Gov 1 Exam 3

What do party organizations do?

Recruit candidates, raise money, mobilize voters, organize campaigns, and coordinate party activities

What are political parties? What do they do? What are their goals? How do they compare to European parties?

Political parties are organizations that seek to gain government power by electing candidates. They organize government, develop platforms, recruit candidates, and connect citizens to government. U.S. parties are generally broad coalitions with weaker party discipline, while European parties are often more ideologically distinct and centralized.

What is the difference between political parties and interest groups? What is their relationship with Congress and government?

Political parties try to control government by winning elections and placing their candidates in office. Interest groups try to influence government policies without directly seeking to control government. Both work to influence Congress and government decisions.

What is a faction

A faction is a group within a political party that shares particular interests, goals, or ideological beliefs

What are the historical U.S. party systems? Who dominated each, and what were the major issues?

• First Party System (1790s–1820s): Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans. Debates over federal power, the national bank, and the economy.

• Second Party System (1828–1850s): Democrats vs. Whigs. Debates over banking, economic development, and executive power.

• Third Party System (1854–1896): Republicans vs. Democrats. Slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and economic issues.

• Fourth Party System (1896–1932): Republicans generally dominated. Industrialization, business regulation, and economic policy.

• Fifth Party System (1932–1968): Democrats dominated through the New Deal Coalition and expanded federal economic programs.

• Sixth Party System (1968–present): Increasing Republican strength in the South, changing voter coalitions, and growing political polarization.

Why does the United States have a two-party system? When did it begin?

The two-party system developed in the 1790s. Single-member districts, plurality elections, winner-take-all rules, and strategic voting make it difficult for third parties to succeed.

What does the term “party system” mean?What was the New Deal Coalition? Who was included, and what broke it apart in the 1960s?

A party system describes the pattern of competition and relationships between political parties during a particular historical period.

What was the New Deal Coalition? Who was included, and what broke it apart in the 1960s?

The New Deal Coalition was a diverse group of voters that supported the Democratic Party beginning in the 1930s. It included labor unions, urban voters, African Americans, Southern whites, and liberals. Civil rights, racial tensions, the Vietnam War, and cultural disagreements helped break the coalition apart.

Which political party led Reconstruction?

The Republican Party led Reconstruction following the Civil War and supported federal efforts to rebuild the South and protect the rights of formerly enslaved people.

What was Nixon's Southern Strategy? Who joined the Republican Party, and who did Reagan add?

Nixon's Southern Strategy attempted to attract conservative Southern white voters, particularly those opposed to federal civil rights policies, to the Republican Party. Reagan further attracted conservative Christians, evangelical voters, anti-tax voters, and traditionally Democratic working-class voters.

What was George Washington's view of political parties?

Washington warned that political parties and factions could divide the country, threaten national unity, and place party interests above the public good.

Internal mobilization

Existing political groups within government organize into political parties.

External mobilization

New political parties form outside established political institutions.

What is realignment? What are the important dates, and what changed after the 1960s?

Realignment is a major, lasting shift in party coalitions and voter loyalties, often following a critical election. Commonly identified realigning elections include 1800, 1828, 1860, 1896, and 1932. After the 1960s, many conservative Southern white voters shifted toward Republicans, while African American voters increasingly became a core Democratic constituency.

Unified govenment

One political party controls the presidency and both chambers of Congress.

Divided government

Different political parties control the presidency and at least one chamber of Congress.

Party Polarizations

Increasing ideological differences and political disagreements between Democrats and Republicans.

What are third parties? What is their history, why don't they last, and which electoral system is better for them?

Third parties are political parties outside the two major parties that represent alternative ideologies, interests, or dissatisfaction with major parties. They often introduce new issues and influence major-party platforms. They struggle because of winner-take-all elections, limited funding, and ballot access requirements. Proportional representation is generally more favorable to third parties.

What were the goals of the Tea Party?

The Tea Party movement supported smaller government, lower taxes, reduced federal spending, limited government intervention, and constitutional conservatism.

