Exam 2 Flashcards
Tracking polls
No reliable.
Push polls
Calls to voters to ask who they’re citing for then asks hypothetical question that presents candidate in a negative light and asks again who they’re voting for. Unethical.
Exit polls
When leaving polls someone asks how you voted. To predict outcome. Controversial.
Interest groups
Organizations that try to achieve their goals with government assistance.
Lobbying
The effort of an interest group to influence government decisions.
Lobbyist
Person who makes direct contact with government official on behalf of an interest group.
political efficacy
The belief that they can make a difference
Free-rider problem
The group can succeed without them. (NRA, unions)
Why people join groups
- psychological
- social
- economic (discounts)
- people are coerced (lawyers-bar association)
Private interest groups
- Labor unions
- Agriculture groups
- Multiple-issue group
- Business
- Single-issue group
PACS vs 527
Political Action Committees raise and DONATE money (private or public)
527 raise and SPEND money (both but mainly public)
Two-party system
Only 2 parties have a realistic chance of victory
Multiparty systems
3 or more parties exist with relatively equal power and influence
Why do we have a two-party system?
- single member districts (only one person is elected in each district)
- winner-take-all-provision (whoever receives the most votes fill the only seat)
Straight-ticket voting
Some ballot have the option to straight ticket vote. Either all democrats or all republicans
