Chapter 8

Types of Political Participation-including most common one

• Voting: The most common form of political participation, allowing citizens to influence government decisions and policies.

• Joining civic associations (HOA)

• Supporting social movements (MeToo, BLM)

• Writing to legislators/signing petitions

• Fighting city hall

• Giving money to candidates/parties

• Being a member of a political organization (political parties)

• Being in an interest group (NRA)

• Campaigning

• Volunteering

• Engaging in online political vlogs

• Participating in boycotts/protests/marches

Reasons behind not voting

• Too busy/scheduling conflicts

• Family chores or obligations

• “Their vote won’t make a difference”

Motor-voter law

• The motor voter law was enacted to simplify the process of voter registration, allowing individuals to register to vote when applying for or renewing their driver's license. This legislation aimed to increase voter participation by making registration more accessible, but some critics argue that it has not significantly impacted turnout rates.

History of the ballot

• Started with party printed ballots in the early 1800s, which were often used to promote specific candidates and parties, leading to a lack of secrecy in voting. Over time, the introduction of the Australian ballot system in the late 19th century sought to address these issues by providing a standardized, secret ballot for all voters.

Voting and 19^th amendment

• The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, granted women the right to vote, marking a significant milestone in the suffrage movement. This amendment not only expanded the electorate but also highlighted ongoing struggles for voting rights among various marginalized groups, prompting further advocacy for more inclusive voting practices.

VAP v. VEP when would you use either to calculate voter turnout? Comparing the two

• Voter Age Population (VAP, everyone over 18) is used when calculating turnout in relation to the entire population eligible to vote, regardless of registration status, while Voter Eligible Population (VEP) focuses specifically on those who are registered and eligible to vote.

• Use VAP when assessing overall potential voter engagement, whereas VEP provides a more accurate measure of actual voter participation in elections.

Types of participants (activists, parochial participants, voting specialists, campaigners, communalists, and inactives)

• Inactive: rarely vote, do not get involved with organizations, do not discuss

  politics. Young, low income, minorities

• Voting specialists: vote often but do little else. Old; little education

• Campaigners: vote; get involved in campaigning activities. Better than

  average education

• Communalists: vote; but get more involved with organizations not

  campaigning

• Parochial participants: do not vote, stay out of campaigns and

  organizations. Will contact local officials for specific problems

• Activists: Participate in all forms of politics. High income/education,

  middle-aged

Reasons for decline in voting after 1900

• Increased voter apathy due to disillusionment with political parties and candidates.

• The rise of alternative forms of political engagement, such as activism and advocacy, which shifted focus away from traditional voting.

Chapter 9

Trends in party identification

• More Americans have been registering as Independents

Founders’ views of political parties

• They saw parties as factions that were motivated by self interest and ambition

• Were generally against party formation

Purpose of Primary elections

• The purpose of primary elections is to allow voters to select candidates who will represent their party in the general election, thereby reducing the influence of factions and ensuring that the chosen candidates align more closely with the party's platform and values.

Open primary

• any eligible voters may vote

Closed primary

• only registered party members may vote in their party’s primary

Frontloading

• Frontloading is the practice of scheduling presidential primaries early in the election cycle to gain more influence over the nomination process.

Caucus

• A caucus is a meeting of party members to discuss and select candidates, often involving extensive debate and deliberation before a vote is taken.

National convention

• The two parties allocate delegates for states in different proportions.

• These delegates vote at the national convention based on the results from primaries or caucuses in their states. 

• Democrats have created the position of “superdelegates” who can vote for whomever they want to

History of the Republican party

• The Republican Party is created as the party that would oppose slavery. This foundational stance attracted a coalition of former Whigs, Free Soilers, and anti-slavery Democrats, leading to significant political shifts in the 1850s. This coalition ultimately paved the way for the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, marking a pivotal moment in American history. The party's platform evolved over the years, focusing on issues such as economic growth, individual liberties, and a strong national defense, which resonated with a wide range of voters.

Two party system in America-why? 

