Unit 4: Linkage Institution Notes

Open Primary

a party-nominating elections in which any qualified voter can take part

Closed Primary

a party-nominating election in which only declared party members can vote

ballot fatigue

phenomenon by which voters cast fewer vote for offices listed toward the bottom of the ballot

Sound bite

short, sharply focused report that can be aired in 30 or 45 seconds

Public Opinion

complex collection of the opinions of many different people; the sum of all their views

Gerrymandering

the drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group

Precinct

smallest, unit of election administration: in voting district

Poll tax

special tax, demanded by some States, as a condition of voting, outlawed by the 24th Amendment

Political efficacy

one’s own influence or effectiveness on politics

Collective good

a product or service that benefits everyone in a group

Press conference

an interview given to journalists by a prominent person in order to make an announcement or answer questions

Free-rider

a term for an individual or entity that benefits from a good or service without contributing to its cost or effort

News release

a formal statement/announcement provided to the news by an organization to share information about a significant event

Press release

an official statement issued to newspapers giving information on a particular matter

Rational choice theory

a framework that explains decision-making by assuming individuals act in their own self-interest to maximize their benefits or minimize their costs.

Grandfather clause

a provision that allows existing situation to be exempt from rules or laws

Meaning: if you were are doing something before a rule was implemented, you can continue doing it even though its no longer allowed

Media Event

an event intended primarily to attract publicity

1.) Missing or Bad signature

2.) Failure to use the safety envelope (not sealing it properly)

3.) Signature doesn’t match what’s on record

4.) Ballot missing a postmark

5.) Missed deadlines

6.) selecting too many candidates

Why are mailed ballots often failed ballots?

1.) no new election laws and no changes in existing election laws, could go into effect in certain States unless first approved by the Department of Justice

Department of Justice is responsible for enforcing preclearance

What is preclearance? Who or what is responsible for preclearance?

5 examples when a law may “run afoul” of a preclearance requirement

1.) the location of polling places

2.) the boundaries of election districts

3.) the deadlines in the election process

4.) a shift from ward or district election to at-large elections

5.) the qualifications candidates must meet in order to run for office

The 5 components of Voting Qualifications and the Federal Government

1.) Any person whom a State allows to vote for members of the “most numerous branch” of its own legislature must also be allowed to vote for representatives and senators in Congress

2.) No State can deprive any person of the right to vote “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude” (15th Amendment)

3.) No State can deprive any person of the right to vote on account of sex (19th Amendment)

4.) No State cab require payment of any tax as a condition for taking part in the nomination or election of any federal officeholder (24th Amendment)

5.) No state can deprive any person who is at least 18 years of age of the right to vote because of age (26th Amendment)

Yellow Journalism

Used Dramatic Headlines/Inflammatory photos and exaggerated stories; along with few real facts to influence public opinion and sell newspapers.

1.) Define the Universe

• Decide who the poll is trying to measure

2.) Construct a Sample

• Choose a group from the universe to represent the whole population

3.) Prepare Valid Questions

• Write clear, unbiased questions to get honest answers

4.) Select and Control How The Poll Will Be Taken

• Choose the method (in-person, online, phone, etc.) and make sure its done consistently

5.) Analyze and Report Findings

• Organize the data, look at the results, and share what the poll shows

What are the 5 steps in the polling process?

Pros of Interest Groups

• Raise awareness to public affairs

• Represent people based on shared attitudes rather than geography

• Provide useful data to government

• Act as vehicles for political participation

• Act as watchdogs over public officials

• Compete with one another in the public arena

Cons of Interest Groups

• Can push their own interests to the detriment of others

• Can have influence exceeding their size

• Can misrepresent their own size

• Do not always represent the views of everyone in the group

• Can use unethical tactics and exert undue influence on policy makers

The purpose of lobbyists

To influence government decisions and public policy on behalf of a specific group of interest

• Represent Interest Groups

• Provide lawmakers with information

• Try to persuade legislators

• Build relationships with government officials

• Monitor legislation

How are interest group and political parties similar/different?

Similar : Both try to influence gov’t

• concerned with public policy

• unite people for a political purpose

Different :

• Interest groups don’t run candidates

• Political parties focus on winning elections and controlling gov’t

Purpose of the 4 linkage institutions, their goals, and strategies

POLITICAL PARTIES

• Organize and win elections

• Create gov’t policy and influence society

MEDIA

• Attracts an audience

• Inform the public

• Reporters have to be interesting, informative, and accurate

INTEREST GROUPS

• Influence laws/gov’t policy

• use lobbying, electioneering, litigation, going public

ELECTIONS

• Allow citizens to choose leader

• plain-folk approach

• testimonials

• bandwagon approach

What amendments granted women, black ppl, and 18 year olds suffrage?

• 15th - black men

• 19th - women

• 26th -18+

Media strategies used by presidents

• Photo ops

• Press conferences

• Ads

• Radio

Elite, pluralist, hyperpluralist theory

Elite theory : Wealthiest groups have the most power (ex: corporate lobbying)

Pluralist theory : Gov’t and politics is mainly a competition amongst groups; group activity brings representation to all (ex: NRA vs. environmental groups)

Hyperpluralist theory : To many groups make gov’t lacking contradictory and lacking in direction(ex: budget delays in Congress)

What role did Ross Perot play

He gained a lot of support but didn’t win the election. He showed voters wanted alternatives to major parties

Goal of a third party; how is it different from goal of a major party?

• Goal of third party : promote specific issues or viewpoints

• Major Party : Want to win and control gov’t

• Third parties often push new ideas that major parties later adopt

1860 election

• Abraham Lincoln won with anti-slavery platform

• Democratic party split (North v South)

• Lincoln won without Southern states, showing party organization and message matter

• Sparked secession and the Civil war

Australian Ballot

type of voting system where a uniform ballot is printed by the government, listing all eligible candidates, and marked in secret