Final Exam Review: American Politics and Electoral Systems- Chapters 9,10, 16

Nomination Game

Process candidates undergo to secure party nomination.

Momentum

Early primary wins build candidate's visibility and support.

Campaign Finance

Regulations governing funding for political campaigns.

Media Attention

Public visibility gained through news coverage and advertising.

Primary System

Method for selecting party nominees through state contests.

Caucus System

Local gatherings where party members discuss and vote.

Frontloading

States scheduling primaries early to influence nominations.

McGovern-Fraser Commission

Reformed Democratic nomination process for transparency and participation.

Superdelegates

Unpledged Democratic delegates with reduced influence post-2016.

Campaign Strategy

Master plan for resource allocation and voter targeting.

Campaign Techniques

Methods like direct mail and social media used in campaigns.

Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

Law limiting campaign contributions and establishing FEC.

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Court case limiting contributions but allowing candidate spending.

Soft Money

Unregulated party contributions banned by McCain-Feingold Act.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Ruling allowing unlimited corporate and union political spending.

Super PACs

Political action committees that raise unlimited funds independently.

Voter Turnout

Percentage of eligible voters who participate in elections.

Political Efficacy

Belief that one's vote influences political outcomes.

Civic Duty

Obligation felt by citizens to vote and participate.

Demographic Factors

Characteristics like age and education affecting voter turnout.

Voter Registration

Process required for citizens to vote, varies by state.

Electoral College

System for electing the president via state electors.

Motor Voter Act

1993 law to simplify voter registration process.

Barriers to Voting

Obstacles like ID laws hinder voter participation.

Party Identification

Strongest predictor of voting behavior in elections.

Candidate Evaluations

Voters assess candidates' personal qualities before voting.

Policy Voting

Voting based on candidates' policy positions and preferences.

Winner-take-all System

Candidate winning most votes gets all electoral votes.

Electoral College Criticism

Presidency possible without winning popular vote.

Battleground States

Candidates focus resources on competitive electoral states.

Electoral College Reform Debate

Ongoing discussions about changing or abolishing the system.

Advantages of Electoral System

Encourages broad participation and democratic processes.

Regular Access to Power

Elections allow peaceful transfer of political power.

Lengthy Campaigns

Campaigns are expensive and resource-intensive for candidates.

Focus on Individualism

Candidate-centered campaigns weaken party influence.

Influence of Money

High campaign costs raise concerns about donor impact.

Electoral College Incentives

Encourages focus on a few key competitive states.

Karl Rove Quote

Running for president is physically demanding.

Campaign Finance Importance

Money limits candidates' ability to compete effectively.

Citizens United v. FEC

Supreme Court ruling on independent political spending.

Voter ID Laws Support

Argument for showing ID similar to other activities.

Electoral College Defense

System includes smaller states in presidential campaigns.

Interest Groups Role

Explores pluralism, elitism, and hyperpluralism theories.

Interest Group Success Factors

Group size, intensity, and finances affect effectiveness.

Interest Group Strategies

Methods include lobbying, electioneering, litigation, and appeals.

Interest Groups

Organizations advocating for specific policy interests.

Economic Interest Groups

Groups influencing policies for economic sectors.

Environmental Interest Groups

Advocates for environmental protection and conservation.

Equality Interest Groups

Organizations promoting equal rights and social justice.

Public Interest Groups

Groups focused on societal welfare and public good.

Pluralism

Theory where diverse groups compete for influence.

Elitism

Theory suggesting power rests with a wealthy elite.

Hyperpluralism

Critique of pluralism; leads to policy gridlock.

Group Size

Smaller groups often have advantages in influence.

Intensity

Passionate members enhance group's political effectiveness.

Financial Resources

Money plays a crucial role in lobbying success.

Lobbying

Professionals providing information and support to policymakers.

Electioneering

Supporting candidates through Political Action Committees (PACs).

Litigation

Using courts to challenge laws and influence policy.

Going Public

Leveraging public opinion to sway policy debates.

Amicus Curiae Briefs

Documents submitted to court by non-litigants.

Class Action Lawsuits

Legal action by a group on shared grievances.

Pressure Politics

Politics driven by small, organized interest groups.

Iron Triangles

Stable relationships between interest groups, agencies, committees.

Single-Issue Groups

Organizations focused on one specific policy area.

James Madison

Political theorist who addressed interest group control.

Policy Outcomes

Results of political processes influenced by interest groups.

Equality Interest Groups

Advocate for rights of marginalized groups.

Public Interest Lobbies

Promote policies benefiting society as a whole.

James Madison's Solution

Encouraged diverse interest group systems.

Pluralists

Argue interest groups broaden representation.

Elitists

Claim wealthy interests undermine democracy.

Hyperpluralists

Assert many groups create policymaking gridlock.

Monetary Policy

Manipulates money supply to influence economy.

Fiscal Policy

Government spending and taxing to impact economy.

Keynesian Economics

Advocates spending to stimulate demand in downturns.

Supply-Side Economics

Promotes tax cuts to boost economic growth.

Entitlement Programs

Benefits for all eligible individuals, regardless of need.

Means-Tested Programs

Benefits based on specific need criteria.

Income Inequality

Growing disparity in income distribution in the US.

Relative Deprivation

Feeling of disadvantage compared to others.

Poverty Measurement

Challenges in defining and measuring poverty levels.

Welfare Reform

Shift from AFDC to TANF in 1996.

TANF

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

Social Security Challenges

Concerns about long-term program solvency.

Retirement Age Adjustment

Proposed solution to Social Security solvency issues.

US Welfare Policy Comparison

Less generous than other developed countries.

Consumer Safety Advocacy

Focus of public interest lobbies.

Government Transparency Advocacy

Aim of public interest groups.

Sociotropic voting

Voters assess overall economic performance, not personal.

Federal Reserve

Central bank influencing US economy and interest rates.

Dual mandate

Fed's goal: maximum employment and stable prices.

Tariffs

Taxes on imports to protect domestic jobs.

Economic policy challenges

Slow implementation and uncontrollable expenditures limit flexibility.

Feminization of poverty

Single-mother families face higher poverty rates.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

Tax credits aiding low-income working individuals.

Race-coded attitudes

Racial biases affect perceptions of welfare recipients.

PRWORA

1996 welfare reform introducing TANF and work requirements.

Declining welfare rolls

Significant decrease in welfare recipients since 1996.

Immigration and welfare

Debate over benefits for undocumented immigrants.