• The two-party system in America has emerged primarily due to the historical context of political competition, where the winner-takes-all electoral system tends to favor larger, more established parties, thereby marginalizing smaller parties and encouraging voters to align with the two dominant parties for a greater chance of influencing outcomes.

Superdelegate

• Superdelegate: A party leader or elected official who is given the privilege to support any candidate for the presidential nomination at the party's national convention, regardless of how their state's voters have cast their ballots. This mechanism allows for a degree of party control and influence in the nomination process, often leading to debates over representation and fairness within the party.

Party machine

• Party machine: A political organization that maintains control over a party through a network of loyal supporters, often providing jobs and services in exchange for votes. This system can lead to increased voter turnout and party loyalty, but may also result in corruption and a lack of accountability within the political process.

What prevents minor parties from winning (consider both government imposed and non-government imposed reasons)?

• Ballot issues

  • Many states have stringent requirements for minor parties to get on the ballot, including signature thresholds and filing fees that can be prohibitive.

• Plurality 

  • systems often favor major parties, as winning requires only a simple majority rather than a majority of votes, making it difficult for minor parties to gain traction in elections.

• Are not involved in primaries

  • Independent parties can’t get on the ballot

• Single member districts

  • Single member districts are electoral systems where each electoral district is represented by a single elected official, which often leads to a lack of representation for independent parties.

• Raising money

  • This financial barrier further exacerbates the challenges faced by independent candidates, as they struggle to compete against well-funded major party candidates.

• Advertising/TV time

  • This is crucial for gaining visibility and reaching potential voters, yet independent candidates often find it difficult to secure the necessary funds for effective advertising campaigns.

• Electoral College-winner take all system

  • This winner-take-all approach can marginalize independent candidates, as they may receive a significant portion of the vote yet walk away with no electoral votes, thereby discouraging their participation in the race.

• American moderate mentality 

  • This moderate mentality can lead to voters feeling pressured to support major party candidates, as they perceive a lack of viable alternatives, further entrenching the two-party system and making it challenging for independent candidates to gain traction.

Types of minor parties

Contributions of minor parties (do not discuss spoiler role)

Chapter 10

Incumbent advantage-review chart in book

• Name recognition: Incumbents often have higher visibility and familiarity among voters, making it easier to gain support.

• Access to resources: They typically have better access to funding and campaign resources, allowing for more extensive outreach efforts.

• Established networks: Incumbents usually have established relationships with donors, party officials, and influential community members, which can aid in campaign efforts.

Campaigning during primary vs. general elections

• During a primary candidates must campaign in a more partisan or ideological way.

• During a general election, presidential candidates move toward the center to try to capture independent voters.

Malapportionment

• Drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population.

Gerrymandering

• The practice of manipulating district boundaries to favor one party over another, often resulting in disproportionate representation.

Trustee v. delegate

• Trustee: A representative who acts according to their own judgment and conscience, prioritizing the long-term interests of their constituents over immediate demands.

• Delegate: A representative who acts according to the wishes and preferences of their constituents, ensuring that the electorate's voice is directly reflected in legislative decisions.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

• The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 aimed to regulate the financing of political campaigns, addressing issues such as soft money contributions and the use of issue advocacy ads.

527’s

• 527’s: These are tax-exempt organizations that engage in political activities, often used to influence elections and public policy, without being directly affiliated with a political party.

PACs

• PACs: Political Action Committees (PACs) are organizations that collect and distribute contributions to candidates for political office, enabling individuals and groups to pool resources and support candidates who align with their interests.

Soft Money

• Funds obtained by political parties that are spent on party activities, such as get out the vote drives, but not on behalf of a specific candidate

What is the majority of campaign money used for?

• Advertising: This includes television, radio, and online ads designed to promote candidates and their platforms to voters.

Prospective voting v. retrospective voting

• Prospective: This type of voting focuses on a voter's evaluation of a candidate's potential future performance and policies, often considering how their proposals align with the voter's values and expectations.

• Retrospective: This type of voting is based on a voter's assessment of a candidate's past performance and achievements, where individuals reflect on how well the candidate has fulfilled their promises and met the needs of the constituents.