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Political Socialization
How people internalize and develop their political values through socialization
Individualism (Core Value)
Morals of the individual person. Everyone has their own beliefs
Equality of Opportunity
A political ideal which aims to provide all people with equal opportunities to compete in advancements in society (jobs)
Free Enterprise (Core Value)
Businesses are free to operate with minimal government regulation
Rule of Law (Core Value)
All people and institutions are subject to the same laws (No one is above the law)
Limited Government
System of Government where the government’s power is restricted by law
(Individual rights are protected from gov intrustion)
6 Cultural Factors
Family, School, Peers, Media, Social Environments, Major Political Events
Liberal
Open to new ideas, opinions, behaviors. Promotes Individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and free enterprise
Conservative
Averse to new ideas, opinions, behaviors. Holding Traditional values. Favors free enterprise, private ownership, and socially traditional ideas.
Moderates
In the middle of Conservative and Liberal. May lean one way with different issues than another.
Democratic
Progressive ideas surrounding all sorts of political issues
Republican
Traditional ideas surrounding all sorts of political issues
Libertarian
Advocate supporter of a political philosophy with only minimal state intervention in the free market and the private lives of citizens. Advocates for civil liberty.
Monetary economy
Refers to the actions central banks take to pursue objectives such as price stability and maximum employment.
Federal reserve, interest rates, money & supply, appointed governors
Fiscal economy
Refers to the government's revenue collection and spending decisions
Congress, taxes & government spending, elected officials
Keynesian economy
A macroeconomic theory of total spending in the economy and its effects on output, employment and inflation.
Promotes government spending on infrastructure, unemployment benefits, and education to increase consumer demand. Government spending is necessary to maintain full employment
Supply-Side economy
the idea that increasing supply of goods yields economic growth
Benefits the upper class
Opinion Polls
Survey poll to see public opinion of candidate
Benchmark polls
Generally the 1st poll taken during a campaign. Helps candidates to shape their campaign plans
Tracking polls
A poll repeated periodically with the same small group of people to check and measure changes of opinion or knowledge.
Exit polls
Happens when people are leaving a polling place they’re asked how they voted
Sampling Techniques
How respondents are selected by the poll creator. This can be random or representative of the general population
Sampling Error
The predicted difference between the opinions of the sample and the average opinion in the general population
Examples of Sampling Error
Type and format of questions : confusing questions that alter poll results
Limited respondent options : Yes/No Questions rather than scales
Lack of Information : gauging attitudes on topics people have little knowledge of
Intensity : feelings on topic
Interest
Linkage Institutions
Channels that allow individuals to communicate their preferences to policy makers
Linkage Institutions examples
Political parties, interest groups, election/voting, media, polling can be used by any of the above groups
Impact on the electorate
Mobilization of voters, Education of voters, Party platforms, Candidate recruitment, Campaign management (fundraising, media strat), Connection with committee and party leadership systems in legislature (state and federal)
How have Political Parties changed over time?
Parties have adapted to candidate-centered campaigns, Weaker nomination of candidates
Parties modify their policies and messaging to appeal to various demographics
Regional realignments, finance laws, changes in communication and data management tech
What is the Systemic Reason 3rd parties don’t find success?
Narrow platforms.
Rarely win elections BUT can spoil elections by drawing votes away from major parties
Sometimes revolve around major parties
What do most major parties do to 3rd party platforms?
Proportional Election System : Results are proportional to the vote. (If they get 25% of votes, they get 25% of seats in Congress)
Promotes power of Party > Candidate
Benefits Third Parties
24th Amendment
1964 : Outlawed the use of Poll Taxes in Federal Elections
17th Amendment
1913 : Direct elections of the U.S. Senators
Article I section 4 (17th Amendment)
Outlines the powers of congress and the states regarding elections
States have the right to decide when the election is held
26th Amendment
1971 : Right to vote extended to citizens that are at least 18 years old
23rd Amendment
Gives the district of columbia the right to participate in presidential election electors to the electoral college
Political Efficacy
Definition: How much you believe you can influence the government through Linkage Institutions
High levels of political efficacy = higher levels of participation
Voter Turnout influences
National vs. state controlled elections
Voter registration laws and procedures
Voting incentives or penalties or fines
Election type (midterms or presidential)
Winner take all (plurality) voting system
Whichever candidate receives the most votes ears ALL of that state's electoral votes.
