Linkage institutions

Political participation

All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue

political ideology

a more or less consistent set of beliefs about what policies government ought to pursue

What is the story behind Citizens United

Citizens United a conservative nonprofit wanted to air a film highly critical of Hillary Clinton in 2008. But the FEC blocked it, citing campaign finance laws that restricted corporate funded political ads close to elections, CU sued saying it violated their free speech.

Who won the case?

CU won the case 5-4 under the first amendments free speech clause. The court ruled the gov. cannot restrict independent political spending by corporations.

What are the 4 linkage institutions

Media, elections, parties, interest groups

26th amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

24th amendment

prohibits poll taxes

19th amendment

Gave women the right to vote

17th amendment

Direct election of senators

Generalizations on voters

-higher incomes and more educated vote more

-a person is more likely to vote if they believe they will make change

-older generations vote more

-white and African Americans tend to vote the most

-woman tend to vote more

-individuals with a stronger attachment to parties are more likely to vote

political efficiency

The belief that one's political participation really matters - that one's vote can actually make a difference

Rational choice voting

voting based on what a citizen believes is in his or her best interest

retrospective voting

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

prospective voting

voting for a candidate because of future promises or policies

party-line voting

process in which voters select candidates by their party affiliation

What are the stages of the presidential campaign?

1. the nomination campaign- where candidates try to secure the nomination of their political party

2. the general election campaign- where successful nominees compete for the presidency

How does money influence politics

-money buys media time

-more money for campaign advertisements

-buy get out to vote efforts

-professional consultants

proportional representation

An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.

What are some responsibilities of the FEC

-oversees campaign finance laws

-oversees disclosure of campaign finance information

-regulates PACs and super PACs

-administers public funding for presidential elections

What is the significance of citizens united

-ruled super PACs are allowed to spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns

-ruled that corporations and unions have first amendment rights to unlimited political spending as long as its not directly coordinated with candidates

what are some arguments for citizens united

-it would harm democracy

-they rejected the majorities argument that BCRA imposed unconstitutional restrictions on speech and they argued the first amendment is absolute

What are the 3 roles of political parties

1.as organizations- parties recruit, nominate, and support candidates for political office

2. in the electorate- provide labels voters can use as shortcuts in identifying candidates closer to their own political ideologies

3. in the government- a party enacts the policy positions of its members and acts as an opposition to the majority party

When someone only votes for republicans

straight-ticket voting

if someone votes for more than one party in an election

split-ticket voting

How do parties help elected officials govern?

-provide expertise and support

-maintain voter database info

-communicate with people

-they help with policy development

What is a critical election

an election that signals a party realignment through voter polarization around new issues and personalities

-Shift balance of power between 2 parties

What is realignment?

substantial and long-term shift in party allegiance by individuals and groups, usually resulting in a change in policy direction

What is a primary election and what is a delegates role?

A primary election is where states voters choose delegates who support a presidential candidate.

Delegates are the people who act as the voters representative at the convention when selecting a party nominee

What is the difference between a primary and a caucus

Caucus voting is done in public while primary voting is done in secret

What is the difference between open primaries and closed primaries

open primaries allow anybody who is registered to vote regardless of party affiliation, while in closed primaries only registered members of the party can vote

One reason why states might choose a caucus and not a primary

finance

how have campaigns become over time

more party centered, meaning groups of party elites are losing their influence over the nomination process

what does "the two party system is perpetuated by the single member plurality system" mean

it means the two party system continues to remain in power due to the system. In the system the candidate who receives the most votes in a state receives all the votes. This keeps the two party system in power because one candidate from either party almost always wins.

How do third parties influence elections

-They bring interest and recognition to issues they believe the major parties are not addressing

-They can take votes away from major political party candidates. This influences the outcome of the elections.

What is the spoiler effect?

When a 3rd party joins the race and takes too many votes away from the popular candidate.

Pluralist theory

the distribution of political power among many competing groups serves to keep any one of them in check

Elitist theory

the most powerful groups control the agenda

The free-ride problem

For a group, the problem of people not joining because they can benefit from the group's activities without joining.

Selective benefits

Goods (such as information publications, travel discounts, and group insurance rates) that a group can restrict to those who pay their annual dues.

collective goods

Goods and services, such as clean air and clean water, that by their nature cannot be denied to anyone.

What tactics do interest groups use

Lobbying- interacting with government officials in order to advance a groups policy goals

Grassroots lobbying- mobilizing interest group members to pressure their reps. by contacting them through social media

Litigation (amicus curie brief)- filed by someone in an attempt to persuade the court to agree with the arguments displayed, and describes the groups position on issues

Revolving door

Employment cycle in which individuals who work for governmental agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern.

Social movements

A large group of people who are organized to promote or resist some social change

what does it mean that the media acts as an "agenda-setter"

highlighting certain issues that are worthy of coverage and being brought to the attention of the public

How has news media changed over time?

there has been a rise in communication technologies which has allowed news to spread to large audiences faster and more conveniently

What is the role of mass media in American's political knowledge

-how the information is broadcasted determines how people perceive the information

-gives people more of a chance to learn about politics

How have new forms of social media created challenges in American government

-new social media allows news to be broadcasted more and more widely available

-this results in increased polarization among citizens which further divides Americans

Media Bias

Bias or slant in the selection of which news to report and how the news is reported.

media consolidation

a process whereby progressively fewer individuals or organizations control increasing shares of the mass media

Another word for swing states

battleground

people who announce what candidate their state is voting more

delegate

front loading

The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention.

wining and dining

when lobbayists take members of the court out to dinner

gatekeeper

choosing what to report on

scorekeeper

they update the winners of elections

watchdog

reporting on scandals