midtermstudy_guide_winter2025

Legislative Process Midterm Exam Study Guide

Exam Overview

• Purpose: Demonstrate understanding of major concepts studied so far.

• Format:

  • Part 1: Short answer questions (4-6 sentences each).

  • Part 2: Medium length essay.

• Conditions: Closed book and closed notes.

• Materials: Bring a blue book for responses.

Key Concepts/Ideas to Study

• Articles of Confederation:

  • First constitution of the United States, creating a confederation of sovereign states.

  • Highlight key weaknesses such as lack of central authority, no power to tax, and inability to regulate interstate commerce.

• Virginia Plan:

  • Proposal for a strong national government with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

  • Representation based on population, favoring larger states.

• Great Compromise:

  • Compromise between New Jersey and Virginia Plans during the Constitutional Convention.

  • Established a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives (population-based) and the Senate (equal representation).

• Reelection Rates and Margins of Victory in Congressional Elections:

  • Statistics showing high incumbency rates, typically over 90% in the House.

  • Discuss implications of voter behavior and trends in congressional elections.

• The Electoral Connection:

  • Link between electoral incentives and legislator behavior; focuses on how representatives connect with their constituents.

Campaign Strategies

• Advertising, Credit Claiming, and Position Taking:

  • Strategies used by incumbents to maintain public support and establish a favorable public image.

  • Credit claiming involves taking responsibility for policy successes.

  • Position taking refers to advocating specific policies or positions on issues.

Gerrymandering

• Types of Gerrymanders:

  • Cracking: Diluting the voting power of a group by spreading them across districts.

  • Packing: Concentrating voters of one type in a single district to reduce their influence elsewhere.

• Strategies Pursued:

  • Drawing district lines to benefit a particular political party.

  • Analyzing demographic data to maximize electoral advantages.

• Consequences:

  • Impact on political representation and voter engagement.

  • Potential to entrench power and reduce electoral competitiveness.

National Political Forces in Congressional Elections

• Influence of Political Climate:

  • Consideration of national issues, partisan dynamics, and the media's role in shaping public perception of candidates.

Calculus of Running for Office

• Factors Influencing Decision to Run:

  • Assessment of electoral viability, funding, personal ambition, and public service.

Measuring Incumbency Advantage

• Sophomore Surge:

  • Increase in support a candidate receives during their second election as incumbents.

• Retirement Slump:

  • Drop in vote share that occurs when an incumbent retires.

Benefits and Costs

• Diffuse vs. Concentrated Benefits/Costs:

  • Diffuse: Benefits spread broadly across the population (e.g., social programs).

  • Concentrated: Benefits targeted to specific groups with specific interests.

Sample Essay Topic

• Essay Prompt: Discuss the paradox where most Americans disapprove of Congress, yet over 90% of incumbents win reelection.

  • Explore reasons for incumbency advantage amidst public disapproval and analyze voter psychology and congressional dynamics.

The paradox of high incumbency rates amidst disapproval for Congress can be attributed to several factors:

1. Name Recognition: Incumbents have established a brand and recognition in their districts, making voters more likely to support familiar names over lesser-known challengers.

2. Fundraising Advantages: Incumbents typically have better access to campaign financing due to established networks, allowing them to run more effective campaigns.

3. Constituent Services: Incumbents often engage in constituency services, solving local problems and building strong relationships with voters, creating a favorable public image that translates to votes.

4. Gerrymandering: Many incumbents benefit from district designs that are favorable to their party, thereby increasing their chances of reelection despite broader discontent with Congress.

5. Partisan Loyalty: Voters often align with their party's candidates, leading them to support incumbents even when they disapprove of Congress as a whole.

These factors contribute to the incumbents' reelection rates, despite the general dissatisfaction many Americans feel towards Congress.