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

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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

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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

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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[[

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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• 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

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• [[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

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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)

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• ]]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

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[[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

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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

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[[SUPER PACS[[

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

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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

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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

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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

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