8-10 AP Gov Units Flashcards
party polarization
gives voters choices
less compromise
political parties vs interest groups
political parties want to elect and win
interest groups want to influence who wins
3 heads in the giant
the voter, organizations, and politicians
who is the key to winning elections?
the moderates
% democrat
30
% republican
23
% Ind
42
democrats were dominant, republicans slowly gaining, never majority, independents MOST important
yup
ticket splitting
voters vote democrat sometimes, repubulican other, independents other times…
party organizations are centralized or decentralized
decentralized
voter turnout for primary vs general election
primary election is roughly 50% of the general election
unique trait about american political parties
you can self-claim, no fee to be in that party. LOOSELY CONNECTED
open primary
does not require voters to be affiliated with a political party in order to vote for partisan candidates
Realignment
When an issue or set of circumstances causes a shift in the party base of each party (party switch)
Dealignment
More voters are calling themselves independents and no party is clearly dominates (growth of ind party)
closed primary
only registered members of a particular political party can vote.
who decides open or closed primary for each state?
states
Michigan is a … primary
OPEN
national convention held every … years
4
main tasks for parties at this convention
- choose a presidential nominee
- write parties platform (ideals)
- unify party
normal taks of parties
hire staff
raise money
pay bills
attend to daily chores
party coalitions
group of individuals who associate w a party because of their shared interests (blacks - democrats) (whites - republicans)
types of 3rd parties
- party promotes a certain topic
- splinter parties
- extensions of pop ppl
what do 3rd parties do
not win, but influence the discussion
winner take all system
whoever wins the most counties wins the whole state
types of campaigns
nomination campaigns (for the nomination)
elections campaigns (for the seat)
invisible primary
the period before the any votes are cast. where canidates compete to win support from elite of party
caucus
Caucuses are private meetings run by political parties.
LOW participation
iowa first
primary
statewide selection
new hamp first
frontloading
states do primaries to gain public attention
why do good EARLY in primary
if you do bad in the primary your support and money dries up fast
television advertising
canidates control what gets out
what kind of campaign system do we have?
candidate-centered politics
candidates, not political parties, have most of the initiative
PAC
political action committee gathers money and donations
FECA
federal election campaign act
sets up FEC
FEC
regulates: MONEY SPENT AND COLLECTED
Buckley v. Valeo
money = speech
no limit on candidates using their money
restricts the amount ppl can donate directly to the candidate (HARD MONEY LIMIT)
soft money
for political parties who then help advertise for their candidate
can not be directly for a candidate
slight limit
YUP
yes
527
independent groups that support a candidate don’t explicitly support
Citizens United v. FEC
no limits on independent groups just no communication with candidate (dark money)
Corporations = ppl
super PAC
independent expenditure-only political action committees (super bc no limit on money spend)
political efficacy
each vote counts
Motor Voter Act
meant to help ppl register
Photo ID Law
must have ID to vote
discriminatory
controversial
policy voting
electoral choices made on the stance candidates take on issues and if they align with them (align the policy between voter and candidate)
number of electoral votes total
538
number of electoral votes to win
270
dark money
fully unlimited
november
general election
december
electors decide winner of state
january
gov declares winner of all
who objects the change to the electoral system
those who benefit from it
interest groups
organization of ppl with shared goals who enter political arena to achive these goals
iron triangle
interest groups, gov agency, and congress
what size interest group is best
small
organized + focused
collective good
benefits all
ex: clean air
freerider problem
those not participating recieve benefits of interest groups
how to solve freerider
offer SELECTIVE benefits to those in the group
lobbyists must report
WHO, HOW MUCH, AND WHAT THEY DISCUSSED
biggest lobbist spenders
Pharmacuticals
most important tools for lobbyists
money and info
NOW
womens (equality)
NRA
guns (public interest)
Sierra Club
enviorment
AARP
american association for retired ppl (public interest)
EITC
earn income tax credit
poor ppl get tax money back
Romneys Plan
parents get 4k for each child a year through deficit or increased tax from rich
campaign contributions provide
ACCESS to decision makers
revolving door
politician leaves the hill and becomes a lobbyist 70% follow this
paid lobbyist
always lobbys for that company
temperary lobbyist
for one issue
most effective way for lobbiyists to convince politicians
job offers
electioneering
actively working to help elect a candidate that supports the lobbyists position
ligitating
engaging in legal proceedings that invalidate counters laws or bills
lobbying
interest group has members hire a profesional firm to persuade officials to support
lobbying
interest group has members hire a profesional firm to persuade officials to support
