Elections in the American Political System

What is the role of elections in a democracy?

Elections ensure the persistence of democratic norms and shape policy outcomes while controlling the behavior of politicians.

What is Convergence Theory in relation to elections?

Convergence Theory argues that candidates should craft appeals to the median voter in the center of the ideological spectrum.

What is the primary strategy candidates should use during general elections?

Candidates should focus on appealing to the median voter.

What does Divergence Theory advocate for candidates during campaigns?

suggests candidates should cater to their committed supporters to sustain their campaign presence.

What is the significance of strong partisans in elections?

Strong partisans are more likely to vote and donate money to campaigns, making them crucial for electoral success.

What defines a two-party system?

A two-party system is characterized by single-member districts and plurality rule in the electoral process.

How does plurality rule influence election outcomes?

In plurality rule, the candidate who receives the most votes wins, regardless of a majority.

What does Duverger's Law explain?

Duverger’s Law explains how the electoral system influences the number of political parties that compete.

What authority does the Constitution grant to states concerning elections?

The Constitution allows states to regulate the time, place, and manner of elections.

What is gerrymandering?

the manipulation of district boundaries to favor a particular political party.

What is the purpose of primary elections?

allow the public to choose a party nominee before the general election.

What distinguishes open primaries from closed primaries?

Open primaries allow all registered voters to participate; closed primaries require voters to be registered with a party.

What are semi-closed primaries?

Semi-closed primaries allow unaffiliated voters to vote in one major party primary but prevent registered partisans from voting in opposing primaries.

What do states hope to achieve by frontloading their primaries?

States compete for national attention and aim for higher voter turnout by holding their primaries early.

What was the purpose of the Tillman Act of 1907?

prohibited banks and corporations from contributing to political campaigns.

What was established by the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) of 1971?

established disclosure reports for campaign donations and imposed limits on individual contributions.

What did Buckley v. Valeo (1976) establish regarding campaign spending?

It affirmed campaign spending as free speech under the First Amendment and ruled limits on candidates' personal spending unconstitutional.

What does the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) aim to do?

sought to reduce the influence of money in elections and improve transparency.

What are Super PACs?

independent expenditure-only political action committees that can spend unlimited sums on political campaigns.

What significant ruling did Citizens v. Federal Election Commission (2010) make?

It ruled that limiting corporate donations violated the First Amendment.

What impact do campaign strategies have on elections?

they determine how candidates allocate resources to maximize vote shares.

What is the role of technology in modern campaigns?

used to enhance campaign visibility and engagement with voters.

How do candidates use advertising in their campaigns?

to promote their positions positively and discredit their opponents negatively.

What is a Prisoner’s Dilemma in the context of negative advertising?

It refers to the situation where both parties run negative ads to preempt attacks from one another.

How do voter's perceptions affect the efficacy of campaign ads?

Negative information tends to linger in memory longer than positive information, making negative ads more effective.

What outreach method can candidates use to effectively engage voters?

Candidates can utilize door-to-door campaigning to reach specific voter demographics.

What does 'frontloading' refer to in the context of elections?

It refers to states trying to schedule their primaries early in the election cycle to gain influence.

What is the difference between hard money and soft money in campaign finance?

Hard money refers to contributions directly to a candidate, while soft money assists party activities without direct candidate support.

What was the main focus of the campaign finance legislation from 1907-2010?

To create rules regulating contributions to improve transparency and prevent corruption in elections.