PLSC 230 FInal Qs

How does the Australian ballot contribute to voter participation suppression?

It may complicate the voting process, making it harder for marginalized voters to participate.

What issues do literacy tests create in the context of voting?

They impose requirements that often exclude marginalized voters from participating in elections.

What information is typically found in voter files?

Voting history and address/contact information used to target and market to voters.

What was the front porch campaign associated with?

A campaign strategy made popular by William Meckean.

Why is the first campaign era known as the pre-democracy era?

State legislatures chose candidates, limiting public involvement in the selection process.

What practice is described by spending most resources on TV ads?

Wholesale politics, targeting a mass audience.

How would civil service reforms affect political machines like Tammany Hall?

They would weaken the ties between political supporters and public sector employment.

Which organizations do not have to disclose their donors?

501(C) organizations.

What is the incumbency advantage?

The ability of incumbents to earn a higher vote share compared to non-incumbents.

Which type of congressional candidates raises the most money on average?

Incumbents.

What is the success rate for congressional incumbents winning elections?

80-95%.

What typically characterizes the most competitive congressional elections?

A quality challenger versus another quality challenger.

What does it mean for serious congressional candidates to be strategic?

They enter races when their chances of winning appear favorable.

What is the franking privilege?

It allows members of Congress to send mail to constituents without postage.

Why are congressional primary elections often uncontested?

Incumbents can dissuade potential challengers.

What effect do primary elections have on the competitiveness of congressional elections?

They create contested elections, increasing competitiveness.

What is a referendum?

A document presented to voters for decision, such as the anti-gambling amendment in Florida.

Is it true that voter turnout in off-cycle elections is generally lower than in state-federal elections?

True.

What is the reelection rate for legislators in professionalized legislatures?

Higher compared to non-professionalized legislatures.

What is the most common form of political participation?

Voting.

What has been the trend in voter turnout from the 90s to today?

It has increased.

What was the purpose of the Motor Voter Act?

To decrease voter registration costs by allowing registration at DMVs.

What is a significant impact of partisan strength on voting?

It is crucial for voting in elections.

What does negative partisanship correlate with?

It leads to decreased turnout, increased donations, but is not consistently connected to turnout.

What was the strongest predictor model of the 2020 election outcomes?

The economy.

What does priming mean in the context of campaigns?

Using media to shape what voters should focus on when voting.

Which candidates generally benefit from a strong economy during elections?

Incumbents.

What is the most important factor impacting voting in the US?

Partisan identification.

How do Americans decide how to vote?

They often rely on shortcuts or rules of thumb.

What is participatory inequality?

When wealthy individuals gain more influence in politics due to their campaign contributions.

What factors depress American elections?

High costs of voting, two-step voting, and election day coinciding with work days.

When are people more likely to vote?

When stakes are high, when states mail ballots, or when influenced by celebrities.

What strategy did the trump campaign use to appeal to certain voters regarding immigration?

Persuade and mobilize cross-pressured voters.

Why do consultants recommend candidates repeat basic messages?

Because they believe voters have low political awareness.

What has been shown to be a significant influence on party identification?

Family, particularly parents.

Why is legalization of marijuana considered a wedge issue?

It garners support from both major political parties.

What relationship exists between partisanship and political participation?

Higher partisanship leads to increased political participation.

How does party identification serve as a filter for individuals?

It leads individuals to accept information from their identified party while ignoring opposing viewpoints.

What theorem helps understand voters' access to candidates' ideological positions?

Median voter theorem.

What is sociotropic voting?

A retrospective voting form focusing on the overall performance of the economy.

What is the strongest predictor of political participation?

Education.

Which candidate was a likely support for a white evangelical in the 2020 election?

Trump.

What is the significance of loser consent in elections?

It emphasizes the importance of the losing candidate conceding, allowing their supporters to accept the winner.

What issue arises if a campaign survey is conducted in an area with many people lacking phones?

The survey may not be representative of the broader population.

What differentiation in political behavior exists between men and women?

Women are more likely to vote and have become more active since the 1980s.

What type of information is mainly contained in modern campaign databases?

State voter files and merged data from private marketing.

Why is Trump's campaign considered populist?

It focuses on anti-elitism, opposing an elite-serving government.