Political Science

Fenno's Paradox

People dislike Congress as a whole but like their representative, leading to high re-election rates for members of Congress.

What branch of the U.S. federal government is the least liked?

Congress.

Why do Mann and Ornstein refer to Congress as the 'broken branch'?

Members are focused on partisanship, causing problems where they do not work together, leading to decreased oversight and deliberation.

What are Mayhew's 3 activities for re-election to Congress?

Advertising, Credit-Claiming, and Position-Taking.

Fenno's 'Home Style'

The way members of Congress interact with their home district and use resources like time, money, and offices.

Concentric Constituencies

A model that includes Geographic, Reelection, Primary, and Personal constituencies.

How can a member cultivate a constituency?

Know constituents, move people inward, allocate resources fairly, and keep voters engaged.

What shapes a person's party ID?

Socialization, group ID, and a running tally.

Why might someone's party ID change?

Changes in their running tally, an impactful single issue, or new party leadership.

What is the 30-30-40 split in party ID?

30% Republican, 30% Democrat, and 40% Independent.

What are the 3 Cs of modern media?

Corporate, Consolidated, and Conglomerated.

What are the 5 potential media biases from Lance Bennett?

Political, Personalization, Dramatization, Fragmentation, and News as a game.

What is needed for a third party candidate to have success?

Name recognition, a coherent message, and sufficient funding.

Who studied 'party ID'?

The Michigan School (Campbell, Converse, Miller, and Stokes).

What are Doris Graber's elements of newsworthiness?

Strong impact, Exciting, Familiar, Proximate, Timely, and Novel.

What are Iyengar's 3 functions of news media?

Contribute to informed citizenship, serve as a watchdog, and provide a forum for politician messages.

Who said 'The press is no substitute for institutions. It is like the beam of a searchlight'?

Lippman.

Why does media not cover boring issues?

Media prioritizes topics that attract public attention due to profit motives.

Psychological forces vs. Social forces

Psychological forces are individual beliefs influencing choices, while social forces are the thoughts and expectations from others.

What are roadblocks to third parties winning?

Ballot access, lack of media support, co-optation of ideas by major parties, and credibility issues.

What are common complaints about Congress?

Incapacity to represent diverse interests, solve major issues, focus too much on Washington, and heavy influence by interest groups.

What does party ID do?

Acts as an information screen, influences relationships, causes selective exposure, predicts issue positions, and guides voting behavior.

As of October 2025, what percentage of people approve or disapprove of Congress?

15% approve, 79% disapprove.

Who described Congress as a 'public enemy'?

Hibbing and Theiss-Morse.