UNIT 4 + 5- POLITICAL BELIEFS AND BEHAVIORS + POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

POLITICAL BELIEFS 1

  • [[political socialization- process by which ppl learn about politics and gov and become part of the political process[[
  • who aids in political socialization?
    • family
    • school
    • media
    • socio- economic
    • peers

VOTING

  • the electorate has dramatically expanded over time
  • federal laws and constitutional amendments have reduced the power of states over a citizen’s right to vote (state are supposed to control voting)
  • [[acts/ amendments that impact voting[[
    • 15th amendment
    • 19th amendment
    • 23rd amendment
    • 24th amendment
    • 26th amendment
    • voting rights act of 1965
  • americas has a lower voter turnout
  • the majority of eligible voters do not vote in non presidential elections
    • don’t think it is as important and think their vote doesn’t matter/ count

VOTING 2

  • who votes
    • ppl w more education- more
    • ppl w less education- less
    • ppl w more income- more
    • ppl w less income- less
    • ppl in lower income brackets- vote more democratic
    • ppl in higher income brackets- vote republican
    • older ppl- more than younger ppl
    • young voters- vote democratic
    • older voters- vote republicans
    • women vote more than men
    • women generally favor democrats
    • men generally favor republicans
    • white ppl tend to have higher turnout rates than minorities
    • minorities generally vote democratic
    • African Americans overwhelmingly vote for democrats

POLITICAL PARTIES

  • [[2 party system- political structure that has 2 dominant political parties[[
  • why does the US have a 2 party system?
    • most Americans are moderates
    • the winner take all system leads to a 2 party system
    • 2 dominant parties hinder other party development
  • [[single member district[[
    • voters elect only 1 candidate for each position
    • structure where only 1 candidate is elected to each office on the ballot
    • the winner only needs to get more votes than any other candidate
  • [[winner take all- system used in the single member district system[[

POLITICAL PARTIES 2

  • third parties struggle in America
    • third parties are usually tied to one issue or one dynamic leader
    • the democrats and republicans are automatically placed on state ballots
    • third part candidates must submit a petition to get on the ballot
    • the 2 major parties have put other restrictions on third parties
    • ppl know third parties won’t win bc of the 2 party system. this belief leads to ppl voting for the least bad candidate instead of who they want to win,
    • EX- person votes for a democrat instead of the third party candidate he wants bc he really doesn’t want the republican to win

POLITICAL PARTIES 3

  • [[party realignment[[ - major party defeated and disappears
    • support shifts between 2 existing parties
    • occurs when very important issue cuts across part divisions
    • federalism keeps and guides the 2 party system (winner take all)
  • [[party dealignment[[
    • party sorting
    • the process of ideologically similar ppl join gin the same political parties
  • [[polarization [[
    • the vast and growing gap between liberals and conservatives, republicans and democrats
    • it is now a defining creature of American politics (It has gotten worse)
    • there are a variety of causes (from narrow casted media to primary challenges)

DIVIDED GOVERNMENT

  • [[divided gov- when the president is from a different party than the houses of congress[[
  • 1969- 2010- the same party controlled the presidency and both houses of congress for 12 years
  • consequences of divided gov
    • heightened partisanship making it difficult for compromise
    • slowed the confirmation and legislative processes creating gridlock
    • increased public frustration contributing to the decline in trust and confidence in gov
    • lead to and a result of party polarization

INTEREST GROUPS

  • [[interest groups- are a linkage institution[[

    • express their members’ preferences to gov policymakers (B, C, E, CO)
    • convey gov policy info to their members
    • raise and spend money to influence policymakers and in elections

  • operate at every level of gov

  • types of interest groups

    • business groups
    • labor groups
    • agricultural groups
    • professional associations
    • environment groups
    • public interest groups
    • single issue groups

  • goals

    • gain access to policymakers
    • influence public policy in the groups favor
    • support sympathetic policymakers

  • [[lobbying[[

    • interest groups attempting to influence policy makers
    • substantial amounts of money are spent lobbying congress
    • lobbyists often testify before congressional committees
    • proved congress w info
    • lobbyists gain access to the regulatory agencies
    • lobbyists lobby the president through his staff
    • IGs lobby the courts by providing info through amicus curiae briefs
    • IG influence court appointments

  • [[PACs and super PACs- influence elections w money[[

  • [[elite theory- small group of super rich individuals, powerful corporate interest groups, and large financial institutions dominate key policy areas[[

  • [[pluralist theory-[[

    • many groups compete for power in a large number of policy areas
    • competition limits power of the groups

  • [[hyperpluralist theory[[

    • there are too many interest groups trying to influence public policy
    • in order to appease groups policy makers create poor legislation

CAMPAIGN FINANCE VOCAB

  • [[federal election commission (FEC)- independent federal agency that regulates/ creates rules for federal election[[

  • [[disclosed money- contributions reported to the FEC[[

  • [[political action committee (PAC)- designed to allow interests to raise and spend money to elect/ defeat candidates (disclosed)[[

  • [[super PAC-[[

    • cannot contribute to candidates, individuals or companies
    • raise/ spend unlimited money independently advocating for or against certain candidates (disclosed)

  • ]]citizens united v FEC- reduced to campaign finance restrictions leading to corporation donations and unlimited donations]]

  • allowed for companies to have free speech by spending money

[[CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS- PACS[[

  • directly to candidate
    • $2500 limit per election
    • less than $2000 name not disclosed to FEC
  • to the party
    • $30,800 limit (disclosed)
    • party decides where the money goes
  • to PACs
    • individual can give up to $5000
    • $5000 limit to each candidate per election
    • $15,000 limit to party
    • $5000 to other PACs

CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION- SUPER PACS

  • candidate super PAC (disclosed)
    • unlimited money to super PAC
    • SPAC can spend money how it wishes promoting a candidate
  • issue aligned (disclosed)
    • corporation donates to issue
    • would not be controversial bc the money as to be reported- monitored
  • party aligned (disclosed)
    • person/ company can give unlimited money to support SPACs that can run ads in favor of the party/ candidates

[[SUPER PACS[[

  • unlimited given by individual, group, or company
  • unlimited money spent by the super PAC
  • all donations are public

CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS- SHADY OPTIONS

  • 501 C4
    • unlimited money to the C4 from anonymous (do not have to disclose donors)
    • spend unlimited money on things- can be vague
    • if they specifically advocate for/ against candidate they have to disclose spending to FEC

MEDIA AND THE GOV 1

  • media is a business
    • media is not part of the gov but they inform, reveal corruption, praise, and criticize the gov
    • exist to make a profit
  • [[media is a linkage institution[[
    • links the gov to the ppl
    • interviewing citizens
    • presenting poll results
    • covering protests
    • covering important topics/ events
    • [[links the ppl to the gov[[
    • interviewing political leaders
    • reporting on gov programs
    • reporting on gov activities

MEDIA AND THE GOV 2

  • [[media is an agenda setter (gatekeeper)[[
    • media gives attention to some issues and not others. the media has control over what issues the ppl are informed on
    • media plays an important role in drawing public attention to particular issues while avoiding others
  • [[media is a watchdog[[
    • observe the gov, corporations, and the ppl to check for appropriate behavior
    • will expose the negative actions of gov
    • gov has to act properly in order to not face scrutiny
  • [[media is a scorekeeper (horse race journalism)[[
    • practice which journalist and reporters use in regards to gov coverage and campaign coverage w emphasis on who is gaining or losing, and not on what is being done abt issues
    • who gets to the scene first
    • everyone wants the scoop- doesn’t matter if data is 100% accurate