ap gov unit 3

common elements of American political culture

common elements of American political culture

liberty, equality, democracy, civic duty, individual responsibility

core values of American government

Individualism, equality of, opportunity, free enterprise, rule of law, limited government

agents of socialization

family (most important), school , peers , mass media

political ideology

a set of specific ideas, attitudes, and beliefs; provides a coherent plan for social, political, or economic action

conservatism

• favor more limited (or local) government - pro-business (less government regulation of markets) - lower taxes/ less government spending on social programs - individual achievement, meritocracy - favor more regulation of private social conduct (anti-abortion, anti-same sex marriage/LGBTQ+ rights, favor religious activity - favor gun rights and strong national defense

liberlism

• favor an expansive and active federal government to address social and economic problems (gov programs to combat poverty, medicare, headstart, regulation of economy - less regulation of private social conduct, more government support for social justice - less spending on military/defense and pro-gun control

libertarianism

• favor minimal government with low/no taxes or regulation - place a very high value on individual rights and freedom (liberal on social issues: gun rights, legalize marijuana, abortion rights) -favor small military for self-defense only

public opinion

what the public thinks about an issue, candidate, public official, ect

how to measure public opinion

public opinion polls --interviews or surveys with samples of citizens that are used to estimate the feelings and beliefs of the entire population

random digit dialing

generating public polls through dialing random phone numbers

types of public opinion polls

straw polls,tracking polls,entrance polls,exit polls,internet polls,push polls,benchmark polls

issues with polling

biased questions,sampling errors,bandwagon effect,underdog effect

what makes a poll scientific

random selection,representative sample,sampling error,weighting,sample size,questions written in neutral language

politcal efficacy

-extent to which citizens feel they understand and can influence government -the belief that political participation matters and can make a difference

Types of political participation

voting,working in campaigns,contacting public officials,participating in community affairs,donating money to candidates,attending or belonging to a,political organization,political protest

rational-choice voting

voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen's individual interest

retrospective voting

voting based on the recent passed

prospective voting

voting based on predictions of the future

party line voting

voting based on belonging to a party

amendments expanding voter rights

15th,17th,19th,23rd,24th,26th

Candidate Centered Campaigns

campaigns that focus on the candidates, their particular issues, and character

consequences of candidate centered campaigns

• parties have less control - more emphasis on the candidate than issues, ideology, or party - parasitic relationship between candidates and the media

rules of federal elections

• each state has its own election laws and ballots - regularly scheduled elections - fixed, staggered, and sometimes limited terms - winner takes all - use of electoral college

fixed terms

House: 2 Senate: 6 President: 4

staggered terms

every member of HOR up every 2 years; only 1/3 of senate up for re-election at a time

term limits

president limited to 2 terms or 10 years (22 amendment)

electoral college

collective name for 538 electors who chose the president and vice-president; must get 270 votes to win

presidential selection process

1. caucuses and primaries 2. nominating conventions 3. general election 4. electoral college

Caucus

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.

presidential primary elections

special elections in which voters select candidates to be the party's nominee for president in the general election

front-loading primaries

states vie (compete) for earlier primaries to claim greater influence in nomination process,

closed primaries

voters may vote in a party's primary only if they are registered members of said party

pledged delegates

• chosen at state and local level,

• must vote for candidate who won the popular vote

superdelegates

-members of the democratic party who serve as unpledged delegates at the party convention,

free to vote for any candidate

linkage institution

channels that allow individuals to communicate their preferences to policy makers ex: parties, interest groups

functions of political parties

• mobilizing support and gathering power - force for stability - unity, linkage, accountability -electioneering function - policy formation and promotion - controlling the agenda of government

why do we have a two party system

-federalist v. antifederalist - electoral college - federal and state laws

dealignment

reduction in self-identification of major political parties

third party

any political party organized in at least some states, other than the two current leading parties aka minor parties

why do third parties form

• ideological parties - splinter parties - single-issue

importance of third parties

• a third party may replace a major one

• influence (major parties often take on the ideas of third parties)

• spoilers (preventing major party candidate from winning)

barriers to third-party success

• winner takes all - money - major parties adopting ideologies (democrats with climate change) - media - election rules

Interest Groups vs. Political Parties

interest groups do not produce candidates to run for office but instead try to influence policy

interest groups

organizations of people sharing a common interest or goal that seek to influence government policy

corporation interest groups

google, tyson, verizon, ect

economic interest groups/ trade associations

chamber of commerce, american realtor association

public interest groups

ACLU, common cause

single issue interest groups

NRA, PETA

interest group activities

• educate voters and office holders - mobilize membership to apply pressure through grassroots organizing, protests/ demonstration

lobbyist

a person, often a professional, attempting to influence government decisions on behalf of a special interest group

interest group influence can be impacted by-

inequality of political and economic resources - unequal access to decision makers - free-rider problem

hard money

campaign contributions regulated and limited by the federal. government that are given directly to a candidate

soft money

unlimited and unregulated campaign contributions to federal candidates and the national parties. supposedly for generic "party building" activities (get-out-the-vote drives, bumper stickers, yard signs, ect)

Political Action Committee (PAC)

officially registered fund-raising organization that represents interest groups in the political process

super PACs

these PACs may raise and spend unlimited sums of money in order to advocate for or against political candidates

Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

increased disclosure of contributions for federal campaigns and 1974 amendments placed legal limits on the campaign contributions

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

banned national parties and officeholders from raising and spending "soft money" and prohibited corporations and unions from funding "electioneering communications" within 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a general election

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

candidates spending money to finance their own campaigns is a form of constitutionally protected free speech through the 1st Amendment

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

ruled spending is protected speech under the 1st amendment and the government cannot prohibit spending by corporations and labor unions to support or denounce individual candidates in elections