Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Politics - USA > 5.1 Elections in the USA > Flashcards

5.1 Elections in the USA Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 6 stages of an election in the USA?

A
  • invisible primary
  • primaries and caucuses
  • national party conventions
  • election campaigns
  • election day
  • electoral college voting
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is an invisible primary?

A

The period between candidates declaring intention to run for the presidency and the first primaries and caucuses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the aim of a candidate in the invisible primaries?

A

A candidate will hope to be mentioned as a possible serious presidential candidate. They’ll want traction from Newspapers such as the New York Times and the Washington Post

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What sort of things may a candidate do in the invisible primary?

A
  • televised party debates

- fundraising

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What term is used which means a candidate in the invisible primary gets enough money?

A

“War Chest”, money brings the ability to campaign and advertise which brings improved poll ratings.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How effective a television debates in the invisible primary?

A

Significantly effective. Debates allow candidates to propose serious policy debates as well as challenge the policies of other candidates. Television is a big source of information for the electorate so is key in getting right as it will reach a huge audience.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How effective are publishing books in the invisible primary?

A

Somewhat effective, they are a great tool for the electorate to understand their proposed candidate however they are only useful when they are read.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a Primary?

A

A state based election to choose a party’s candidate for the Presidency.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a caucus?

A

A series of state based meetings to choose a party’s candidate for the Presidency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Where are caucuses usually held?

A

In large geographical areas with a sparsely densely population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the 2 rules for a primary?

A
  • timing of primaries

- types of primaries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What rules exist with the timing of primaries?

A

National parties can decide when to hold their primaries, but individual states have a say within the parameters. Some states deliberately hold their primaries together, this is known as a Superb Tuesday. Some states schedule their primaries for earlier in the year, this is known as front loading.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What rules exist with the types of primaries states can hold?

A

Can be divided up into closed and open primaries.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is a Super Tuesday?

A

A Tuesday in February or early March when a number of states group together to try to influence the outcome of the primaries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is front loading?

A

When states schedule their presidential primaries and caucuses earlier in the year to increase their importance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is a closed primary?

A

A primary whereby only registered members for that party can vote in their parties primary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is an open primary?

A

A primary whereby anyone can vote in either party’s primary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How do open primaries allow for cross-over voting?

A

Whereby Democrat voters can opt to participate in the Republican party primary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the impact of an incumbent on a primary?

A

Primaries fall into insignificance. An incumbent in unlikely to face any severe opposition and therefore become relected..

20
Q

What is a National Party convention?

A

The meeting held every 4 years to discuss and nominate the presidential and vice presidential candidate and the party platform in which it will occur.

21
Q

What are the 3 formal functions of a National Party Convention?

A
  • choosing the party’s presidential candidate
  • choosing the party’s VP
  • deciding the party platform
22
Q

Explain the choosing the party’s presidential candidate function of the National Party Convention?

A

Because of the counted results of the primaries and caucuses, the result of the convention is a forgone conclusion. Delegates to a candidate appear in a hall to vote for their candidate.

23
Q

What is a brokered convention?

A

A national party convention whereby no candidate achieves sufficient support in the primaries and caucuses.

24
Q

Explain the choosing the party’s VP candidate function of the National Party Convention?

A

Not really a thing in the past 20 years. Kamala Harris was announced as Joe Biden’s VP 2 days before the convention

25
Q

Explain the deciding the party platform function of the National Party Convention?

A

The party platform is a document containing policies that the candidate intends to pursue if elected president. It is put together by the Platform Committee

26
Q

What are 3 informal functions of a national party convention?

A

-promoting unity
-enthusing the party faithful
-enthusing ordinary voters
-

27
Q

Explain the promoting party unity function of the National Party Convention?

A

Vital platform for healing ideological wounds within parties. A divided party never wins elections

28
Q

Explain the enthusing the party faithful function of the National Party Convention?

A

For an election to be successful, all 50 states need to play a part and national party conventions can revitalise those within a party.

29
Q

Explain the enthusing ordinary voters function of the National Party Convention?

A

When the future president says his acceptance speech, it is a golden way to reach voters and make them turnout to vote.

30
Q

Arguments to suggest that national party conventions are still important?

A
  • only time parties meet together
  • opportunity to promote unity
  • can lead to a significant bounce in the polls
31
Q

Arguments to suggest that national party conventions are not important?

A
  • TV coverage is reduced
  • VPs are announced before hand
  • party platform is agreed before hand
32
Q

When does the election day happen?

A

The Tuesday after the first Monday in November every 4 years

33
Q

How is each state awarded a number of Electoral College Votes?

A

The number is equal to each states representation in Congress. The number of Senators (2), + population size. For example, California has 2 senator votes + 53 (House of Representatives)

34
Q

What are the two exceptions to the Electoral College?

A

Maine and Nebreska

35
Q

What system does the Electoral College use?

A

FPTP - a winner takes all system

36
Q

What does the term incumbency mean?

A

When a President or member of Congress goes for office again after being in office previously.

36
Q

What does the term incumbency mean?

A

When a President or member of Congress goes for office again after being in office previously.

37
Q

What are the 6 incumbent advantages?

A
  1. name recognition
  2. fundraising
  3. single candidate
  4. executive position
  5. experience in the campaign
  6. risk aversion
38
Q

How does name recognition affect an incumbent?

A

The candidate will be well known to the electorate, which gives them a media advantage.

39
Q

How does fundraising affect an incumbent?

A

Incumbent Presidents do not have to fund a campaign to be the nominated candidate. They also have an establised donor base

40
Q

How does a single candidate affect an incumbent?

A

The incumbent President will often go unchallenged from within their party

41
Q

How does the executive position affect an incumbent?

A

Presidents can use their position to benefit key groups and swing states or announce popular measures before an election

42
Q

How does the experience of the campaign affect an incumbent?

A

The incumbent has ‘been there and done that’ and has experience in winning the presidential campaign

43
Q

How does risk aversion affect an incumbent?

A

American voters are unlikely to change as only 11 Presidents have failed to win a second term. Also, with party polarisation a President has to do something significant to fuck up

44
Q

What are the limits to an incumbent President?

A
  • failing economies

- unforeseen events

45
Q

Within Congress, what are the advantages of an incumbent?

A
  • provide constituency services
  • high levels of name recognition
  • huge advantage in fundraising levels

Politics - USA (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions