Chapter 5 - 4/5 - Interpretations and debates Flashcards
What are the advantages of the invisible primaries?
- Visibility for candidates
- Allows for a range of candidates
- Scrutiny of suitability
What are the disadvantages of the invisible primary?
- Lack of serious debate
- Dependent of fundraising
- Voter apathy - the process is long-winded
What is the advantage of the primaries and caucuses?
Maintains federalism as the states can decide which to hold and what form they take.
What are the disadvantages of the primaries and caucuses?
- Voter apathy
- Caucuses are undemocratic
What are the advantages of national party conventions?
- Publicise the candidate
- Set the narrative
What are the disadvantages of national party conventions?
- Few major decisions are taken
- Soundbite coverage
What are the 3 strengths of the Electoral College?
- Preserve the voice of the small population states.
- Reflects the federal nature of the USA.
- Promotes a two-horse race and a winner with a popular majority.
What are the 5 criticisms of the electoral college?
- Small states are over-represented.
- Winner-takes-all system can lead to the winner of the popular vote failing to get elected as president.
- Unfair to national third parties.
- President and vice president from different parties.
- Rogue voters (when Electors do not vote for the state-wide popular vote winner).
Did Trump win a majority of the popular vote?
No
What are the 3 possible replacements of the Electoral College?
- Direct election
- Congressional district system
- Proportional system
What was the result of the Washington Post poll in 2007 on replacing the Electoral College with direct election?
72% supported the idea
What are the problems with directly electing the president?
- President elected with less than 50% of the vote.
- Could mean introducing yet another round of voting between the top two candidates.
- Can only happen through a constitutional amendment which is unlikely to be passed by the small states.
Which is the most widely advocated reform for the Electoral College?
Congressional district system
How would the congressional district system work?
Each candidate would receive one Electoral College vote for each congressional district they win. They candidate that wins the entire state receives an extra 2 Electoral College votes.
If the congressional district system was used for the 2000 presidential election, what would have happened?
It would have made the result even more disproportionate - it is unlikely the USA will swap one flawed system for another.
How would the proportional system of reform for the Electoral College work?
Each candidate would receive Electoral College votes in proportion to the votes they win in each state - this would render the Electoral College unnecessary as the result would be determined by a mathematical equation rather than by Electors casting ballots.
What are the 4 main reasons why the Electoral College has not been changed?
- There is no agreement on what to replace it with.
- The current system works for the two main parties so they do not want to change it.
- The current system reflects the federal nature of the USA.
- It only becomes a major topic of debate when it delivers a ‘rogue result’, as in 2000 and 2016 - not often enough to bring about change.
How much did Super PACs spend in October 2020 alone?
$1.2 billion
Why are Super PACs criticised for undermining democracy?
- The amount of money they spend is enormous.
- Elections become focused on who can raise the most money rather than who is the best candidate.
- They are linked to power interest groups.
Why do some people see Super PACs as benefitting democracy?
- As shown by Citizens United v FEC (2010), they are an expression of the First Amendment.
- It encourages competition as Super PACs will often support challengers to incumbents, forcing them to campaign harder to retain their seat.
- They help non-mainstream candidates.
- The large amounts of spending helps to educate the electorate.
- They are no guarantee, as seen with Trump’s victory over Clinton whose Super PAC support dwarfed his.
Who spent the most in the 2016 presidential election?
Clinton, and she still lost.
What have Super PACs been described as?
A form of legalised bribery.
Why might Super PACs not be considered a form of legalised bribery?
They align with the party that shares their interests anyway rather than paying them to change their views.
What are the reasons for campaign finance not being reformed?
- Any restriction on campaigning may breach the First Amendment, as upheld by Citizens United v FEC (2010).
- Any reform would have to come from Congress that is full of people who have benefitted from Super PACs - they will not change a system that works for them.
- It would require bipartisan support which is unlikely nowadays.
How do interest groups influence Congress?
- Lobby members of Congress
- Lobby congressional committees - they may attend committee hearings as witnesses too.
- Organise constituents
- Endorsing candidates
- Publicise voting records
How do interest groups organise constituents?
- Get them to write.
- Get them to telephone.
- Get them to email.
- Get them to visit.
This all usually happens before a high-profile committee hearing or floor debate.
Which interest group has significant influence on nominations to the Supreme Court?
American Bar Association
What does the American Bar Association do for every potential nominee to the Supreme Court?
It evaluates the professional qualifications of nominees which the Senate considers when confirming a nomination.
How do interest groups influence the Supreme Court?
They can bring cases before them.
Which case was the NRA influential in?
District of Columbia v Heller
When was the case of District of Columbia v Heller?
2008
What was the result of the case of District of Columbia v Heller?
The Supreme Court ruled that Washington DC’s ban on handguns was unconstitutional.
What is the revolving-door syndrome?
When former members of Congress or the executive take up jobs in Washington-based lobbying firms and so re-enter the political world.
What creates the revolving-door syndrome?
Interest groups
