POLS 2301 Exam 2 Study Guide

Federal district courts

Trial courts in the federal system

Who is John Marshall?

Fourth Chief Justice, served 34 years

What is judicial review?

Power of the courts to determine constitutionality of actions

When was judicial review established?

In the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison in 1803

What is the principle of stare decisis?

The reliance on past rulings to guide current and future decisions

Goals of Supreme Court

Protect sanctity of US Constitution, protect individual rights

Federal government

Government at the national level

State government

Government at the state level

Private actors

Non-governmental individuals or organizations

Article III of the Constitution

Establishes the judicial branch

Shortest and least detailed of the three branches

Article III of the Constitution

Original jurisdiction

Case heard for the first time

Appellate jurisdiction

Hears case on appeal from lower court

Judiciary Act of 1789

Established the federal judiciary of the United States

Structure of Supreme Court versus State Court

Different levels and appointment methods

Supreme Court

9 justices, appointed by POTUS, confirmed by Senate, serve lifetime appointment

State Court

State court judges selected in various ways

Supreme Court courts

District courts, circuit courts, Supreme Court

Supreme Court

9 Justices (one chief justice and eight associate justices)

Circuit courts

First level of appeal in the federal system

Why is stare decisis important in the U.S. common law system?

Ensures greater certainty and stability in law and constitutional interpretation

What is the definition of culture?

Set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices

What is political ideology?

Philosophical guide about the purpose and scope of government

What is partisanship?

Psychological attachment to a political party

What is the role of parties in partisanship?

Provide an orientational mechanism for applying values and beliefs to politics

What do conservatives favor?

Smaller, less activist government and limited social welfare programs

Reduced government regulation

Less government control and intervention in various areas

Government activism to enforce more traditional values on social issues

Government taking action to promote traditional values in society

Liberals Generally

Individuals who believe in an active government and advocate for individual freedom on social issues

Political socialization

Process of acquiring political beliefs and values

Why care about socialization

It shapes individuals' political orientations and influences their behavior

Agents of Socialization

Factors that significantly impact an individual's political socialization (e.g., family, peers, school, race/ethnicity, age, religion)

Political Parties

Organizations that aim to win elections and influence government decisions

Typical guiding principles of political parties

Rooted in values and ideologies, leading to specific issue positions

Weakness of U.S. political parties compared to other countries

Lack of clear constituencies and ideological vagueness

Functions of Political Parties

Contesting elections, recruiting and nominating candidates, providing voter choices, organizing government operations

Two-party system

Political system with two dominant parties

Why is the U.S. unique in having a two-party system

Many other countries have multiparty systems

What is a two-party system?

Large number of viable parties organized on the basis of ideology, economic interests, geography, religion, or position of single or sets of issues.

Why doesn't the U.S. have parties to match the wide range of matters?

The U.S. has a wide range on all these matters, but there are 3 key factors contributing to the two-party system.

What are the 3 key factors contributing to the two-party system?

Electoral College, winner take all process for selecting House members, and ideological nature of Americans.

Who created the Democratic Party?

Thomas Jefferson & James Madison created the Democratic Party in the 1790s.

Why was the Democratic Party created?

It was created in opposition to Hamilton & a strong central government, and believed in protecting individual rights and smaller government.

What happened to the Democratic Party during Andrew Jackson's election?

The Democratic Party split.

What were the approximate dates of the Democratic Party being a conservative party?

From the 1840s-1920s.

What did the Democratic Party favor during the conservative era?

The Democratic Party favored small federal government.

When was the Republican Party created?

The Republican Party was created in 1854.

Why was the Republican Party created?

It was created as an anti-slave party and favored federal government to protect individual rights (to end slavery).

When did the Republican Party begin to shift ideologically?

Beginning around WWI.

What are the different types of primary elections?

Open primary, semi-closed primary, closed primary, and some states have a runoff primary.

What is an open primary?

Any registered voter can participate (allows crossover voting).

What is a semi-closed primary?

Only party members and Independents can participate.

What is a closed primary?

Only party members can participate.

Which states have a top-two primary?

California, Louisiana, and Washington.

How does a top-two primary work?

All candidates (regardless of party) compete in the same primary election, and the top-two candidates compete in the general election.

What is the justification for a top-two primary?

To get more moderate candidates.

What is the historical background of presidential primaries?

Historically, there was King Caucus and state parties made decisions.

What are nonbinding primaries?

They are presidential 'preference' shows.

What happened in the 1968 Democratic National Convention?