Plurality

The candidate with the most votes wins, even without receiving more than 50%. Common in U.S. elections.

Majority

A candidate must receive more than 50% of the votes. Used in many runoff elections.

Proportional representation

Political parties receive seats based on their percentage of the vote. Common in many European parliamentary systems.

Single-member district

Each district elects one representative.

Multimember district

Each district elects multiple representatives.

What is ranked-choice voting? Who would it help?

Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. It can help third-party and independent candidates because voters can support their favorite candidate without immediately sacrificing their backup choice.

What is party organization?

Party organization refers to the national, state, and local structures responsible for coordinating party activities, fundraising, candidate recruitment, conventions, and elections

What are National Party Conventions? What happens, when are they held, and who attends? What is a party platform?

National Party Conventions are gatherings held every four years during presidential election years. Delegates, party officials, candidates, and activists attend. The convention formally nominates the presidential and vice-presidential candidates and adopts the party platform. A party platform is an official statement describing the party's beliefs, goals, and policy positions.

What is the National Party Committee? What does it do, who leads it, and how are leaders selected?

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Republican National Committee (RNC) coordinate national party activities, fundraising, campaign support, and election strategies. Each committee is led by a chairperson selected through that party's internal procedures.

What were political machines? What did they do, who led them, and what weakened them?

Political machines were powerful local party organizations that controlled elections and government through political loyalty and favors. They were led by political bosses who used patronage, meaning government jobs or benefits were given in exchange for political support. Civil service reforms, secret ballots, and restrictions on patronage weakened political machines.

What do state and local political parties do?

State and local parties recruit candidates, organize conventions, raise money, mobilize voters, coordinate campaigns, and support candidates running for office.

What is a caucus?

A caucus is a local political party meeting where members discuss candidates, organize party activities, and select or allocate delegates.

What is party identification? What types of people support each party?

Party identification is a person's psychological attachment or loyalty to a political party. Democrats generally receive stronger support from African Americans, many Latino voters, younger voters, urban residents, and religiously unaffiliated voters. Republicans generally receive stronger support from white evangelical Christians, many rural residents, and conservative voters.

What is a party activist?

A party activist is someone who actively supports a political party by volunteering, campaigning, donating money, organizing events, recruiting voters, or helping candidates.

What do political parties look for when recruiting candidates?

Parties want qualified and electable candidates who can attract voters, raise money, represent party values, and help the party win elections.

What is a nonpartisan primary?

A nonpartisan primary is an election in which candidates run on the same ballot without official party nominations. Voters can choose among candidates regardless of party affiliation.

Democrat support

Generally receive stronger support from African Americans, many Latino voters, women, younger voters, urban residents, college-educated voters, and religiously unaffiliated voters.

Republican support

Generally receive stronger support from white evangelical Christians, many rural residents, older voters, and conservative voters.

Pure independents

Voters who do not identify with either major political party and do not consistently lean toward Democrats or Republicans.

Affective polarization

Disliking or distrusting members of the opposing political party.

Negative partisanship

Supporting your own political party primarily because you oppose the other party.

What is self-sorting?

Self-sorting occurs when people increasingly identify with political parties that match their ideological, cultural, religious, and social beliefs.

What is the role of political parties in Congress?

Organize congressional leadership, committees, legislation, voting strategies, and the congressional agenda.

Majority party in Congress

Has more seats and generally controls chamber leadership and committee assignments.

Minority party in congress

Has fewer seats and less control over the congressional agenda.

Speaker of the House

Elected by the entire House of Representatives, usually from the majority party.

How are U.S. political parties different from political parties in other countries?

U.S. parties are generally broad coalitions with weaker party discipline and fewer ideological differences within each party. European parties are often more ideologically distinct, centralized, and disciplined.

What is the purpose of elections? When are they held, and who conducts them?

Elections allow citizens to choose representatives, influence government, and hold elected officials accountable. Federal elections are held on scheduled election dates, while state and local elections follow their respective laws. State and local governments primarily administer elections under federal and state election laws.

What are the different types of elections?

• National elections: Elections for federal offices, including president and members of Congress.

