Exam 2 Flashcards
Bandwagon effect
- a shift in support to a political candidate because the polls show his/her popularity
Illusion of saliency
the polls portray something important to the public, when it is not in fact
Push polling
technique used by pollsters to ask leading questions to influence the opinion of respondents
How does the media play an important role in American politics?
- Watchdogs of government actions
- Convey government policies to the public
- Help voters make informed decisions at polls
nationalization of the news
news stations owned by same companies.
Shaping Events
The media can shape American politics:
The civil rights movement,
Vietnam War,
Watergate,
Health care debate
Agenda setting
Power of the media to bring public attention to what particular issues and events policy agenda
Framing
Power of the media to influence how specific events and issues are interpreted.
Horse race
The media emphasize candidates’ relative standing in the polls instead of substantive issues they represent
Soft Money
money donated to political parties for general purposes, less regulations/no regulations.
*cannot donate to individual candidates but you can donate it to a specific party (for general purpose)
FCC
most important federal agency in charge of regulating the media.
govt issues licenses and regulates ownership and content of media
“air is a public good”
527 Committee
a political action committee
(can find a sneaky way to support a particular candidate even tho they’re not suppose to).
have a political purpose.
independent committees that funnel large amounts of money into the elections through advocacy ads, less accountable than parties.
Equal Time Rule
Broadcasters provide candidates for the same political office equal opportunity to communicate their messages to the public.
Right of Rebuttal
Individuals have the opportunity to respond to personal attacks made on radio or television broadcasts.
Describe different types of elections, their purposes and how Californians vote differently in general, primary, and special elections.
Types of Elections Select representatives (general election)
Nominate party candidates (primary election)
Make policy directly (referendum and initiative)
Remove elected officials (recall)
Primary Elections
are elections used by political parties to select their candidates for general elections; these can be either open or closed.
Open primary
a primary in which eligible voters can wait until the day of the primary to choose which party to join to select candidates for the general election
Closed primary
a primary in which voters can only participate in the selection of candidates for a party to which they belong prior to election day
General elections
- Well-know candidates from major parties
- Voters use partisanship to guide their votes
- Higher turnout (45-50%)
Marginal voters are likely to be drawn out, especially in tight races - Initiative measures
Primary elections In California
closed primary → open primary → modified closed primary →
Top Two Primary
Special (ballot measure) elections
- Initiatives, referendums, and recalls
- Political parties and politicians don’t take a strong position on initiatives
- Voter are influenced by media and interest groups who sponsor or are against the measure
- Lowest voter turnout
Voter registering
as a party member is30 days before a primary election.
Modified closed primary system
more difficult for party leaders to control the composition of the voters and less control of the outcome of a primary election
EX. We have a weak party system In California –> we allow people to register close to the primary election date
Top-two open primary system
only the top two candidates in the primary for each office will appear on the general election ballot, regardless of their political party affiliation
Civil service reforms
began in the early 20th century (the Progressive Movement) prohibited party leaders to hand out government jobs and contacts topolitical supporters in exchange for their votes
Non-partisan local elections
like city councils and school district boards
Political parties cannot endorse or donate moneyto local candidates
Local candidates cannot run as a party’s nominee
Local party infrastructure do not exist in California
Proponents
All interests are and should be free to compete for influence in government, which will lead to an outcome of compromise and moderation.
Represent diverse interests in society.
Provide expert perspectives and valuable information to decision makers and government agencies.
Opponents
Over-represent the “haves” in society.
Provide self-serving and biased information that may hurt policy making and the interests of the community.
The expansion of government
helps spark the proliferation of interest groups, including those in favor of and opposed more government actions
e.g., Common Core standards
public interest groups
groups that claim to serve the general goods rather than specific interests
New Politics Movement
made up of professionals and intellectuals for whom the civil rights and anti-war movements were important experiences
Iron triangle
a stable and cooperative relationship that often develops between a congressional committee, an administrative agency, and one or more interest groups.
