CH 6, 7, 8 Flashcards
What are the three main qualifications for voters?
Citizenship, Residency, and Age
Other qualifications for voting?
Voter Registration, Mental Competency, Not eligible if convicted of serious crime or if dishonorably charged
Why nonvoters do not vote?
Lack of interest, lack of competition, intimidated by election prodecures
Income:
Lower Income = Democrat
Education:
High education = Republican
Gender:
Women = Democrat
Age:
Older = Republican
Religion:
Protestants = Republican
Ethnicity:
Non whites = Democrat
Geography:
Rural/Suburbs = Republican
Family:
Families vote together
Five ways to make nominations:
- Self announcement
- Caucus
- Convention
- Direct Primary
- Petition
Difference between open and closed primary:
Open: Any qualified voter and vote
Closed: Only chosen party members can vote
Why are people in favor for closed party?
- Prevents raiding opponent primary
- Makes candidates more responsive to party
- Helps makes voters for thoughful
The Australian Ballot:
- Printed at public expenses
- Lists all candidates
- Given out only at the polls
- Marked in secret
What criticism is given about voting machines?
- Hacking
- Secret ballots may be compromised
- Possible voter-fraud
- Issues with computer-access
Political Spectrum:
Left Center Right
Radical Liberal Conservative Reactionary
Four Major Mass Media:
1) Television - 98% access
2) Newspaper - 45% access
3) Radio - average of 20 hrs per week
4) Magazine - 12,000 published
How does the media influence politics?
- Focus the publics attention on an issue and tells people what to think about it
- Impact the nation’s leaders’ decision
- Medias image is important to candidates
- Candidates appeals made directly to people, not party support
