POLS 2311 Exam 2

Public Opinion

The aggregation of individual attitudes or beliefs shared by some portion of the adult population.

What does a conference committee do

House and Senate members

Iron out differences in a bill

26th amendment

lowered voting age to 18

tools of the lobbyist

Write and research, no brides too dangerous

What does the president pro tempore do

Precedes over the senate in the absence of the vice president

What do the Whips do

Communicate between party leadership and rank and file members

What does the house minority leader do

Chief spokesperson and strategist for the minority party

interest group methods

electioneering, lobbying, astroturf lobbying (fabrication of public support) advocacy, court action, propaganda

What is a party platform

outlines a party's principles, goals, and positions on domestic and foreign affairs.

What happened after the election of 1824

Election goes to the house, house led by clay elects John quincey adams

Jackson claims the corrupt bargain

the democratic republicans fall apart

What is a mandate

Will of the voters behind you

Is congress unicameral or bicameral

bicameral

What is a subsidy

A subsidy is a benefit given to an individual, business, or institution, usually by the government.

24th amendment

Gets rid of the poll tax

who doesn’t vote

young people

Regulatory Policy

Government sets up conditions under which private enterprise may operate.

Redistributive Policy

Government acts in a way that benefits one group at the expense of another

Distributive Policy

Government tries to stimulate private activity that citizens or groups would otherwise not undertake. A major tool of this is a subsidy.

The general election

The general election does not require a majority of the vote to win, only the most votes. A plurality

Total members of the senate

100

Era of Good Feelings

was during the James Monroe Presidency 1816-1824

What does the speaker of the house do

Recognizes members wishing to speak

Vote debate and introduce bills

Enforces the rules of the house

Decides points of order

Appoints members to select and conference committees

Refers bills to committee

Can influence the passage or rejection of a bill

What does the majority Leader do

Chief spokesperson for majority party

Leads party’s forces in their legislative battles

Senate members per state

2

Westberry v Sanders

One person one vote, Electoral districts must have roughly equal population.

Political Socialization

The process through which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values.

Party Identification

An individual’s psychological attachment to a political party.

Selective Perception

The process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages.

Ideology

A set of beliefs or philosophical principles about politics and government.

How is Public Opinion Measured?

Through surveys and polls that represent a sample of the population. election results

Sampling Error

The error that occurs when a sample does not represent the entire population.

Populist

A political approach that strives to represent the interests of ordinary people.

Political Participation

Any activity that aims to influence public policy or the political process.

Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections.

Susan B. Anthony

A leader in the women's suffrage movement in the United States.

The 15th Amendment

Constitutional amendment that prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race.

Voter Turnout in the United States

Voter turnout is very poor in the US

Motor Voter Act

A law designed to increase voter registration by allowing registration when obtaining or renewing a driver's license.

Likely Voters

Individuals who are more inclined to vote based on various factors. Old people

Virtual Participation

Engagement in political processes through online platforms.

Social Capital

The networks of relationships among people that enable society to function effectively.

Social Movement

A collective effort by a group of people to bring about social or political change.

Political Party

Political Parties are a group of people who organize and seek to control the personnel and policies of government.

History of American Parties

Early proto-parties
Ratification of Constitution

Federalists

Anti-Federalists

Realignment

people are moving from party to another

Dealignment

A decline in party identification among voters. Becoming “Independent”.

Whig Party, and what destroyed them

A political party active in the mid-19th century that opposed the Democratic Party.

They split because of slavery

Ticket Splitting

Voting for candidates from different parties in the same election.

Two Party System

A political system dominated by two major parties.

Proportional Representation

An electoral system where parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes they receive.

Gender Gap

The measurable difference in the way men and women vote.

Third Parties in the United States

Minor political parties that challenge the two major parties.

Have been around since 1830’s
Form around a single issue
Sometimes issue goes away
Sometimes major party takes over that issue
Third parties can influence major parties

Party Organization

The internal structure and operation of a political party.

precinct, county, state, national

Hard Money

Legal donations to a political campaign regulated by law.

Interest Group

An organization of people that shares a common interest and seeks to influence public policy.

Types of Interest Groups

Includes Occupational groups, Ethnic and religious groups, Patriotic and civic groups, Public Interest groups, and single issue groups

Collective Good

A benefit or service to which all members of a group have access.

Free Rider Problem

In interest groups people don’t support or join an interest group but get all of the benefits of the interest group.

Lobbying

The act of attempting to influence the decisions of government officials. Ex with money

Amicus Curiae

“Friend of the Court”- A person or group who is not a party to a case but offers information to assist the court.

Iron Triangle

The stable, mutually beneficial relationship between an interest group, bureaucracy, and congressional committee.

Issue Network

an alliance of various interest groups and individuals who unite in order to promote a common cause or agenda

PACs and Super PACs

Political Action Committees that raise funds for candidates but have different regulations. has a limit on money given

SUPER PAC don’t have to report who gives the money no cap on money given

Inside Lobbying

Direct contact between lobbyists and policymakers.

News Media

Various platforms through which news is disseminated to the public.

Partisan

A committed member or supporter of a particular political party.

Yellow Journalism

Sensationalist or exaggerated reporting that aims to attract attention.

Objective Journalism

Reporting that aims to present facts without bias.

Gatekeeper

The role of the media in deciding which stories to cover.

Agenda Setting

The process by which the media influences the importance placed on the topics of the public agenda.

Framing

The media's way of presenting information that influences how it's perceived.

Watchdog Function

The role of the media in monitoring and reporting on government actions.

Requirements to Serve in the House and Senate

Must meet age, citizenship, and residency criteria.

