MIDTERM- AP GOV

4 functions of elections

choose political leaders

provide a form of political participation

accountability

legitimize positions of power

constitution provisions: elections

federal gov selects election day (first Tuesday after the first Monday in November)

elections and qualifications: house - every 2 years senate - every 6 years

creates and defines electoral college

requires census be conducted every 10 years

governing elections: state

sets times and location for elections

certifies election results days or weeks after election day

draws congressional district lines

creates rules and procedures for voter registration

chooses format of acceptable ballots and how to file for candidacy

governing elections: federal

sets date from federal, general elections

administers and enforces campaign finance rules

enforces relevant civil rights legislation

has judicial jurisdiction on election policy

address suffrage in constitutional amendments

primary elections

within party vs within party - used to select party’s candidates for elective office

closed primary

only registered in party may vote within party’s election - Ex: R (R)

semi-open primary

voters registered within a party or independents may vote in party’s election - Ex: D & I (D)

open primary

anyone can vote in party’s elections - Ex: D & R & I (D)

initiative petition

collect signatures to place proposal on ballot

referendum

voter validate/reject a law

recall

voters fire elected officials in the middle of their term

census

reapportionment - # of seats in house of representatives (every 10 years)

primaries

used to select a party’s candidates for president

general

election on who is president

special policy issue election

election to validate/reject laws

eligible voter

voter that meets voting requirements (ex: 18 & over)

registered voter

voter that completed registered process required by their state

imcumbent

already holding office or running for re-election

challenger

running against the imcumbent

U.S election cycle

general election → off year → mid term → primaries

proportional representation

most % of votes (EX: If a party gets 30% of the votes, it gets about 30% of the seats)

plurality

try to win the most votes

proportional vs winner-take-all

proportional - most % vs winner-take-all - most votes

% of incumbents that win re-elections

house. - 95% senate - 85%

reasons why incumbents win elections

name recognition, money, franking

term limit

number of times being elected

why doesn’t the constitution list term limits

because framers believed voters should choose their representatives that see fit

term limits vs thorton

states cannot impose term limit upon their federal representatives

why is it more likely to get re-elected in the house compared to the senate

elections in a district are smaller and easier compared to statewide

voter registration purpose

to prevent voter fraud

primary causes of low voter turnout

registration process can be a barrier

reapportionment act of 1929

limited # of representatives in the house to 435

gerrymandering

strategic drawing district boundaries to make it easy for candidates of one party to win

gerrymandering: pack

packing as many voters as possible of an opposing party into one district

gerrymandering: crack

splitting the opposing part’s voters into many different districts so they do not win

13 amendment

outlawed slavery - 1865

15th amendment

denied states form denying vote on the account of race/color/etc - 1870

jim crow laws

laws made to prevent blacks from voting

grandfather clause

if your grandfather/father could vote in 1867 you can vote

voting rights act of 1965

no more jim crow laws

24 amendment

outlawed poll taxes

19 amendment

women right to vote - 1920

26 amendment

18 and over can vote

23 amendment

23:3 for D.C

17 amendment

people elect senators

political culture

widely shared beliefs, values, and norms concerning ways that political and economic life be carried out

individualism

belief in the fundamental worth and importance of the individual

equality of opportunity

equal rights of people (legal equality, political equality)

free enterprise

economical system with private ownership and minimal government intervention

rule of law

laws apply equally to everyone

limited government

governments powers are restricted by law

political socializarion

the process where individuals form and change their political beliefs, values, and behaviors over a lifetime (family, friends, coworkers)

political tolerance

to extend basic civil rights to people with different political values

political efficacy

trust in government

internal efficacy

ability to understand and participate in political affairs

external efficency

belief government will respond to their personal needs and beliefs

wedge issue

any issue used to create a division with in a political party (Ex: abortion)

libertarian

advocates for - minimal government intervention

populist

advocates for - people vs the elite

progressives

advocates for - using the government to address social and economic problems

party platform

positions and principles of major political parties (Ex: Democratic and Republican)

political ideology spectrum

left-wing ——- moderate ——- right-wing

civic duty

obeying laws, paying taxes, serving on jury if summoned

policy voteing

people vote their own preferences on issues and ignore personalities of candidates

mandate voting

perception voters approve of a policy or candidate

classic liberalism

individual liberty, limited government, and the protection of natural rights like life, liberty, and property

rational-choice (4 types of voters)

votes based on what will serve their self-interest

retrospective (4 types of voters)

votes based on candidates track records (times good vote candidate again, time bad vote another candidate)

prospective voteing (4 types of voters)

group benefit voting (Ex: women and minority vote certain way)

party line voting (4 types of voters)

votes for candidates only because they are in the same political party

identity politics

politics based on a particular identity, such as race, religion, gender, ect.

single issue

focus on a single political or social issue (Ex: gun violence)

factors that impact ideology

FAMILY, marriage, gender, religion, education, socio-economic, geographic region, age

#1 factor that influences ideology

FAMILY - parents explain issues and events creates influence

gaps and cleavages

the social or cultural line which divides citizens within a society into groups with differing political interests

petition clause

protects the right of the people to petition the government for a redress of grievances

benchmark poll

information gathering poll. typically first poll used in an election, before potential candidate has declared his or her intentions.

tracking poll

ask small group of people same questions over time to “track” path of public opinion

exit poll

predicts the electoral winner - goes to voting booths and asks voters how they voted (wildly inaccurate)

focus groups

small groups of citizens to have conversations about candidates

horse-race politics

concept of focusing on multiple candidates competing (who is ahead who is behind)

representative sample

sample of those interviewed must be representative of a entire population

objective wording

structure and wording of question important in accuracy

straw polls

unscientific surveys based on public opinion (not accurate)

variance and sampling dangers

sampling bias, sampling error

stratification

arrangement of society into classes based on factors like income, wealth, and education

margin of error

lack of data

bandwagon effect

shift in support which leads people to believe there is widespread support

majoritarian policy

a system where the will of the majority dictates government decisions

interest group policy

interest groups aim to influence public policy through various strategies

fiscal policy

government spending and tax (what gov spends money on)

Keynesian economics

philosophy that encourages government spending

supply-side economics

philosophy that government should be hands off as much as possible

monetary policy

supply and demand of money

federal reserve

central band of the U.S. is responsible for managing the economy and making sure its stable

social welfare

governments support to the economic and social well-being of citizens (healthcare, education, ect)

entitlement

a government program that guarantees benefits to a specific group of people (Ex: medicare)

social security

Provides benefits to retirees, disabled, ect

medicare

health insurance for 65 and older

medicaid

coverage for low-income individuals and families