Chapter 9: Elections Flashcards
Functions of elections
- selecting representatives
- shaping policy (choice between platforms)
- promoting accountability (holds incumbents accountable)
normal election
- high percentage of incumbents are re-elected
- party ratios in house and senate don’t change much
nationalized election
- turnover is much higher; reelection rates for party’s incumbents decreases
- open seat = no challenger
position-taking
writing legislation, voting on legislation, appearing on committees, giving floor speeches
fundraising
making phone calls, attending events, meeting w/ interest groups
electioneering
going back to one’s district, appearing on tv, and running campaign ads
attack ads
campaign advertising that criticizes a candidate’s opponent, typically by making potentially damaging claims about opponent’s background on record
Geer
campaign ads have several beneficial effects:
- people exposed to campaign ads tend to be more interested in the campaign
- they also tend to know more about he candidates bc ads highlight real differences
candidate ads
positive
interest group ads
negative
paradox voting
the question of why citizens vote even though their individual votes stand little chance of changing the lection outcome
voter’s illusion
- voting is an act of altruism, which means we vote not for ourselves, but for others
- most people vote vc a civic ripple effect that benefits nation as a whole (like “wave”)
- people vote bc it looks good and makes them feel good
voting cues
pieces of info about a candidate that are readily available, easy to interpret, and lead a citizen to decide to vote fora particular candidate
incumbency
vote for the incumbent
partisanship
vote for your party
personal vote
vote for the incumbent if he/she helped you out
personal characteristics
vote for the candidate who’s personal characteristics match your own
retrospective evaluation
vote for the incumbent if he/she has made things better
for (or against) party in power
vote for the incumbent if his/her party has done a good job (nationalized)
requirements for candidates
president: 35, born in US, 4 yrs
senator: 30, resident of state & US for 9 years, 6 yrs
representative: 25, resident of state & US for 7 years, 2 yrs
FECA
- created the Federal Election Commission
- provided for public financing for presidential candidates
- enacted strict limits on both contributions and expenditures
- allowed political action committees (PAC) to use money to solicit individual contributions
In 2014, an individual could donate:
$2,600 per candidate per election
$32,300 per national party per year
$10,000 per state party per year
$5,000 per PAC per year
Buckley v. Valeo
- limiting campaign expenditures violated the 1st amendment
- limiting campaign contributions was constitutional, bc the gov has a vested interest in preventing corruption
- disclosure requirements also violated the first amendment
- -only required to report contributions that are ear marked for political purpose
- -only required to report expenditures for communications that expressly advocate for election/defeat
hard money
donations tha are used to help elect or defeat a specific candidate
soft money
contributions that can be used of rooter mobilization or to promote a policy proposal or point of view as long as these efforts are not tied to supporting or opposing a particular candidate
magic words
vote for elect support vote against defeat reject
McCain-Feingold
considered following ads electioneering communications and may no longer be funded:
- refers to a clearly identified candidate for federal office
- publicly distribute don radio or tv for a fee
- communication is distributed w/in 30 days prior to a primary or 60 days prior to a general election
- targeted to the relevant electorate
McCain-Feingold exceptions:
- no other forms of communication are covered by these restrictions
- restrictions do not apply to broadcast ads by state
- do not apply to charitable organizations that are exempt from federal taxes
disclosure
all states require some level of disclosure form candidates, committees, and political parties of the amount and source of contributions and expenditures
contribution limits
not MO, OR, UT, and VA
public financing
candidates shot ask grants agree to:
- spending limits
- limit or cease raising private contributions
Citizens’ United
- under 1st amendment, corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections can’t be limited
- disclosure requirements are constitutional
- upheld ban on direct contributions to candidates from corporations and unions
Post-Citizens’ United
- any outside group can use corporate money to make a direct case for who deserves your vote on election day and why
- no limits on timing
- superPACS (can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money)
ex. Arizona