• Presidential elections: Held every four years to elect the president through the Electoral College.

• Midterm elections: Held every four years between presidential elections, halfway through a president's term.

• Primary elections: Allow voters to select political party nominees.

• General elections: Determine who wins the office.

• Runoff elections: A second election held when no candidate reaches the required winning threshold.

Why would there be a runoff election or runoff primary?

A runoff occurs when no candidate receives the required percentage of votes, usually an absolute majority of more than 50%. The leading candidates compete in another election to determine the winner.

What are electoral rules? What is the most common electoral system in the United States, and how can candidates win?

Electoral rules determine how votes are counted and how winners are selected. The most common U.S. system is plurality, also called first-past-the-post. A candidate wins by receiving more votes than any other candidate, even without receiving a majority.

What is the difference between open and closed primaries and caucuses? What is the purpose of presidential primaries?

• Open primary: Voters can choose which party's primary to participate in without registering with that party.

• Closed primary: Voters must be registered with a political party to participate in its primary.

• Caucus: A local party meeting where members discuss candidates and participate in selecting delegates.

• Purpose of presidential primaries: Select delegates who support presidential candidates at national party conventions.

Do other countries use primary elections?

Some countries use primary elections, but many rely on political party organizations to select candidates rather than allowing the general public to participate in primaries.

What are ballots? What are the rules? What is the Australian ballot? What are straight-ticket, split-ticket, and coattail voting?

• Australian ballot: A secret ballot printed and distributed by the government rather than political parties.

• Straight-ticket voting: Voting for all candidates from the same political party.

• Split-ticket voting: Voting for candidates from different political parties.

• Coattail effect: When a popular candidate, especially a presidential candidate, helps other candidates from the same party win elections.

What is the Help America Vote Act (HAVA)?

The Help America Vote Act was passed in 2002. It improved election administration by providing funding for updated voting equipment, improving voter registration systems, and establishing accessibility and election administration requirements.

What is redistricting? When does it happen, who redraws districts, and what has the Supreme Court said? What was Baker v. Carr?

Redistricting is the process of redrawing electoral district boundaries to reflect population changes. It generally occurs every ten years after the U.S. Census.

• Who redraws districts? Primarily state legislatures, although some states use independent or bipartisan commissions.

• District size: Districts must have approximately equal populations.

• Supreme Court: Congressional districts must follow the principle of one person, one vote.

• Baker v. Carr (1962): Established that federal courts could hear challenges to legislative apportionment under the Equal Protection Clause.

What is gerrymandering? What are cracking, stacking, packing, and majority-minority districts?

Gerrymandering is drawing electoral district boundaries to give a political party or group an electoral advantage.

• Cracking: Splitting a group's voters among several districts to weaken their voting power.

• Packing: Concentrating opposing voters into a small number of districts to limit their influence elsewhere.

• Stacking: Combining different groups of voters to dilute one group's voting strength.

• Majority-minority district: A district where racial or ethnic minority groups collectively make up the majority of the population.

What was the Congressional Caucus, who selected presidential candidates, and why did party conventions replace it?

The Congressional Caucus was an early nomination system used primarily between 1800 and 1824. Members of Congress from political parties selected presidential nominees. It was eventually replaced by national party conventions because it was considered undemocratic and gave too much power to congressional party members.

What are delegates and superdelegates? What is the unit rule?

• Delegates: Representatives selected through primaries or caucuses to support presidential candidates at national party conventions.

• Superdelegates: Unpledged Democratic convention delegates, primarily party leaders and elected officials, who have special nomination rules.

• Unit rule: A historical rule requiring all delegates from a state or group to vote for one candidate. It is no longer generally used.

What is front-loading? What is Super Tuesday, and how long does the presidential nomination process take?

• Front-loading: When states schedule their primaries earlier to gain more influence over the presidential nomination process.

• Super Tuesday: A day when many states hold presidential primaries or caucuses simultaneously.

• Length of process: Usually several months, beginning with early primaries and caucuses and ending with the national conventions.

