Government

the flashcard version for Knowt or Quizlet:

Politics and Elections Test Review - Flashcards

Political Parties

Q: What is a political party?

A: An organized group of people with similar political beliefs who work to influence government by winning elections and holding office.

Q: What is the difference between liberal and conservative ideologies?

A:

• Liberal (Left): Supports government programs, progressive social policies, and business regulations.

• Conservative (Right): Supports limited government, traditional values, and free-market economics.

Major Political Parties

Q: What are key beliefs of the Democratic Party?

A:

• Strong federal government

• Support for social programs (healthcare, education)

• Climate change policies

• Pro-choice stance

• Gun control regulations

• Progressive tax policies (higher taxes on wealthy)

Q: What are key beliefs of the Republican Party?

A:

• Limited federal government

• Lower taxes and deregulation

• Gun rights and Second Amendment protection

• Pro-life stance

• Strong national defense

• Emphasis on traditional values

Why Does the U.S. Have a Two-Party System?

Q: Why are there only two major parties in the U.S.?

A:

• Winner-takes-all elections make it hard for third parties to win.

• Historical tradition of two dominant parties.

• Ballot access and campaign funding favor major parties.

Elections & Voting Systems

Q: What is the difference between a primary election and a general election?

A:

• Primary Election: Party members vote for their candidate to run in the general election.

• General Election: Final election where voters choose between candidates from different parties.

Q: What is the difference between a primary and a caucus?

A:

• Primary: Standard election where voters cast ballots.

• Caucus: Public meetings where voters discuss and select candidates.

Key States in Elections

Q: What are the two most important primary states?

A: Iowa (first caucus) and New Hampshire (first primary).

Q: What are swing states?

A: States that do not consistently vote for one party, making them crucial in elections.

Electoral College

Q: How does the Electoral College work?

A:

• Each state has electors based on congressional representation (Senators + Representatives).

• A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

Q: Why does the Electoral College exist?

A:

• Balances influence between populous and less populous states.

• Originally designed to prevent direct popular vote from deciding elections.

Campaign Finance

Q: What are the main sources of campaign money?

A:

• PACs (Political Action Committees): Raise money for candidates or parties.

• SuperPACs: Can raise unlimited money but cannot coordinate with candidates.

• Party Committees: Official fundraising groups for political parties.

Q: What was the impact of Citizens United?

A: Supreme Court ruling that allows unlimited independent spending in elections.

Final Review


Ideological Backing


  1. Conservatives

  1. Less Government is good → lower Taxes

  2. Liberty → personal freedom

  3. Government should regulate morality → Christianity

  4. Free Market Economics (Not Trump)

  5. Nationalist → Patriotism

  6. Strong Military

  7. Generally Republican Party




  1. Liberals

    1. Government can be agent of change → Look to government to solve social problems

    2. Equality → Social Justice

    3. Government should not regulate morality

    4. Modified Free Market Economics

      1. Government has a role

      2. Labor unions have a role

      3. Environmental protection important

    5. Collaborative Foreign Policy → Diplomacy Important

    6. Generally Democratic Party



Intro to Parties Video


  1. Definition of Political Parties

    1. A political party is just an organized group of people who share some beliefs/values and try to get as many of their people elected into office as possible. 

    2. Within the party there may be differences, for example some Republicans are pro-choice and most are Pro-Life, but they still maintain membership in the republican party.

    3. Both parties have the same goal: WIN ELECTIONS → POWER

    4. A political party's strength depends upon a number of factors including:

      1. The number of supporters it has

      2. The number of elected officials it has

      3. The degree of unity within the party

      4. The degree to which the party members are active


  1. Brief History of Political Parties


  1. Start of the Parties

    1. Democratic Party traces its roots to Thomas Jefferson during Washington’s Presidency. Officially founded during Andrew Jackson’s Presidency in the 1820s.

    2. The Republican Party was founded as an anti-slavery party in the 1850s. Lincoln was the first president elected. Also called the Grand Old Party or GOP.

