Unit 5: Political Participation

Which amendments increased political participation

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

What is retrospective voting

Looking at what the current candidate’s work so far is to decide who to vote for in the next election.

What is prospective voting

Thinking about what will happen in the future if they vote for a certain candidate when deciding who to vote for in the next election.

What is party line/straight ticket voting

Voting for your party only. This form of voting reflects strong loyalty to a political party.

What is rational choice voting

Voting based on what seems to be in the citizen’s best individual interest (what makes most sense to them rationally).

What type of elections is voter turnout higher in

Presidential elections. These elections receive higher media attention and public attention rather than midterm elections.

What kind of factors influence who people vote for

What political party one is a part of, the media, the economy, public opinion, religious beliefs, demographics such as age, race, gender, etc, the personality of the candidate.

What is political efficacy

Citizens’ belief that their vote counts and they can make a change in their government system. High efficacy means someone believes their vote matters and low efficacy means the opposite.

What is a primary election

The election in which political parties choose which candidate to run in the general election to represent that party in the next election.

What are open primaries

Closed primaries

What are general elections

The final election in which voters choose among the candidates nominated by their parties (and independents) for public office. These typically occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Most of the political body is elected.

What are midterm elections

Midterm elections occur every even-numbered year that is not a presidential election year. All House members are up for election, about one third of the Senate and as well as many state and local offices. While turnout can be lower than the general elections, these elections are crucial to determining the balance of power in Congress. It is important to note that most incumbents (people who are already in Congress or political office) get re-elected because of their popularity/name recognition in their district.

How do state laws influence voter turnout

Some states require one to have a Voter ID, which can be difficult to get and therefore turnout might be lower. Also some states have very limited voting hours which can also decrease turnout. Some states allow early voting, same day registration, and vote by mail so that voting turnout might be higher.

What is a caucus

Some states do this instead of a primary election. Voters gather in a public space to discuss and vote and choose candidates for an election. These can be time consuming.

How does the electoral college work

What do proponents say about it versus opponents

What are poll taxes

One had to pay a fee to vote in an election. This was often used in the South to act as an obstacle for African Americans to be able to vote. This was banned by the federal government with the 24th amendment.

What are linkage institutions

What are some examples

What are some functions of political parties

Mobilize voters, recruit candidates, educate voters, establish and further a party platform, raise donations, manage campaigns, etc.

What is a candidate-centered campaign

Focuses on the individual running for office rather than the political party they represent. Emphasize the candidate’s personality and experience.

What are some examples of third parties

Green party, libertarian party, constitution party, reform party.

What is the winner take all method

The candidate that gets the most votes in the state wins all the electoral votes.

What is the proportional allocation system

Each candidate gets the proportional amount of electoral votes they earned. (for example, if one candidate wins 45% of the votes, they get 45% of the electoral votes.)

What are some reasons why third parties don’t do as well as the other two parties

Winner take all system, lack of media attention, lack of funding, excluded from Presidential debates. Also, main candidates use third party platforms in their policy platforms.

What is the free rider problem

The idea that someone can not put in an effort to achieve a goal but still reap the benefits when the team reaches success.

What is lobbying

To try to convince Congress to pass laws/regulations that align with one’s policy agenda. Lobbyists work for interest groups, corporations, or other organizations and meet with lawmakers, provide research, write legislation, or testify at hearings. While lobbying is a form of political participation, critics argue it gives too much influence to wealthy or well-connected groups.

What is electioneering

Efforts by interest groups, political organizations, etc to attempt to influence the outcome of elections. Can include endorsing a candidate, running ads, etc.

What is a single-issue group

A group that focuses on one issue. For example, the National Rifle Association is considered a single issue group by many as they mainly focus on gun rights.

What is the incumbency advantage

The idea that the person who has already been in office (known as the incumbent) has a much higher chance of winning than someone who has not been in office already. This is because they have more name recognition, media coverage, funding, etc.

What are the effects of social media in elections

They attract a younger audience as younger people tend to have various social media platforms. Also, they allow for rapid spread of information (and misinformation). They also allow for a new way of communication between candidates and voters that is very direct.

What are the effects of concentration of media ownership

Concentration of media ownership means a few large corporations control most media outlets. This leads to less perspectives being shown through the media.

What is the difference between soft money and hard money

Hard money is limited and directly for a candidate. Soft money is not limited and does not go directly to a candidate.

What are the main differences between PACs and SuperPACs

PACs have a limited amount of money they can donate to a specific candidate. Super PACs don’t have a limit on how much money they raise and spend but they can’t donate to candidates specifically.

What is the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Regulates the financing of political campaigns by placing significant restrictions on soft money. Made candidates stand by their ad where the candidate says something like, “I’m [candidate’s name] and I approve this message.” The intent was to increase accountability in campaign advertising.

What is horse race journalism

Constantly showing the polls and who is leading/behind, rather than discussing candidates’ policy positions.

What is watchdog journalism

Constantly looking for scandals to expose. Focused on holding government and public officials accountable.

What effects does the media have on public opinion/voter turnout

For public opinion: Agenda setting (as the media chooses what topics to display), framing (the media can frame things in a certain way to sway the public into thinking certain things). For voter turnout: increase voter turnout by informing citizens and emphasizing the importance of elections, or suppress turnout by promoting cynicism, misinformation, or the belief that one’s vote doesn’t matter.

What is agenda-setting

The ability of the media to influence what topics the public finds important. By choosing which stories to highlight and how they’re presented, the media can prioritize certain topics over others, indirectly shaping political priorities and public concern. This doesn’t necessarily tell people what to think, but rather what to think about.

What are referendums

direct vote by the people on a specific piece of legislation or policy. Referendums are often used at the state level and give citizens a more direct role in lawmaking.

What are ballot measures

A question or law that appears on the ballot (usually local/state ballots) for voters to answer. Referendums are a type of ballot measure. Others include constitutional amendments or citizen-proposed laws.