Chapter 10: elections and Voting Behaviors Flashcards
legitimacy
a characteristics of elections by political scientists meaning that they are almost universally accepted as a fair and free method of selecting political leaders, when legitimacy is high, as in the U.S. even losers accept the results
referendum
A state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove legislation or a constitutional amendment
initiative petition
a process permitted in some states whereby voters may put proposed changes in the state constitutions to a vote if sufficient signatures are obtained on petitions calling for such a referendum
recall
A procedure that allows voters to call a special election for a specific official in an attempt to throw him or her out of office before the end of his or her term
are only permitted in 17 states, are seldom used because of their cost and descriptiveness, and are rarely successful.
Election of 1800
Adams v. Jefferson
no primaries, nominating conventions, or speeches
federalists vs. Democrat republicans
state and local governments campaign for candidates
cazy newspapers
runner up wins vp
Election of 1986
McKinley vs. Bryan
based on economics (gold v. silver)
had national conventions and speeches
Bryan was young and one of the first to actually campaign, but lost
2008 election
McCain vs. Obama
first African american success
Obama: obscure senator with a message of unity and multiculturalism
John McCain was a maverick but crisis in 2008 hurt his image
suffrage
the right to vote
15th amendment
african americans can vote
17th amendment
senators elected by voters
19th amendment
women can vote
23rd amendment
D.C. gets electoral college votes
24th amendment
got rid of poll taxes
26th amendment
18 year old voting age
political efficacy
The belief that one’s political participation really matters - that one’s vote can actually make a difference.
civic duty
The belief that in order to support democratic government, a citizen should always vote.
why do some people not vote
cant take time off work
think their vote doesn’t matter
aren’t registered
Voter registration
a system adopted by the states that requires register well in advance on election day. a few states permit voting day registration
Motor voter act
Passed in 1993 and went into effect for the 1996 election that requires states to permit people to register to vote at the same time they apply for drivers licenses
Who votes
northwestern states people with higher educations older people white people (minorities are underrepresented) women married people government employees
mandate theory of elections
the idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out their platforms and politics. Politicians like the theory more than political scientists
policy voting
Electoral choices that are made on the basis of the voters’ policy preferences and on the basis of where the candidates stand on policy issues.
how political scientists think people vote
1 party identification
2 evaluation of candidates
3 policy voting
Party identification
a citizens self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other
Candidate evaluation
personal image
control over public appearances can manipulate their projected image
higher educated people have been shown to use appearance to predict candidate actions in office
policy voting includes
that people will know their policy positions, candidate’s positions, differences between candidates, and than vote
this can be difficult to keep up with and politicians often clout their positions and the media focuses on the horse race not policy stances
electoral college
A unique American institution created by the Constitution that provides for the selection of the president by electors chosen by the state parties.
each state has the same number votes as seats in congress
no majority-> 3 top winners go to house of representation
winner take all system in electoral college
electors vote in a block (all but Maine and Nebraska)
- gives more power to small states
- candidates don’t focus on states they know they already have
third parties
electoral contenders other than the two major parties. not unusual, but rarely win elections
democracy and voting
elections and public policy shape each other
greater political differences between candidates make people steering gov’t easier
make policy ideas ambiguous
people often vote based on the economy state
retrospective voting
a theory of voting in which voters essentially ask the question “What have you done for me lately?” when voting
