EXAM 3

Role of Parties in Democracies

organize the political world and simplify complex policy debates for citizens and elected officials. also mobilizes citizens to vote.

1st Two Parties

The Federalists and The Jeffersonian Republicans (Anti-Federalists)

Plurality

candidates only need to receive most of the votes to win, not necessarily a majority

What issue divided the parties in the 60’s?

civil rights

Political Polarization Example

mbrs of congress vote in agreement with the majority of their party 90% of the time

Goal of Primaries

to narrow down the election to 1 person from each party

Role of Caucus

select candidates, elect officers, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters

Party Platform

contains party philosophy, principles and positions on issues

Define SuperPAC

non-profit PACS that raise unlimited $ but are not permitted to contribute directly to parties or candidates

Geographic Makeup of Parties Post-Civil War

Republican Party-North

Democrats-South

Causes of Current Polarization

• ideologically motivated donors finance campaigns

• gerrymandering

• people choose to live in liberal or conservative geographic areas

What % of votes do incumbents recieve?

over the last two decades more than 95% of House incumbents have won their re-election races

Issues Republican Party Would Support

reduced spending on social programs, cutting taxes on corps and the wealthy, gun rights, reduced immigration, traditional family structures, opposing abortion

Issues Democratic Party Would Support

funding for public education and social services, national health insurance, climate change, higher taxes on the wealthy and corps, gun restrictions, legalizing abortion, protecting the rights of racial, ethnic, religious and sexual minorities

How did Goldwater transform future Republican Party (1964)?

argued for lower taxes and gov spending, promote free-market capitalism, reduce federal social programs

1980’s Republican party added which two groups of people?

• religious conservatives who opposed abortion

• working class whites who opposed affirmative action, wanted lower taxes, promote business and employment growth

2020 Democrats were divided between which 2 groups of their party

left-leaning progressives and mainline Democrats

Negative Partisanship

people form strong opinions against a political party rather in support of one

When are general elections held

the 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November, in EVEN # years

Grassroots

face-to-face communication to generate interest and momentum by citizens

Midterms

congressional elections that do not coincide w/a presidential election (off-year elections)

Split Ticket

can vote for either party on the ballot

Straight Ticket

selecting candidates from the same political party for all offices

Run-off Election

voters choose between the top 2 candidates from the 1st round

Referendum

state legislature refers certain laws to the voters for a popular vote

Recall

voters can remove state officials before their term

Initiative

allow citizens to place policy changes/laws on the ballot

Affective Polarization

the emotional dislike of members of the other party

Majority %?

50% + 1

Rejectionism

some partisans refuse to accept the legitimacy of a defeat in the polls

Proportional Representation

allows each political party representation to its percentage of the total vote

Incumbent

candidate running for re-election to a position that candidate already holds

Microtargeting

sending different campaign ads or messages to different demographic and ideological groups of voters and potential voters

Changes w/Super PACS since 2010

flow of $ from interest groups into politics and campaigns through super PACS increased drastically after the landmark decision Citizens United V. FEC (2010)

Pluralism Critique

difficult to attract and maintain group membership, not all interests are equally represented, nor as economically and racially diverse as the U.S

Free Riders

enjoy the benefits of collective goods but did not participate in acquiring them

Lobbying

attempt by a group to influence the policy press through strategic sharing of info, and building relationships w/policy makers

Lobbying Roles

• provide info to lawmakers, administrators and committee staff about their interests

• testify on behalf of their clients

• fundraise

Amicus Curae Brief

filing a companion brief as a friend of the court to an existing court case (how something will affect someone)

Iron Triangle

relationship that develops between a congressional committee, an administrative agency, and interest groups

Citizens United v. FEC

removed the restrictions on independent corporation and union political spending imposed under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

Example of Interest Groups

ABA, AARP, Human Rights Watch, NAACP

Types of Interest Groups

businesses, labor groups, professional associations, citizen groups, gov groups, think tanks

Half of Washington Interest Groups Are What Type?

corporations and trade associations