Chapter 8 -Elections and Campaigns Flashcards
first thing to do in elections
get name on ballot
who gets name on ballots for candidates
organizations
order of importance in elections
Presidential, Midterm, Primaries
Order of how common it is for incumbents to win in these types of elections
House, Senate, President
what is the system of the electoral college
winner take all
how does the winner take all system work
presidential candidate with the most popular votes in a state get ALL of the states electoral college votes
who decides whether the state runs on a winner takes all system
The state legislature
why do incumbents always win
they can take government money for local projects which people in their districts
Who dies congress blame so that their constituents undermine their mistakes and still vote for them
congress sends the blame to “people in washington”
do congressmen and women have to stay within stirct affiliation to their party?
No, congressmen and women are largely independent and don’t have to vote along with their party on every single issue.
Steps for running for president
getting mentiones (name recognition)
sponsoring legislation from a large state
money and funding from superpacs and pacs
Another name for Super PACS
527
what are super pacs
independent groups working on behalf of president but not with president
how do candidates approach campaigns
by setting the tone for campaigns, either positive or negative
by developing a theme (hillary telling america to trust her ecxperience)
they target a voter audience, who is their audience
Is malapportionment legal? What is it?
No, its not legal, it means to put a different number of people in each district
What is political gerrymandering? is it legal?
it IS legal, and it means to make districts based on party and orientation
What is sophomore surge
using perks of office, and campaigning for/ against congress
what is the size of the house; is this set in the constitution?
the house consists of 435 members; it is not set in the constitution, but when the house reached 435, they decided to stop it there, and just redistribute those seats among all of the districts from there on out
What is the size of congress; is this set in the constitution?
100 seats; two per state; it is set in the constitution
who do legislators listen to for campaigns
legislators listen to local people for campaigns
what is a congressional caucus
a group with congessmen who have something in common
ie: congressional hispanic caucus, congressional black caucus
What are Iowa caucuses
theya re during the first primaries where people choose what corner/candiate to go to, and the one with the least people gets eliminated until there is only one candidate left with people having been redistributed to other candidates
what does it mean to be indicted
to be put on trial
what are the two kinds of campaign issues
- position issues
2. valence issues
what are position issues?
position issues have a distinct position on an issue
what are valence issues?
issues everyone agrees on
what do candiadtes rely on when making public appearances
stock or stump speeches which they use to make sure that they don’t have a slip of tongue that makes them say the wrong thing and ruin their public image
how do candidates spread their words
paid ads (spots)
news broadcasts
debates
computer and internet
what could happen if a candidate doesnt stick to his notes and stump speeches
” i did not have sexual relations with that woman” - clinton
or the Quayle and Potatoe incident
what did the mccain feingold act do
it put a limit on soft money and unlimited funds for a party which is illegal
soft money
illigal and unlimited funds to a party
hard money
legal, has limits and is contributed directly to the candidate of a specific political party
what are 3 things that presidential elections decided on during times of peace
party affiliation
state of economy
character of the candidates
how do incumbents have advantages
a. Easier to raise money- name recognition, donate to winner
b. Can provide services to constituency-Congress
c. Can use Franking privilege –mail stuff for free
d. Can get free publicity through laws, press conferences, etc.
who are less wedded to their party and who has a higher voter turn out
Dems are less wedded to their party, and GOP have a higher voter turnout
What decides party elections
- party affiliation
- issues
- coalitions (dem & GOP)
how does loyalty work within the democratic coallition
blacks are number 1 most loyal jews loyal aswell hispanics growing union members high catholics and southerners = 50/50
How does loyalty work within the republican coalition?
- party of business and professionals
- very loyal
- usually wins poor vote because of retired or socially *conservative midwest and south
- evangelical (religious votes, new to coallition and growing as well)
_________ reduce voter turn out
Negative ads
Why incumbents always win
Gerrymandering (only in the house) Franking Take credit for bills Name recognition Money Media
Who do debates favor
The challenger
Who does a good economy favor, who does a bad one favor
Incumbent, challenger
Why do voters switch parties
Because of their own interests
Two types of voters
Perspective and retrospective
Prospective voters
Vote based on what a person WILL DO once they get to office, requires thinking towards future
Retrospective voters
Nonchalant;vote against a candidate based on how good or bad current issues are