What are some Inside strategies used by interest groups?
Lobbying
Influencing administrative rule making.
Litigation (file or finance a lawsuit, submitting amicus curiae briefs).
What are some Outside strategies used by interest groups?
Influencing election outcomes (PAC)
Affecting media coverage (527 committee)
Explain single-member plurality, majority, and proportional systems. How do they affect major and third political parties in the U.S.?
Single-member district plurality electoral system encourages voters to support one of two major parties:
- Single-member district vs. multiple-member district
- Plurality vs. majority vs. proportional system
**Which of these systems can you favor in the United States?
Single member plurality system.
What are the challenges of American Third Parties?
Third parties compete against the two major parties in the U.S. and represent economic and political issues and protests not voiced by major parties
Why do third parties come and go and tend to be short-lived?
Because two major parties adopt their issues:
1. The single-member district plurality electoral system limits their opportunities for electoral success
describe the median voter theory and how can it explain the behavior of political candidates under a two-party system.
Have to converge closer to the median voters in order to win the general election the candidate has to get closer to the median.
*Study graph
Explain the similarity between political parties and interest groups. What determines the effectiveness of interest groups?
Similarities:
Both join like-minded people together to pursue commonly shared political agenda and policy goals
Interest groups - don’t seek to win and hold government offices and have no accountability to the public at large
(Interest groups do not nominate a candidate they work with elected officials).
Explain the differences between political parties and interest groups. What determines the effectiveness of interest groups?
Differences
Political parties - seek to win and hold government offices and are held accountable through elections.
Size
Economy of scale v. free rider problem
Financial resources at its disposal
Campaign donation, professional staff & lobbyists
Level of organization
Grass root organizations like AARP and NRA
Skills and experience
like public employees and police unions
5 Effects of Interest Groups
- Size,
- financial resources at its disposal,
- level of organization,
- skills and experience,
- and Narrow and specific focus (objective)
- Describe how different types of primary elections have been used in California’s history. Explain whether these changes have weakened or strengthened political parties in California.
“until 1996 California had a closed primary (define closed primary)”
Then in 1996 California passed prop 198 open primary act to create an open primary
Meaning all 10 candidates are placed on one ballet regardless of party affiliations (anyone who is a registered voter can vote for anyone)
In 2000 US supreme court struck down prop 198 claiming that the open primary violated the freedom of association rights
In 2001 California decided to modify a closed primary system (when people register to vote they are asked multiple questions, according to state their party affiliation. For those who have registered and affiliated they can be invited by a political party to vote In a particular primary.
If you are a registered party member you can ONLY vote in that parties primary PERIOD. IF you haven’t declared you affiliation you can choose which one to participate in.
Closed primary until 1996 -
only voters who are registered members of a political party may vote to choose the nominee of that political party.
Proposition 198 (The Open Primary Act) was passed by Californians to create an open primary in 1996
All registered voters may vote for any candidate, regardless of their political affiliations or without declaring their political allegiance.
In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that California’s open primary system was unconstitutional
it violated a political party’s First Amendment right of association and therefore, the Supreme Court overturned Proposition 198
In 2001, California implemented a modified closed primary
permitted voters not affiliated with a political party (“decline to state”) to participate in a primary election if authorized by the political party’s rules
What did Californians pass in 2010?
Proposition 14 (The Top Two Primaries Act), which took effect in a special election in 2011 and then the presidential election in 2012.
- if no candidate received a majority of votes (50% + 1)?
- if a candidate received a majority of votes?
- if the top two come from the same party?
Starting in 2012, the top two candidates in the primary (receiving the highest and second highest votes) for congressional/statewide/state legislative offices _____
will appear on the general election ballot, regardless of their political party affiliation.
Have these changes strengthened or weakened the party system in California?
**Parties become less relevant (the top two candidates are not nominated by the parties but by US) we give away our power.