What is the Electoral College? How many times has a candidate won the Electoral College but lost the popular vote? How many electoral votes are needed to win?

The Electoral College is the system used to formally elect the U.S. president. There have been five elections in which the winner of the Electoral College lost the popular vote: 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000, and 2016. A candidate needs 270 out of 538 electoral votes to win.

How is the number of Electoral College votes determined for each state?

Each state's electoral votes equal its total number of U.S. representatives in the House of Representatives plus its two U.S. senators. Washington, D.C., receives three electoral votes.

What are ballot initiatives and referendum elections? Where are they used, and what is the difference?

• Ballot initiative: Citizens collect signatures to propose a new law or constitutional amendment and place it on the ballot for voters to approve or reject.

• Referendum: Citizens vote to approve or reject a law or government action, often one already passed by a legislature.

• Where used: Many states, including California and Oregon, allow these forms of direct democracy.

• Texas: Does not have a statewide citizen initiative or referendum process.

What are recall elections? What offices can be recalled, and who cannot be recalled?

A recall election allows voters to remove an elected official before the end of their term. Which state and local offices can be recalled depends on state law. Federal officials, including the president and members of Congress, cannot be recalled.

What is micro-targeting? Give examples.

Answer: Micro-targeting is using voter data to send customized political messages to specific groups or individuals.

Examples:

• Sending college affordability messages to student voters.

• Sending tax-related messages to financially conservative voters.

• Sending healthcare messages to voters concerned about healthcare policy.

What are negative advertisements and negative campaigns?

Negative campaigning involves attacking an opponent's character, record, policies, or qualifications instead of focusing only on one's own platform. The goal is to reduce support for the opposing candidate, raise doubts, and motivate supporters.

What is a grassroots campaign?

A grassroots campaign is built around ordinary citizens volunteering, organizing locally, contacting voters, and encouraging community participation rather than relying primarily on wealthy donors or political organizations.

What is the role of debates in political campaigns?

Debates allow voters to compare candidates' policies, qualifications, communication skills, and responses to important issues. They can influence public opinion and help voters make decisions.

What is retail politics?

Retail politics involves direct, personal campaigning through face-to-face conversations, small events, community appearances, and meetings with individual voters.

What is a political campaign? What is an incumbent, and why do incumbents have an advantage?

A political campaign is an organized effort to persuade voters and win an election.

• Incumbent: A candidate who currently holds the office they are seeking to retain.

• Incumbency advantage: Incumbents generally have greater name recognition, fundraising networks, media attention, political experience, and established relationships with constituents.

What are PACs, Super PACs, and soft money?

• PAC (Political Action Committee): An organization that raises and spends money to support or oppose political candidates and causes. Traditional PACs face contribution limits.

• Super PAC: Can raise and spend unlimited amounts on independent political expenditures but cannot coordinate those expenditures with candidates or campaigns.

• Soft money: Money historically contributed to political parties for general party-building activities rather than directly to federal candidates. Federal law now restricts national party soft-money contributions.

What are individual contributions, 527 organizations, 501(c)(4) organizations, and dark money? What are their rules?

• Individual contributions: Money donated directly to candidates, subject to federal contribution limits and disclosure requirements.

• 527 organizations: Tax-exempt political organizations that can raise and spend money to influence elections and political activities under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code.

• 501(c)(4) organizations: Social-welfare organizations that may participate in some political activities, provided political activity is not their primary activity.

• Dark money: Political spending from organizations that do not publicly disclose their original donors.

What did Buckley v. Valeo and Citizens United v. FEC decide?

• Buckley v. Valeo (1976): The Supreme Court ruled that spending money on political campaigns is generally protected by the First Amendment. Contribution limits may be constitutional, but limits on independent campaign spending generally are not.

• Citizens United v. FEC (2010): The Supreme Court ruled that corporations and labor unions can make unlimited independent political expenditures under the First Amendment. They cannot directly coordinate those expenditures with candidates.

What is public funding of campaigns? What is the 5% rule? Who can receive public funding, and is it still used?

