PLSC 1 Final

What are political parties defined as in the American political system?

Groups that nominate candidates for elected office.

Why were the Founders skeptical about political parties?

They feared that factions would lead to divisiveness and undermine national unity.

Who warned about the problems of factions in Federalist 10?

James Madison

How did George Washington view political parties?

As a source of unnecessary division of the public.

What do political scientists argue about political parties?

They argue that parties improve democracy by providing organization.

What do political parties help alleviate in Congress?

Coordination problems.

What model did V.O. Key Jr. create to explain the roles of political parties?

The tripartite model of political parties.

What is the role of the 'Party in Government'?

It comprises politicians elected to serve as official representatives.

What is the primary goal of 'Party as an Organization'?

To aid in the election of partisans to various offices.

What occurs at national conventions in the American political system?

They highlight candidates and promote unity amongst partisans.

What types of members exist within a political party organization?

Party professionals and party amateurs.

Who are considered party professionals?

Chairpersons and other leaders who work directly with the party.

What distinguishes party amateurs?

They are motivated partisans who work unofficially with the party.

What does the 'Party in the Electorate' consist of?

Members of the public who align with a political party.

What was the First Party System from 1796 to 1824?

It included the Democratic Republican Party and the Federalist Party.

What did the Democratic Republican Party advocate for?

A reduced role for the national government.

Who supported ratification of the Constitution?

The Federalist Party.

What characterized the Second Party System between 1832-1860?

The rise of the Democratic Party and the Whig Party.

What happened to the Whig Party at the onset of the Civil War?

It dissolved due to internal disagreements over slavery.

During which period did the Third Party System occur?

1860-1896.

What was a key aspect of the Republican Party's formation?

It was formed during the Civil War to promote opposition to slavery.

What was unique about the Fourth Party System from 1896-1932?

The Progressive Party was able to influence policy outcomes.

What does Duverger’s Law explain?

It explains why single-member districts lead to two-party systems.

What major reforms did the Progressives adopt?

The Australian ballot, direct primary, and the 17th Amendment.

What characterized the Fifth Party System from 1932-1980?

A shift in power dynamics primarily benefiting the Democratic Party.

Who was instrumental in creating the New Deal coalition?

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

What led to the dissolution of the New Deal Coalition?

Debates about the role of race in the American political system.

What significant transition occurred during the Sixth Party System?

A southern realignment of voters from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.

What characterizes lobbying activities of interest groups?

They attempt to influence the policymaking process without nominating candidates.

What is inside lobbying?

Direct contact between interest groups and politicians to advance their goals.

What is outside lobbying?

Engaging with the public to mobilize voters to appeal to politicians.

What is a collective action problem faced by interest groups?

Free riding, where individuals benefit from the group without contributing.

How do interest groups prevent free riding?

By providing selective incentives to those who join.

What is a coordination problem in the context of interest groups?

When groups unite under a common cause but have misaligned interests.

How can interest groups overcome coordination problems?

By crafting a clear, concise message for lobbying.

What justified the former colonists' independence from Great Britain?

The British government violated their rights and liberties by imposing excessive restrictions.

Which political branch is most active in preserving rights and liberties?

The judicial branch.

What right did the Supreme Court infer that is implied in the Fourth, Fifth, and Ninth Amendments?

The right to privacy.

What did the Thirteenth Amendment accomplish?

It prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude.

What does the Fourteenth Amendment guarantee?

Equal protection of the laws and extends civil rights to more citizens.

What principle did Plessy v. Ferguson uphold?

The 'separate but equal' principle.

What did Brown v. Board of Education rule regarding educational facilities?

It ruled that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.

What major event occurred in Little Rock, Arkansas in relation to school desegregation?

Governor Orval Faubus mobilized the National Guard to prevent black students from entering the local high school.

What act outlaws discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, and later sexuality?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964.

What does the Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibit?

It prohibits racial discrimination at the polls.

What is the main focus of civil rights?

Protections by the government determining participation and representation in decision-making.

What are two general principles of civil rights?

1. Civil rights ought to be universal. 2. Civil rights ought to be equal.

What major impact did the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) have?

It prohibited discrimination based on disability and provided necessary accommodations.

What does Roe v. Wade establish regarding women's rights?

A woman's access to abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy.

What significant ruling did Obergefell v. Hodges achieve for LGBTQ+ rights?

It ruled that prohibitions on same-sex marriages violate the 14th Amendment's equal protection under the law.

What does the Bill of Rights ensure?

Protections against government infringement of individual civil liberties.

How does the First Amendment protect freedoms?

