Exam 3: Government

Public Opinion

The distribution of the population's beliefs about politics and policy issues

Demography

The science of population changes

Census

A valuable tool for understanding population changes; required every 10 years

Political Culture

An overall set of values widely shared within a society

"Minority Majority"

All ethic minority groups combined, outnumbering Anglos

Political Socialization

"...the process through which an individual acquires his/her particular political orientation"

Random Sampling

Key to accuracy in conducting public opinion polls

What do critics of polling think?

That it makes politicians followers instead of leaders

Political Protest

The use of drastic and unconventional tactics to achieve policy changes

Political Ideology

A coherent set of values and beliefs about public policy

Civil Disobedience

Knowingly breaking the law thought to be unjust

Political Party

A "team of men and women seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election"

What does it take in the U.S. to become a member of a political party?

You need to claim to be one (a member)

"Party-in-Government"

Winning candidates who become the main spokesperson for their party

Nomination

Officially endorsing a candidate for office by a political party

Ticket-splittinh

Voting with one Party and another party for other offices

Closed vs. Open Primaries

Open: voters decide on Election Day which party to participate in

Closed: must be registered with their party in advance prior to election day

Part Era

A period of time when dominating majority party wins most elections

What were Democratic-Republicans known as?

Jeffersonian Republicans, Republicans, and Jeffersonians

How did the Republican Party begin?

Republicans began as the principle anti-slavery party

Party Dealignment

People leaving/moving away from both major parties

Party Realignment

When majority party falls from power and minority rises during critical election

Winner-take-all vs Proportional Representation systems

WTA: discourages all small parties; legislative is award to top vote getters

PRS: legislative seats are allocated based on the percent of votes a party wins in a nationwide election

Rational Choice Theory

Politicians want to be elected, voters want their policies pursued. Therefore, a rational politician will run on policies the majority of voters want

Initiative Petition

1. Propose legislation on a ballot (if they gather enough signatures)

2. Voters decide to reject or accept

Referendum

Top-down: state legislature can propose a piece of legislation or constitutional amendment. Voters decide to oppose or reject

Suffrage

The legal right to vote

Political Efficacy

The belief that ordinary citizens can influence the government

Motor Voter Act of 1993

Requires states to allow people to register to vote when they apply for, or renew, their drivers license

Mandate Theory of Elections

Winning candidates have authorization from voters to carry out their promised policies

Bush v. Gore (200)

Supreme Court ultimately determined that George W. Bush would be the president

Electoral College (How is the original different from the new one?)

Original: each elector got 2 votes per president. Candidate with the highest votes became president and the runner up became Vice President

Why was the Electoral College originally established?

So that the elites of our country choose the president

If no candidate receives an absolute majority of Electoral College votes, who chooses the President?

The House of Representatives

Except for Maine and Nebraska, what is the principle used for allocating Electoral College votes?

Winner-take-all

Which groups are more likely to vote?

-Older people people

-women

-married people

(Political) Interest Group

An organization of people with shares policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try and achieve their aims

Pluralism

Multiple groups that compete and counterbalance one another

Elitism

Only a few groups (primarily the wealthy) have power

Hyperpluralism

Too many groups that are so strong, they weaken the government

Interest Group Liberalism

The government's excessive deference toward interest groups

"Collective Good"

Something of value that if it's given to an actual group member can't be denied to a potential group

"Free-rider" Problem

Potential group members who fail to join the group because they're going to receive the same benefits without actually joining

Single-issue Groups

Comprised of members with narrow, uncompromising views

"Lobbying"

Communication by someone other than a citizen acting on his or her own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his or her decision

Class action lawsuits

Enable similarly situated plaintiffs to combine their similar grievances into a single suit

Amicus Curiae briefs

Written arguments submitted by interest groups to the courts in support of one side in the case

Referendum

Voters are given the chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation

Olsen's Law of Large Groups

Smaller groups are better organized and more focused on goals