Proportional voting system
Maine & Nebraska : Dividing up electoral votes based on % each candidate won
Rational Choice - voting behavior
Citizens individual interests
Retrospective - voting behavior
Basing the candidate’s or party’s job performance on whether or not to vote for them again or someone new
Prospective - voting behavior
Voting based on predictions of candidates or party’s performance
Straight Ticket - voting behavior
Voting based on party
Order of events in a presdential election year
1 Winter : First Caucus (Iowa)
2 Spring : Open and Closed Primaries
3 Summer : Party Convention, Debates
4 Fall : More Debates, The General Election
5 Winter : Counting the EC Votes, Inauguration
Primaries
Preliminary nominating election in which voters in each state vote for their preferred candidate to become the presidential nominee for their party
Caucuses
Alternative system used by SOME states. Instead of primary election, caucuses are local gatherings where voters meet, discuss, and voter for delegates who will go to represent a candidate
What’s the difference between an Open & Closed primary?
Open : Voters may vote for candidates from any party and don’t have to be registered with political party a person is voting for
Closed : Only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party’s candidate (encourages party loyalty)
Incumbency Advantages
Financial Advantage (established donors, interest group connections, etc…)
Can advertise on experience
Name recognition
Constituent Services
“Scare-off” effect
National Conventions
Purpose: Political parties hold national conventions to select presidential and vice presidential nominees.
Total # of Electoral Votes
538
Winning # for electoral votes
270 <
How are each states electoral votes calculated?
Based on the % each candidate won
Reapportionment
Redistribution of seats in the HOR based on changes in population
Arguments in favor of Electoral College
benefits smaller states rather than a focus on larger populated states
Gives smaller states with lower population more a voice within the election rather than it being a choice of the big states
Arguments against the Electoral College
Popular vote winner can lose. Swing states become only “important” states. In states that consistently lean towards one political party, voters of the other party feel like their vote doesn’t matter.
Maine $ Nebraska
Dividing up electoral votes based on % each candidate won (Proportional)
What are Interest groups
Educate voters and office holders, including drafting legislation
Lobbying
Mobilizing membership to apply pressure on the government
What are PACS
Political Action Committees
Political committee that is directly or indirectly established, financed, and maintained or controlled by a candidate.
Differences between Interest groups and PACS
What are the differences between them: Interests groups use donations to effect policy while PACs use donations to get favored candidates elected.
Free Rider Problem
Individuals who benefit from interest groups without providing financial support
Citizens United v. FEC (2010) background
During 2008 primaries, a conservative interest group called Citizens United released a film titled Hilary: The Movie, which criticized Hillary Clinton The Federal Elections Commission (FEC) stopped it from airing for violating the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA)
Citizens United v. FEC (2010) holding
In a 5-4 majority, SCOTUS sided with Citizens United : Preventing “Independent political spending” from corporations and other interest groups violates their 1A right to free speech
Citizens United v. FEC (2010) impact
Gives special interests and their lobbyists even more power in washington.
Ushered in massive increases in political spending from outside groups, dramatically expanding the political influence of wealthy donors, corporations, and special interest groups in our elections.
Super PACS were legitimized from this ruling
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)
Effort to ban “soft money”
Circumventing the existing Hard Money regulations
Reduce attack ads
“Stand by your Ad” provision which requires Candidates to include in adverts, “I’m ____ and I approve this message.”
PACs vs. Super PACs
PACs : Have limits to the amount they may raise for candidates
Super PACs : Make no direct contributions to candidates or parties therefore they have no limits in how much they raise or spend
Modern Campaigns
Dependence on Professional Consulting
Duration of Election Cycles
Applicable time period in which elections occur
Rising Campaign Costs
Expensive to get your name out there
Impact and Reliance on Social Media
Tik tok ads, social media in general
Turning elections into horse races - media
Based more on popularity and factors other than qualifications and platforms of candidates
Note 
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