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