Unit 5: Political Participation

Rational choice voting

When a citizen researches individual candidates and makes their voting decision based on facts and platforms.

Party line voting

When a citizen votes for the every member of a certain party and does little to no research on the candidate

Retrospective voting

When a voter focuses on past actions, rather than a candidate's current platforms and visions 

Prospective voting

When a candidate attempts to persuade voters with promises of what they will do in the future 

Independent

The voter party identification that has been on the rise since the 1980s

Why would a liberal in Texas experience voter apathy

Believes vote doesn't matter

Identify and explain two different approaches that are designed to encourage voter participation

DMV - register to vote

Absentee Ballot - vote from out of state

Early voting - vote early

Political party

This linkage institution connects citizens to campaign process, educates voters, influences voters, raises large sums of money for candidates, and recruits members they believe are electable to office 

In recent elections, there has been a shift from party-centered electoral politics to ……. 

Candidate centered

Party realignment

When a political party loses an election and has to address, modify, change their party platforms. 

Third party

The goal of this party is to get their message into the mainstream media and hope one of the two major parties will adopt the message into their platform base

This type of party has the potential to swing an election by taking votes away from one of the major candidates

Explain why third party candidates do not really have a shot at winning a presidential election in the current American system of electing the President 

Electoral college is winner take all

Interest group

This group has a membership base of like minded individuals who donate large sums of money, participate in the voting process, and are active in political messaging. 

What purpose do interest groups serve in the American political system

influence

freerider

A person that benefits from the work of a special interest group, but does nothing to assist in the accomplishing of the desired outcome 

An incumbent is more likely to win because

Name recognition

Caucus

A gather in a large hall, gymnasium, or place of gathering where people discuss and vote on presidential candidates and physically move from one location to another to cast their ballot 

Primary

A vote that takes place early in an election year to decide which candidate will represent the party in the general election 

What is the difference between a closed and open primary 

Open: Any voter can vote   

Closed: have to be registered to a party

Why is the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary significant in the Presidential election cycle? 

First to get results

Swing state

A state that can decide an election and can either send its electoral votes to a democrat or republican 

Hard money

Money that is given directly to a candidate

Soft money

Money given to a party

PAC

This organization can raise money, coordinate with a candidate, is transparent, but has limits 

Super PAC

This organization raises huge amounts of money, cannot coordinate, is limitless, and is transparent

501c4

This organization raises unlimited money, cannot coordinate, has NO transparency 

Horse race journalism

This type of journalism focuses on polling data and public perception instead of candidate policy, and almost exclusive reporting on candidate differences rather than similarities.

The media has the ability to

Set an agenda - dictate information

Citizens United vs FEC changed campaign finance by

Corporations treated as citizens, donating money protected by free speech