Unit 3: Mass Politics Chapter 6

James Madison

________ writes in The Federalist- gov.

Caucus

________: Iowas first- in- the- nation event to select a candidate and delegates to the state convention.

European nations

________ encourage lower- class voter participation, whereas the U.S. middle class is the target in America.

Expression

________ does not need to be verbal (participation of politics)

News media

________ covers campaigns as if they were a strategic game hence de- emphasizing issues of policy.

Big government

________ creates a just and equal society.

Political Socialization

the process by which individuals establish their political ideologies

The process is cumulative

you are shaped over time

Primary agents of Socialization

interact closely and regularly with the individual, typically in early life

Primary Influences

family (attention of children that could set political beliefs), school (early formative years affect your political thoughts), religion (the religion you may have grown up with)

Secondary agents of Socialization

a less intimate connection with an individual and are usually more important later in life

Secondary Influences

peers (copy-catting), media (social media accounts and influencers), events (9/11, assassinations, Covid)

Economic Class

your class determines what you look for in a president and/or leader

Race

significant source of opinion differences

Gender

male-female differences of opinion are small on most issues

Urban

more liberal

Older voters

more conservative

Political Identification

the political party that you think you belong to

Political Ideology

a set of views on politics and the role of government

Libertarian Party

promotes civil liberties, non-interventionism, laissez-faire capitalism, and limiting the size of government

Green Party

promotes environmentalism, nonviolence, social justice, grassroots democracy, anti-war, anti-racism, and eco-socialism

Uses random selection from a population (demographic group)

their opinions should reflect those of the population as a whole

The accuracy of a poll is expressed in terms of sampling error

the degree to which the sample estimates might differ from what the population actually thinks (+/-)

Problems with Polls

Political polling suffers from some of the following issues

Question order & wording may (purposely) affect results

framing effects & push polls

James Madison writes in The Federalist

gov

Based on the views of Jackson and Progressives

a strong faith in judgment of ordinary citizens

Suffrage

right to vote

Black Suffrage

1870, in reality, 1965

Womens Suffrage

1920

18-year-olds

1971

Voter Turnout

refers to the percentage of eligible voters who actually cast a ballot

Midterm elections

40%

Political Participation

involvement in activities designed to influence public policy and leadership

Alienation

diminishes peoples interest in political participation

Popular madante

a vast majority of voters demand certain actions from the victor

Difficulty with this interpretation of election results

voters are not well informed of candidates policy positions

Passive political participation

non-participatory activities like watching and reading the news

Conventional Activism

includes voting, donating money or time, writing a letter

Unconventional Activism

includes the use of protests, boyvotts, sit-ins, or even riots

Literacy Tests

fake reading test to bar black voters

Poll taxes

fee paid in order to vote

White primary

excludes black voters, ended by SC

Candidates spend less time fundraising

more time meeting with voters

Incumbent

a person running for office again

1951

22nd amendment

The "invisible primary"

refers to a candidates ability to raise money and interest in the public

Caucus

Iowas first-in-the-nation event to select a candidate and delegates to the state convention

Closed Primary

voting done by party members only

Open Primary

Eligible voters can vote for any candidate regardless of party

Super Tuesday

a date in the primary calendar when multiple states hold primaries and caucuses

Superdelegates

party elites who get to vote along with state delegates at a partys national convention; former presidents, governors, senators of that state

Political Socialization

the process by which individuals establish their political ideologies

Primary agents of Socialization

interact closely and regularly with the individual, typically in early life. (Family, for example)

Secondary Agents of Socialization

a less intimate connection with an individual and are usually more important later in life

Political Identification

the political party that you think you belong to

Political Ideology

a set of views on politics and the role of government

public opinion

the politically relevant opinions held by ordinary citizens that they express openly.

Sample

interviewed in order to estimate the opinions of a whole population

Random Selection

in this, their opinions should reflect those of the population as a whole

Demographic group

a specific population (blacks, women, Christians, etc.)

Sampling error

the degree to which the sample estimates might differ from what the population actually thinks (+/-).

Framing effect

Question order & wording may (purposely) affect results

Suffrage

the right to vote

Voter turnout

refers to the percentage of eligible voters who actually cast a ballot

Factors affecting turnout

registration requirements, frequency of elections, and party differences

Civic duty

the responsibilities of a citizen

Prospective Voting

Voters are highly informed on the position of candidates on the issues; voters choose candidates whose policy promises match their preferences

Retrospective Voting

Voters support incumbent candidates or parties when they are pleased with the performance; reverse their position when they are displeased

Straight-ticket Voting

Voters vote for members of their party

Split-ticket Voting

Voters vote for the candidates they like

Conventional Political Participation

includes voting, donating money or time, writing a letter

Unconventional Political Participation

includes the use of protests, boycotts, sit-ins, or even riots

Article 1, section 4

gives state legislatures control over the “time, place, and manner” of elections

Political Action Committee (PACs)

An organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation, especially at the federal level

Super PACs

A type of PAC that can raise unlimited amounts of money to promote a candidate or a cause

Qualifications to Run for President

35 years old, a “natural born citizen,” a resident of the US for 14 years

Caucus

event to select a candidate and delegates to the state convention

Primary

a preliminary election to appoint delegates to a party conference or to select the candidates for a principal, especially presidential, election.

Open Primary

a primary in which any registered voter can vote

Closed Primary

a primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote

Role of the National Convention

Where the winner of the primary is announced and confirmed

The Electoral College

a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

Incumbency Advantage

the tendency of Congress members to win reelection in overwhelming numbers

Midterm Election

Elections that fall between Presidential Elections

Apportionment

of representatives set by Congress

Reapportionment

After every census, House seats are redistributed based on changes in population

Gerrymandering

Redistricting that favors a party/candidate/issue

Political Party

A team of politicians, activists, and voters whose goal is to win control of the government.

Why we have Political Parties

Party competition narrows down people’s options and enables those with differing opinions to render a common judgment.

Party-Centered Politics

election campaigns and other political processes in which political parties, not individual candidates, hold most of the initiative and influence

Candidate-Centered Politics

election campaigns and other political processes in which candidates, not political parties, have most of the initiative and influence

The Federalist Party

Alexander Hamilton, stong National Government, wealthy and commercial interests, favored ratification of the Constitution

The Democratic-Republicans

Thomas Jefferson, strong states rights, small landholders, shopkeepers

The Whig Party

Anti-Jackson party, favored a strong federal government, interest in business, a little anti-immigrant, and abolition, they would be torn apart over the issue of slavery

The Democratic Party

Andrew Jackson, strong State’s rights, interests of farmers & tradesmen, pro-immigrant, pro-slavery, fewer rights for free blacks, use of the “spoils system:” jobs given to supporters

The Republican Party

break up of the Whig party and formation of such party

Political Realignments

the party realigns itself with new philosophies, policies, and supporters

The Civil War Realignment

The origins of the Republican Party

The 1896 Realignment

The economic Panic of 1893 leads to severe depression, Democrat Grover Cleveland was blamed