HOUSE

25 years old

US citizen for 7 years

resident of your state

SENATE

30 years old

US citizen for 9 years

Resident of your state

Terms of Office for the House and Senate

House: 2 years; Senate: 6 years.

Apportionment

The process of allocating congressional seats based on population.

Redistricting

The redrawing of district boundaries after each census.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries for political advantage.

Primary

An election to determine a party's candidate for the general election.

Party Leadership in the House and Senate

HOUSE: Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader, Minority leader, Whips

SENATE: President of the senate, President Pro Tempore, Majority Leader and Minority Leader, Assistant Leaders

Purpose of the Committee System

To divide the workload and specialize in specific policy areas. Weed out bad bils

Types of Committees

Includes standing (permanent), joint, Ad Hoc (temporary), Conference committee, Select Committee

Ways and Means Committee

Taxing Committee

Appropriations committee

Money allocations committee

Functions of Congress

Oversight, make sure laws are faithfully carried out, make sure money is spent wisely

To differentiate a temporary and permanent organization

Convention= Temporary Organization

Trustee Theory

The idea that legislators should act according to their own judgment.

Delegate Theory

The idea that legislators should act as representatives of their constituents.

Filibuster

Prevent a vote on a bill by speaking continuously on the floor.

Number of house seats set by the Apportionment Act of 1929

435

Cloture

A procedure to end a filibuster in the Senate. Requires a vote of 60

ESSAY

1. Discuss voting and elections. What have been some of the barriers to voting? What amendments have addressed voting? Describe voter turnout, what might impact turnout and how we can improve turnout.  Also discuss how we nominate candidates for public office both past and present. 

Originally before amendments were passed to address voting had to be a 21 year old white male.

15th amendment allowing African Americans to vote

Then to prevent African Americans from voting still

many states adopted voting restrictions like

the grandfather clause, the poll tax and the literacy test.

19th amendment allowed women to vote.

24th amendment abolished poll tax

26th amendment lowered voting age to 18.

Voter turnout in the US is very poor. This could be because of apathy, election day is on a Tuesday, very inconvenient, ppl dont think their vote counts, election burnout, ignorance, and claims of being too busy.

To improve this we could, make election day a national holiday, allow early voting and online voting, and compulsory voting forced voting ticket of you don’t.

Previously to elect candidates we used Caucus where party leaders would meet to determine who would represent the party in the general elction, voters had little say.

Theres also the convention system, delegates select nominees for the general election, but this was open to corruption.

The direct primary, lets party members vote in who the candidates will be in the general election. The people get to choose party leaders.

ESSAY

2. Discuss Interest groups. What is an interest group?  What are the different types of interest groups? What are the strengths and weaknesses of interest groups? What methods do interest group employ?

An interest group is a group of people who organize and seek to influence the personnel.

There are economic, non economic and mixed interest groups.

Occupational, ethnic and religious groups, patriotic and civic groups, public interest groups, single issue groups.

STRENGTHs

They thrive in the POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
CHECKS AND BALANCES in the US allow interest groups to target multiple points of influence

WEAK POLITICAL PARTIES

WEAKNESSES
DIVERSITY OF INTEREST GROUPS causes lack of coordination with so many competing interests
PARTIES HAVE SUPERIOR ORGANIZATION

Methods, electioneering, lobbying, astroturf lobbying (fabrication of public support) advocacy, court action, propaganda

ESSAY

4. Discuss the function and organization of the Congress? What are the functions of Congress? What are the qualifications for office in the House and Senate. Who are the presiding officers of the House and Senate. What is the purpose of the committee system and what are the different types of committees?

Congress is bicameral meaning it consists of two chambers, the house. of representatives and the senate.

Its function is to Oversee, make sure laws are faithfully carried out, make sure money is spent wisely.

To be in office in the house you need to be at least 25, a citizen of the us for 7 years and and a resident of your state

For senate you need to be at least 30 a us citizen for 9 years and a resident of your state.

presiding officers

HOUSE: Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader, Minority leader, Whips

SENATE: President of the senate, President Pro Tempore, Majority Leader and Minority Leader, Assistant Leaders.

The purpose of the committee system are to spread out the workload, weed out bad bills and create specialists, develop policy

The different types of committees are, standing, joint, conference and select

ESSAY

3. Discuss the American Party system.  What are the functions of parties? What are the characteristics of parties?  Describe organization of parties and the history of American parties.

Functions of parties

Recruit and nominate candidates, Educate and simplify issues, Allow voters to organize and express opinions on past public policy, Develop new policy (Party Platform),Act as watchdogs, Generate excitement and mobilize voters

Characteristics of parties

Two party tradition, Non-Class Non ideological party organization, Highly elaborate and highly decentralized organization, Extra legal status

Party organization and history

There’s temporary organizations and permanent organizations. For both it starts with voters in the party primary then for temp it goes to a person t convention, a county/district convention then state convention then national. For the permanent organization again starting with voters in the party’s primary it goes precinct chair, county executive committee, state executive committee then national committee

History

The history of parties started with the federalists led by Hamilton (hamoltonians) and the democratic republicans led by Jefferson (jeffersonions). After the death of Hamilton the Federalist Party fades away. then after the election of 1824 where the election went to the house electing jqa which arise claims of a corrupt bargain by Andrew Jackson. This causes the democratic republicans to fall apart. Two groups emerge. The national republicans and the democrats. Eventually the national republicans fade away causing again another party to arise, the whigs and the democrats. But because of the issue of slavery the whigs split and the Republican Party arises the first political party to take a stand against slavery. Leaving the two main parties we have today the democrats and the republicans