Humphrey won the nomination without winning a single primary.

What are the mechanics of presidential primaries?

The mechanics of presidential primaries vary and are not specified in the notes.

What is the purpose of state contests in the election process?

To select delegates to attend the national convention.

What does a candidate need to secure the nomination at the national convention?

A majority of delegates.

What are the different strategies for allocating state delegates?

Parties have varying methods such as proportional representation, winner-take-all, district elections, and hybrids.

How are delegates awarded in Democratic primaries?

Delegates are awarded to candidates in proportion to their vote share.

What is the minimum vote share required to earn any delegates in Democratic primaries?

Candidates must receive at least 15% of the vote.

How does Republican allocation of delegates vary?

It varies by state, with options like winner-take-all, proportional representation, district elections, and hybrids.

What is a caucus?

A meeting of party activists to select a presidential candidate.

How long does a caucus typically take?

It takes hours.

What is the difference between a primary and a caucus?

A primary is a direct vote by registered voters, while a caucus is a meeting of party activists.

What has been the trend in the number of primaries from 1968 to 2016?

The number of primaries has increased from 17 in 1968 to 36 in 2016.

Why are primaries often seen as more democratic?

They are accessible to most registered voters, not just party activists.

What type of candidates do primaries usually nominate?

They usually nominate more moderate candidates who may have a better chance of winning the general election.

Why are caucuses considered to have a quality advantage?

Caucus participants have more in-depth information compared to the quantity of information in higher primary turnout.

What advantages do incumbents have in elections?

Staff support, visibility, district composition, and the scare-off effect.

What is an incumbent?

An incumbent is a person already holding an office.

What percentage of House members seeking reelection were victorious in 2012?

97%.

What percentage of Senate members seeking reelection were victorious in 2012?

93%.

What is redistricting?

The redrawing of congressional districts every ten years after the census.

How can districts be drawn to protect or punish incumbents?

Districts can be drawn to create safe seats for incumbents or to disadvantage incumbents of the out-of-power party.

Scandals (financial/sexual improprieties)

Instances of financial or sexual misconduct by public figures.

Presidential coattails

When a successful presidential candidate helps other candidates of the same party win elections.

Midterm elections

Elections that take place in the middle of a president's term, where the president's party usually loses seats.

Electoral college

A group of representatives from each state who formally select the president.

Southern Realignment/party realignment

Shifts in party membership and support, particularly in the 20th century, where the Democratic party gained more immigrant and working-class members, while the Republican party became stronger in rural areas and the South.

Elections

Political mechanism used to select officials and confer power.

Primary vs General election

Primary election selects candidates within a party, while general election selects the candidate who will fill the elected office.

Louisiana Purchase

The acquisition of the Louisiana territory by the United States from France in 1803.

Texas

A state in the United States, known for its size and history as an independent republic before joining the Union.

Who did President Jefferson send to France to negotiate the Louisiana Purchase?

Robert Livingston and James Monroe

What was debated regarding the boundaries of the Louisiana Purchase?

The boundaries of the Louisiana Purchase were debated.

Why did the US and Mexico/Spain want to settle the boundaries of Texas?

The US and Mexico/Spain wanted to settle the boundaries of Texas.

What was the outcome of the Adams-Onis Treaty?

The Adams-Onis Treaty settled the ownership of Texas, with the US getting Florida and Spain getting Texas.

What did the Constitution of 1836 give preference to?

The Constitution of 1836 gave preference to Anglo-American settlers.

What did the Constitution of 1836 specifically bar from citizenship?

The Constitution of 1836 specifically barred people of African and Native descent from citizenship.

What were the stylistic similarities between the Constitution of 1836 and the Federal Constitution?

The Constitution of 1836 had a preamble, separation of powers, checks and balances, and three branches, similar to the Federal Constitution.

Were there any specific limitations on the state government in the Constitution of 1836?

There were no specific limitations on the state government in the Constitution of 1836.

Why was the Constitution of 1869 written?

The Constitution of 1869 was written to comply with the Republican's 'radical' reconstruction policies and the Reconstruction Act.

What were the two major changes in the powers of the governor in the Constitution of 1869?

The powers of the governor were greatly expanded and a three-person supreme court was created in the Constitution of 1869.

Who appointed the judges in the Constitution of 1869?

The governor appointed the judges in the Constitution of 1869, with the senate advising and consenting.

Who was E.J. Davis and what did he do?

E.J. Davis was a Republican governor and the first governor of the new era. He used the expanded powers of the governor to rule over a 'corrupt and lavish' government.