It guarantees freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

What criteria is applied to political speech in legal challenges?

It is subjected to strict scrutiny.

What principle protects individuals from self-incrimination?

The Fifth Amendment's provision against self-incrimination.

What does the Fourth Amendment protect citizens from?

Unreasonable searches and seizures.

What is the exclusionary rule established in Mapp v. Ohio?

It requires courts to exclude evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment.

What does Amendment VI establish regarding criminal proceedings?

The right to a speedy and public trial and the right to counsel.

What does the Eighth Amendment prohibit?

Excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.

What is selective incorporation?

The one-by-one application of the Bill of Rights to the states.

What does Amendment XIII accomplish?

It ended slavery except for punishment of a duly convicted criminal.

What does Amendment XIV guarantee?

Citizenship and due process to former enslaved individuals.

What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 actualize?

The provisions of the Fifteenth Amendment regarding voting rights.

What case determined the principle of dual citizenship?

Barron v. Baltimore.

What is the right established concerning searches of digital content on a phone?

Police cannot search a cell phone without a warrant (Riley v. California).

What was the major implication of Korematsu v. United States?

It upheld the relocation of Japanese Americans during WWII.

What does Amendment VIII state about punishment?

It prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.

How does the First Amendment apply to student speech?

It applies to schools as long as it does not interfere with the educational process.

What issue arises from the enforcement of immigration laws?

Civil rights for immigrants often depend on the power dynamics in society.

What significant change for voting was made by the Twenty-fourth Amendment?

It outlawed poll taxes that restricted suffrage.

What does 'affirmative action' aim to achieve?

To overcome the consequences of past discrimination and encourage diversity.

What are two types of scrutiny used by the Supreme Court in discrimination cases?

Strict scrutiny and intermediate scrutiny.

What principle ensures that citizens cannot be tried for the same crime twice?

Double jeopardy.

What was the outcome of Dobbs v. Jackson concerning abortion rights?

It overturned Roe v. Wade and returned laws on abortion to state control.

What does public opinion refer to?

The preferences of the general public on political matters.

What principle does the U.S. Constitution employ to address public opinion?

Checks and Balances and Separation of powers.

What does Condorcet's jury theorem argue about voting?

The more votes cast, the more likely the results will be 'correct'.

What is the Delegate Model in representation?

Representatives cater to public opinion even when it differs from their own beliefs.

What is the Trustee Model in representation?

Representatives vote according to their own convictions, which may or may not align with constituents.

What challenge do politicians face regarding public opinion after winning campaigns?

Translating the interests of their constituents into public policies.

What is a principal-agent problem in politics?

A situation where political elites serve multiple principals who cannot clearly communicate their opinions.

How have measurements of public opinion improved over time?

Polling methods have evolved to be more representative of the general public.

What were straw polls and how effective were they?

Early informal polls that were often unrepresentative but sometimes accurately predicted election outcomes.

What was a significant flaw in the Literary Digest's straw polls?

Its sample was predominantly automobile owners, who were not representative of the general public during the Great Depression.

What is the current method for public opinion polling?

Using random probability samples to capture a representative subset of the population.

Why did random digit dialing exclude some demographics in polling?

Subsets of the population did not have access to landlines, leading to skewed results.

How do alternative methods like interviews and focus groups enhance understanding of public opinion?

They provide in-depth opportunities for scholars to gather nuanced information.

What is the role of political socialization?

It describes how members of the public learn and develop political opinions over time.

What are agents of socialization?

Factors that shape how individuals process their surroundings and respond to political information.

How do schools act as socialization agents?

They play an important role, especially during a child's early education.

What is partisanship in the context of political socialization?

Political party affiliation that serves as a primary predictor of vote choice.

Who is considered the most influential agent of socialization?

Parents, as they heavily influence their children's party affiliation.

What is political ideology?

A connection of interrelated preferences about how the political world should ideally look.

What is ideological constraint?

The persistence of issue positions over time regarding various political issues.

How does political knowledge vary among the American public?

It is generally low, impacting the ability to process complex policy debates.

What are party cues in the political context?

Indicators like party affiliation that help less-informed voters make choices.

What is the significance of group interests in political opinion?

Belonging to social groups provides voters with information and influences their preferences.

How do political elites manipulate public opinion?

Through framing and priming issues to influence how the public perceives them.

What is meant by framing in politics?

Highlighting specific dimensions of a complex issue to shape public discourse.

What is priming in relation to public opinion?

Making certain considerations accessible in short-term memory to influence opinions.

What factors contribute to government polarization?

Nature of debate, institutional factors, and election processes.