4. Congressional elections

Question 1

What election was the important year redefining the party coalitions? why?

Answer 1

1964

LBJ pushed for civil rights legislation; GOP nominee Barry Goldwater opposed federal civil rights legislation

Question 2

Why did Barry Goldwater say he opposed civil rights legislation?

Answer 2

states rights. federal gov overstepping. naturally people would stop discriminating against Black people especially if it is bad for business to have segregation

Question 3

Who was the Alabama guy and why do we need to remember him?

Answer 3

George Wallace

Governor of Alabama (Dem)

1963 blocked doorway to stop Black students at uni of alabama

ran as third candidate in 1968 and carried 5 states in the south, demonstrating continuing popularity of racism in South

Question 4

What is significant about how members of congress voted in the 1964 Civil Rights Act?

Answer 4

the split in votes for the civil rights act of 1964 was regional rather than along party lines

Question 5

In UK candidates ___ for election; in the US they __ for election

Answer 5

stand

run

Question 6

What is the name of the kentucky senate nominee that separated herself from Obama? when going up against mitch mcconnell

Answer 6

Senator Alison Grimes

Question 7

What are the factors leading to candidate centered elections? (5)

Answer 7

• set election dates (not as flexible as in other countries)
• federal regulations/finance laws have weakened the parties
• different offices being up for election at different times
• individual districts for House elections
• adoption of australian ballot in late 1800s, placing all candidates on one ballot, allowing for secret voting and easy ticket splitting
• availability of campaign support from interest groups

Question 8

When did the candidate-centred system firmly take root?

Answer 8

mid 20th c

prior to this was the golden age

Question 9

the us is the only democracy in which parties are not given free tv or radio time

Answer 9

wild

Question 10

how did changes in tech drive the focus on candidates?

Answer 10

changed most congressional campaigns from labour-intensive grassroots undertakings, at which local party committees excelled, to money-driver, political marketing efforts requiring the services of skilled experts

Question 11

Why is incumbency a big deal?

Answer 11

• name recognition
• superior and existing campaign organisations and money
• can draw on history of voting in office and claim credit for improvements in their district
• franking privileges
• legislative aides who write speeches, respond to constituent emails

Question 12

what happens in elections that immediately follow redistricting?

Answer 12

temporary increase in competition

Question 13

Examples of national issues affecting congressional elections?

Answer 13

• Civil rights
• Vietnam
• Hurricane Katrina
• War in Iraq

Question 14

How old for House and Senate?

Answer 14

House = 25

Senate 30

Question 15

what are the factors in considering to run for congress?

Answer 15

Local (primary factor)
- characteristics of the particular state or district

• local issues and circumstances
• recent election results
• is the incumbent running

National (secondary factor)

• mood of the country
• economic and foreign policy trends

Question 16

why do some incumbents not re-run?

Answer 16

• particulralry in 2018 and 2020 people didn’t agree with trump so quietly left without kicking up a fess, demonstrating how the leader at the top can redefine the party

Question 17

name of the democratic org running progressives

Answer 17

Justice Democrats

Question 18

What might weaken an incumbent’s reelection prospects?

Answer 18

• redistricting
• wave of anti-gov hostility/unpoopular president
• scandal
• weak economy

Question 19

When do retirements often happen?

Answer 19

following upheaval within congress

Question 20

What does the DCCC and NRCC do to help with incumbency?

Answer 20

• if an incumbent faces a difficult challenge they will support the incumbent
• hold seminars immediately after each election to instruct new legislators how to use franked mail, town meetings, and the local media to solidify their hold on the district

Question 21

People who run for congress are normally rich….majority of members of congress reported a new worth in excess of $1 mil

Answer 21

lol

Question 22

GOP has overrepresentation of ___

Dems have overrepresentation of ___ and ___

Answer 22

business professionals

lawyers and career politicans

Question 22

which part of congress is historically less representative?

Answer 22

senate