Public campaign financing is government money provided to qualifying candidates to help pay for campaigns.

• Presidential candidates can qualify for public funding under certain requirements.

• The 5% rule allows qualifying minor-party candidates who receive at least 5% of the popular vote to receive certain post-election public funds.

• Major-party presidential nominees have generally declined public financing since 2008.

• Public financing still exists, but it is rarely used in modern presidential campaigns.

What factors influence voting decisions? What are prospective and retrospective voting? What is the most important influence?

Voting decisions are influenced by party identification, ideology, candidate characteristics, important issues, economic conditions, and past government performance.

• Prospective voting: Voting based on what a candidate promises to do in the future.

• Retrospective voting: Voting based on how well an elected official or government performed in the past.

• Party identification: One of the strongest and most consistent influences on voting behavior.

What is strategic voting?

Strategic voting occurs when a voter chooses a candidate who has a better chance of winning rather than voting for their favorite candidate, often to prevent a less-preferred candidate from winning.

What is rejectionism?

Rejectionism is voting primarily to reject or oppose a particular candidate, political party, or political direction rather than because of strong support for another candidate.

What is the history of Texas political parties? How have affiliations changed? What does party affiliation mean in Texas, and what are party cues?

Texas was historically dominated by Democrats, but Republicans gradually gained support and became the dominant party, especially beginning in the 1990s.

• Party affiliation: Texas does not have formal party registration. Voters affiliate through participation in a party's primary.

• Party cues: Party labels and endorsements that help voters understand a candidate's general political beliefs and positions.

What is the most important role of political parties in Texas?

Recruiting and nominating candidates for public office and helping them win elections.

What is the primary role of political parties in Texas?

Selecting candidates through primary elections and organizing campaigns to elect those candidates.

Does Texas have party registration?

No. Texans do not formally register with a political party. They choose which party's primary to participate in.

What are the three levels of Texas party organization? What are their responsibilities?

• Lowest level – Precinct: Led by a precinct chair who organizes party activities and voters within the precinct.

• Middle level – County: Led by a county chair and county executive committee, which coordinate party activities within the county.

• Highest level – State: Led by the state party chair and state executive committee, which oversee statewide party activities and organization.

What happens at precinct and county conventions in Texas?

• Precinct conventions: Party members meet to discuss resolutions and select delegates to county or senatorial district conventions.

• County conventions: Delegates discuss and adopt resolutions, select delegates, and conduct party business before the state convention.

Who selects the county chair and state chair in Texas? What does the State Executive Committee do?

• County chair: Elected by voters participating in that party's primary election.

• State chair: Selected by delegates at the state party convention.

• State Executive Committee: Oversees party affairs, coordinates party activities, supports party organization, and performs duties established by party rules and state law.

What happens at Texas state conventions? How often are they held?

State conventions are generally held every two years. Delegates adopt the party platform, select party leadership, consider resolutions, and conduct other party business.

What problems do third parties face in Texas? Why are they unsuccessful?

Third parties face ballot access requirements, limited funding, lack of media attention, winner-take-all elections, and competition from the two major parties. These barriers make it difficult to win elections.

What are examples of third parties in Texas? What were La Raza Unida, the Libertarian Party, and the Tea Party?

• La Raza Unida: A Mexican American political party founded in Texas in 1970 to promote Latino political representation and community interests.

• Libertarian Party: Supports individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and personal freedom.

• Tea Party: A conservative political movement that influenced Texas Republican elections by mobilizing conservative voters and challenging more moderate Republicans in primary elections.

Who were the Dixiecrats/States' Rights Democratic Party, and why did they split from the Democratic Party?

The Dixiecrats were Southern Democrats who formed the States' Rights Democratic Party in 1948. They split from the national Democratic Party because they opposed its growing support for civil rights and federal action against segregation.

How do independent candidates get on the Texas ballot?

Independent candidates generally must meet Texas filing and petition requirements, including collecting the required number of valid signatures from eligible voters. They must also follow applicable filing deadlines and eligibility rules.

What is a one-party state?

A one-party state is a state where one political party consistently dominates elections and controls most elected government positions.