  2. Years

    1. November 2020

      1. Joe Biden wins the presidency with 306 electoral votes and 81 million votes

      2. Donald Trump earned 232 electoral votes and 74 million votes

      3. Democrats win control of House and Senate

      4. January 6th → Trump supporters storm capital

    2. November 20222

      1. Republicans win control of the house

      2. Democrats increase majority in the Senate

    3. November 2024 → Republicans won big


Why Have Parties Video


  1. Why Have Political Parties?

    1. While the writers of the Constitution did not mean to set up a system whereby you would have political parties. This naturally occurred and still does throughout our history for the following reasons:

      1. It makes it easier for people to know what you stand for if you can be identified with a party that they know.

      2. The party organization and members help people get elected and make it nearly impossible to get elected without a party.

    2. People from coalitions around their shared beliefs because they are stronger as the sum of parts then as individuals working separately.

    3. If someone else forms a party and you don’t, you are going to lose every time.


Why Only Two Parties Video


  1. Why Only Two Parties

    1. Third parties occasionally try to spring up and gain power while they may gain some power, they almost always fail because of the following logic:

      1. People generally feel that if they vote for a third party, they are wasting their vote.

      2. For example, in the 2016 election if you were a hardcore liberal, you would probably like Jill Stein (green party) best, Hillariy Clinton (democrat) second, and hate Donald Trump (republican).

    2. Problem is if you vote your favorite choice, Stein, you will split the vote of people like yourself between Clinton and Trump. As a result the guy you hate, Trump, will get elected with a plurality.

    3. There is also the issue of inertia. The two parties have all the power, organization, and money raising ability. Therefore, it is very hard to overcome the entrenched power in place.

    4. Vote for the 2 party person you like rather than voting 3rd party as your vote will be thrown away.

    5. Inertion.



Elections Vocab 


  1. Primary Election

    1. Choose each party nominee

  2. General Election

    1. Choose the winner → November

  3. Midterm Election

    1. President not on ballot. Congress is.

  4. Presidential Election

    1. Big one. Every four years

  5. Initiative

    1. Get signatures to change a law

  6. Referendum

    1. Voting on a changing a law

  7. Recall

    1. Remove someone from office by vote before the end of term













Who Votes


Who Votes:


  1. Eligible Voter:

    1. 18 and over and a citizen




15th Amendment: American Africans Males can vote



19th Amendment: Women Suffrage



26th Amendment: 18 year olds can vote 




  1. Registered Voter:

    1. Each state has their own rules

    2. Used to prevent voter fraud










  1. Voter Turnout:

    1. What percent of voters vote in an election







Primary Elections 


The Primary Process


  1. Each party must select one candidate to run in the general election. the primaries accomplish this goal. If a party ran more than one candidate they would lose nearly every time to the other party that runs only one candidate because their vote would be split.








  1. How They Work:

    1. Each party holds primaries in every state where the members of the party choose who they want the nominee for the president to be.








Open Primary

anyone can vote in the primary, you do not have to be registered as democrat or republican 





Closed Primary


you must be a registered democrat or republican to vote in that party




Iowa and New Hampshire: Most important states in primary. they vote first. 


Iowa - Cacus






What is the difference between a Caucus and a Primary:

Caucasus people meet together and give speeches for a candidate. people then vote for the person they like by standing in a corner of a room. votes are counted and the more votes, you win the delegates, you win.


Primary the state has regular election and everyone goes to the polls to vote







The Rest of the States:




Electoral College 


The General Election/Electoral College:





  1. What is the Electoral College?

    1. System invented by the framers to elect a president 





  1. How many member/votes are there?

    1. 538




  1. How do you win votes:

    1. it is winner take all. win the state, get all of the electoral votes





  1. How many votes does each state get:






  1. So does my vote count?







  1. What does it take to win?






  1. What if no one gets a majority?








Interest Groups 


Interest Groups:


What are they?






What do they do for elections?






Examples:






Campaign Strategy  (notes on worksheet for assignment)


The Money:


  • Fundraising efforts: Gathering financial support through donations and events to finance campaign activities.

  • Budget allocation: Strategically distributing funds across various campaign needs such as advertising, staff salaries, and outreach programs.