unit 5 terms

rational choice

rational choice

what is in the citizen’s best interest

retrospective voting

whether a party/candidate should be reelected based on their past performance

prospective voting

voting based on potential performance of a candidate

party-line voting

voting for one political party

political party functions

recruit and nominate candidates, educate and mobilize voters, provide campaign funds and support, organize government activity

party realignment

occurs when coalitions making up a part defects to other party

critical election

new party dominates politics

why third parties fail

electoral system designed to support two parties (plurality system), lack of money and recognition, platform issues of 3rd parties often incorporated into major parties, winner-take-all electoral system, single member district (1 rep is elected in each Congressional district)

linkage institutions

channels that allow people to communicate their preferences to policymakers (political parties, interest groups, elections, media)

party dealignment

decline in party identification and loyalty

political action committee (PAC)

organizations that raise money for campaigns, ballots, legislation, started by campaigns, citizens, corps, unions, interest groups

primary system

primary election to nominate candidates for each party then general election between 2 final candidates

interest group

an organization that attempts to influence policy (eg: NRA)

civil society groups

groups outside of government that advocate for policies and provide assistance (religious charities, The Red Cross, Feeding America)

public interest group

works on behalf of a broad group of people, not j their members (advocate for civil liberties, civil rights, education, environment)

single issue group

focus on one issue (eg: NRA)

insitutional groups

professional associations/labor unions, corporations, intergovernmental groups

interest group functions

educate voters and office holders, write bills/draft legislation, GOTV, endorse candidates, organize protests, create PACs, lobbying, mobilize membership, iron triangles/issue networks

Super PACs

may raise unlimited money from corporations, unions, individuals but can’t donate directly to political candidates or parties (not supposed to directly talk with candidate)

lobbyists

policy specialists, pressure legislators, threaten to pull fundraising support, provide info to congresspeople

federal elections campaign act (FECA)

allowed PACs to be formed by corporations, unions, and trade associations to raise campaign funds (set restrictions on contributors and contributions, money must be raised from employees or members)

bipartisan campaign reform act (BCRA)

prohibited soft money donations to national political parties, limited corporate and union funding for ads about political issues within 60 days of election and 30 days of primary, banned contributions from corporations

incumbent advantage

representatives who run for reelection (incumbents) win ~90% of the time

nominations

when parties choose candidates for general election