Liberals vs. Conservatives Packet

liberalism

began under leadership of Jefferson and Jackson

favored less involved gov.

oppossed Bank and argued for power to the people

today's liberalism

racial equality, foreign aid, lower military spending

active gov.

lessen gap between rich and poor

conservatism

began under leadership of Hamilton, Adams (Federalists)

believed in right to rule for elected few

strong central gov.

today's conservatism

free enterprise and private property rights

less government involvement in economy

want to limit social welfare programs

want to conserve traditions

New Deal

offered major social welfare programs during the Great Depression

boost in gov. programs called for increased gov. role

very liberal

conservative attitudes

tradition, conformity, authority

liberal attitudes

individuality, experimentation, nonconformity

1960s liberals

sexual revolution, drug experimentation, rejection of materialism, civil rights, distrust of gov. and police, Vietnam War all shaped liberal leanings

1960s conservatives

sexual revolution, drug experimentation, rejection of materialism, civil rights, distrust of gov. and police, Vietnam War led to strong conter-reaction for traditional values, respect for authority, laissez-faire capitalism, patriotism

Gallop Poll

37% Moderate

25% Liberal

36% Conservative

2000 election

red states (pro-Bush) were in heartland while blue states (pro-Gore) were on each coast

political ideology scale

communist -> socialist -> liberals -> moderate -> conservative -> reactionary -> fascists

political culture

america's shared beliefs, values, and norms concerning the ways political and economic life should be carried out

Tocqueville's 6 core values of american political culture

liberty, democracy, equality, civic duty, individual responsibility, rule of law

trust in government

steadily declined since the end of the 1950s

because of watergate and vietnam

political socialization

life long process through which an individual acquires their political opinions

family

#1 factor of political socialization

religion

factor of political socialization

catholics are more liberal on economic issues than social ones

protestant families are more conservative and Jewish families are more liberal

cafeteria catholics

put one single issue over the whole party

history of religion in politics

poor jewish and catholic immigrants sided with democrats but as status improved, their support decreased

Jews have always put a bigger emphasis on social justice and Protestants have on personal morals

Christian Coalition

grassroots organization with leader Pat Robertson

Republican and very conservative right

gender gap

since the 60s, men have become more republican and women have become more democrat

education

teachers teach children to be good citizens

college has a liberalizing affect

opinion leaders

any person who has an influence on what others think

mass media

Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and other means of popular communication

influence political opinion

cleavages in public opinions

factors that cause division

religion

income

race

gender

rust belt

Great Lake states with many factory workers and unions

tend to be liberal

solid south

when south was fully democrat

up until Civil Rights movement

elections

when a candidate wins an election they win a mandate

public has permitted them to act on their promises

interest groups

private organizations whose members share certain views and work to change public opinion

polls

survey to get information or opinions by asking people questions

polsters

people who take polls

push polls

polls that ask leading questions

straw vote

when questions are asked to a large number of people

exit polls

when people are asked questions as they leave from voting

scientific polls

first used in 1930s

examples are Gallop Poll and Harris Survey

bandwagon effect

voters vote for leaders in polls in order to support a winner

negative of polls

franchise

right to vote

electorate

those eligible to vote

over 210 million

setting suffrage requirements

reserved power but states can't withhold suffrage from voters protected in the Constitution

1789

suffrage expanded to white male property owners

1850

suffrage expanded to all adult white males

1870

suffrage expanded to all adult males

15th amendment

1920

suffrage expanded to all men and women over 21

20th amendment

1960s

Civil rights movement strengthened voting rights of African Americans

23rd Amendment gave DC 3 electoral votes

1971

suffrage expanded to everyone over 18

26th amendment

requirements to vote

must be citizen, must be a resident of the state (most require 28-30 days), 18 years old, registration

Motor Voter Law

register to vote when you update your license (1995) to make registration easier

Literacy

Voting Rights Acts prohibited it being a requirement to vote

24th amendment

outlawed poll taxes

mental institution patients

if deemend not competent, may not vote

incarcerated felons

have limited voting rights

most likely to vote

old

rich

churchgoers

suburban

marries

long-term residents

women

educated

white-collar

Ballot Fatigue

people go to polls but don't mark the entire ballot

further down ballot, less likely a vote is cast

reasons people don't vote

Ballot Fatigue, bad weather, west coast residents hear early returns and think their votes don't matter, lack of interest, not registered

factors for people who do vote

place in society (income, job, gender, ethnicity, religion, education, town, family)

loyalty to a party

if voters like candidates

how much voters care about the issues

straight ticket voters

voting for candidates of the same party

split ticket voters

voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election

same day registration

result in increased voter participation

one-party systems

one party controls the government my law

voter fraud and patronage often keep the dominant power in change

(Russia, China, Iran, Mexico)

Two-Party systems

2 major parties compete for control

one right wing and one left wing party

political parties are usually broad

no minor parties can truly expect to win

(USA)

multi-party systems

many contending parties

cause coalitions to forms

Proportionate Representation: each party wims seats in the legislative proportionate to votes

(UK, Canada)

First Past the Post

An electoral system in which individual candidates compete in single member districts; voters choose between candidates and the candidate with the largest share of the vote wins the seat.

split ticket

when more than one candidate from the same party runs

1796- Jefferson and Burr split Dem-Rep

1820- JQAdams and Monroe split Rep

1860- Breckinridge and Douglas split Dem

splinter party

party split off from a major party usually from a disagreement

Progressive (Bull Moose) in 1912 and 1924

Dixiecrats in 1948

ideological party

party based on a particular set of beliefs

Libertarian, socialist, communist

economic protests party

Greenback party, populists party

single-issue party

Prohibition Party, Free Soil Party, Know-Nothings Party, Right to Life

Retrospective voting

voting for a candidate because you like his or her past actions in office

elections of 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 based on incumbent's record

usually helps unless economy is down

midterm elections voters tend to turn against president's party

prospective voting

voting for a candidate because you favor his or her ideas for handling issues

coalitions

Alliances of various parties

base of loyal constituents

democrat coalitions

black people are most loyal

most hispanics (not cubans), catholics, unionists

republican coalitions

businesses and professional people, farmers

party realignments

when a new issue becomes so important that is causes voters to cut party division and replace old issues

slavery and economy

most likely to vote