What were Shivercrats and presidential Republicanism? When did they occur, and when did Republicans regain dominance in Texas?

• Shivercrats: Conservative Texas Democrats who supported Republican Dwight Eisenhower for president while often continuing to vote Democratic in state elections during the 1950s. They were associated with Governor Allan Shivers.

• Presidential Republicanism: Voting Republican for president while continuing to support Democrats in state and local elections.

• Republican dominance: Republicans gained sustained control of Texas politics during the 1990s. George W. Bush won the governorship in 1994.

What are major issues in Texas party politics, including Latino voters, the urban-rural divide, white flight, and ideological factions?

• Latino voters: A growing and diverse voting population with increasing influence on Texas elections.

• Urban-rural divide: Urban areas generally lean Democratic, while rural areas generally lean Republican.

• White flight: The movement of white residents from increasingly diverse urban neighborhoods to suburban or other areas.

• Ideological factions: Groups within political parties that disagree on particular issues, such as moderate, conservative, and progressive factions.

When was the last time a Democrat won Texas in a presidential election and a gubernatorial election?

• President: Jimmy Carter in 1976.

• Governor: Ann Richards in 1990.

What is a Blue Dog Democrat?

A Blue Dog Democrat is a fiscally conservative or moderate Democrat who generally supports more centrist political positions and may disagree with the more liberal wing of the Democratic Party.

What is the difference between primary and general elections in Texas? When are they held? Are Texas primaries open or closed?

• Primary elections: Allow political parties to select their candidates for the general election. Generally held in March of even-numbered years.

• General elections: Determine who wins public office. Generally held in November.

• Texas primary system: Texas has open primaries because voters do not have to register with a political party before participating. However, voters must choose one party's primary and cannot vote in both parties' primaries during the same election cycle.

What are special elections in Texas, and when are they used?

Special elections are held outside regularly scheduled elections to fill vacancies in elected offices or decide specific government matters, such as constitutional amendments.

What is the Texas primary system's absolute majority requirement, and when are runoff primaries held?

Texas requires a candidate to receive an absolute majority, meaning more than 50% of the votes, to win a party nomination. If no candidate receives more than 50%, the top two candidates compete in a runoff primary.

What is voter disenfranchisement? How were different groups prevented from voting in Texas?

Voter disenfranchisement is the denial or restriction of a person's right or practical ability to vote.

Examples include:

• Women: The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, prohibited denying voting rights based on sex.

• Poll tax: Required voters to pay a fee before voting. The 24th Amendment (1964) banned poll taxes in federal elections, and Harper v. Virginia (1966) prohibited them in state elections.

• White primary: Excluded African Americans from Democratic Party primaries.

• Literacy tests: Required voters to demonstrate reading or writing abilities and were used to discriminate against minority voters.

• Other restrictions: Intimidation, discriminatory registration requirements, and other barriers prevented eligible citizens from voting.

What was the Jaybird Party, and what did Smith v. Allwright decide?

• Jaybird Party: A white political organization in Fort Bend County, Texas, that excluded Black voters and controlled local elections.

• Smith v. Allwright (1944): The Supreme Court ruled that excluding Black voters from Democratic Party primaries was unconstitutional because primaries were part of the state election process.

What are early voting and the Motor Voter Law?

• Early voting: Allows registered voters to cast their ballots in person before Election Day. In Texas, early voting generally begins 17 days before Election Day.

• Motor Voter Law: The National Voter Registration Act of 1993. It expanded voter registration opportunities through driver's license offices and certain government agencies.

What are Texas voter ID/photo ID laws? When were they implemented, and what IDs can be used?

Texas enacted its original photo ID law in 2011, and it took effect in 2013. Voters generally must present an acceptable form of photo identification.

Acceptable forms include:

1. Texas driver's license.

2. Texas Election Identification Certificate.

3. Texas personal identification card.

4. Texas license to carry a handgun.

5. U.S. passport.

6. U.S. military identification card with a photograph.

7. U.S. citizenship certificate with a photograph.