Chapter 9

Question 1

what is the election timeline for 2016 jan-june

Answer 1

fundraising, primary campaigns

Question 2

what is the election timeline for 2016 nov

Answer 2

election day

Question 3

what is the election timeline for 2016 dec

Answer 3

electoral college certifies president

Question 4

what is the election timeline for 2017 jan

Answer 4

inauguration

Question 5

what is the voter profile of the person most likely to vote

Answer 5

65+, white/african american, female, married, government employed, advanced degree

Question 6

what are the criticisms of our current method of electing the president

Answer 6

too much money, time, stress and limits scope of government

Question 7

what are the criticisms of our current primary system

Answer 7

disproportionment on the early primaries,
too much money,
participation in primaries is low and unrepresentative,
too much media power,
prominent officials find it difficult to find a time to run for office

Question 8

what is the main benefit of campaign finance laws and reforms

Answer 8

tells who gives money to candidates-how much and how its spent

Question 9

what two states receive the most attention during primaries beyond their size

Answer 9

iowa and new hampshire

Question 10

what impact do campaigns have on voters

Answer 10

rarely convert

Question 11

activation from campaigns

Answer 11

get active and vote

Question 12

conversion from campaigns

Answer 12

flip us from democratic/republican vise versa

Question 13

what are super delegates

Answer 13

people who are awarded automatic slots at the national convention as delegates based on the office they hold

Question 14

what is the art of ambiguity

Answer 14

politicians who appear to say much but really say little

Question 15

what are battleground states

Answer 15

go either democratic or republican (usually decide the election)
Ohio
important because winner take all system
candidates are more likely to campaign there

Question 16

what is the mandate theory of elections

Answer 16

politicians like this because it allows them to claim support for what they do
political scientists like it too because they think it only rarely happens
known as coattail effect and both obama and bus claim this

Question 17

what is hard money

Answer 17

money given directly to a candidate

Question 18

what is soft money

Answer 18

money given to a party, building or generic party advertising

Question 19

what is political efficacy

Answer 19

political participation matters

Question 20

what is civic duty

Answer 20

support democratic government duty to government

Question 21

why was the electoral college created

Answer 21

safety mechanism to allow the knowledgeable people to make the president

Question 22

whats the fewest electoral votes that a state might have?

Answer 22

3 (alaska)

Question 23

whats the most electoral votes that a state might have?

Answer 23

55 (california)

Question 24

what are the only two states that can split their electoral votes

Answer 24

maine

nebraska

Question 25

what is the purpose of voter registration

Answer 25

reduces voter fraud and voting abuses

Question 26

what is party platform

Answer 26

goals, policies and beliefs of a party

Question 27

what are three functions of elections

Answer 27

socialize/institutionalize election process
legitimize who we elect
provide regular access to political power

Question 28

what are political action committees (PACs)

Answer 28

committees to collect money for candidates or political party

Question 29

what is the main function of the federal election campaign act (FECA)

Answer 29

to make campaigns fair/transparent

Question 30

by what means can candidates legally collect large or significant sums of campaign money

Answer 30

PACs-most limiting
Super PACs
501 © groups
527 groups

Question 31

election campaigns

Answer 31

winning an office

Question 32

nomination

Answer 32

political party endorses candidate for office `

Question 33

campaign strategy

Answer 33

master plan for campaign

Question 34

national party convention

Answer 34

meets every four years to nominate party’s candidates and write platform

Question 35

mcgovern-fraser commission

Answer 35

commission formed at democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups and others who sought better representation

Question 36

invisible primary

Answer 36

period before any votes are cast when candidates compete to win early support from the elite of party and create a positive first impression of their leadership skills

Question 37

caucus

Answer 37

system for selecting convention delegates

Question 38

presidential primaries

Answer 38

elections in which states voters go to the polls to express their preference for a party’s nominee for president

Question 39

frontloading

Answer 39

tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention

Question 40

direct mail

Answer 40

method of raising money for a particular cause or candidate where info is sent to people who are on a list

Question 41

independent expenditures

Answer 41

expenses on behalf of a political message that are made by groups that are not involved in candidates campaign

Question 42

federal election committee

Answer 42

enforces campaign finance laws

Question 43

citizens united vs federal election committee

Answer 43

cout case that ruled that individuals, corporations, and unions could not donate unlimited amounts of money to groups that make independent political expenditures

Question 44

selective perception

Answer 44

peoples beliefs guide what they pay the most attention to and how they interpret events

Question 45

suffrage

Answer 45

right to vote

Question 46

motor voter act

Answer 46

requires states to permit people to register to vote when they apply for a drivers license