do not join or pay dues can still access the collective goods provided by the group's actions.

How do interest groups primarily achieve their goals?

Through lobbying Congress; the president; bureaucrats; courts; grassroots; and election activities.

What is the equal time rule?

Stations must sell air time equally to all candidates in a political campaign if they choose to sell it to any.

What are media effects on public opinion?

The study guide lists this concept but provides no details for it.

What is the Pendleton Act?

A law that dismantles the spoils system and political patronage.

What is the Hatch Act?

A law that prevents executive level bureaucrats from certain political activities.