Exam 2 Flashcards
public opinion
shaped by many factors and sources
perception is reality
political pluralism
many conflicting groups have access to government officials that try to influence the shaping of public policy
factors that shape public opinion
political socialization school economic class religion race and ethnicity geography group influence media
polls
used to measure public opinion
polling sample types
random sample
cluster
quota sampling
political socialization
why you have the views/opinions you hold
political culture
geography, economy, patterns of immigration all shape a state’s political culture
equality, fairness, justice for all can cause conflict with personal interests
Federalist papers
worried about factions
laid the argument for ratification of the constitution
Federalist no. 10
addressed factions
interest groups
organization of people with shared goals that try to influence public policy
Sectional interest group
organized to represent various sections of the population
ex: labor unions, AMA
Promotional interest group
public interest groups
–changes or awareness
single/special issue groups
–NRA, NARAL
Fire Brigade interest group
come up when there is a major issue
–Iraq war, healthcare reform
Lobbying
how interest groups attempt to influence government officials to make decisions favorable to their goals
Political Action Committees (PACs)
promotes candidates that best support their interests with monetary support
Libel
false statements that harm someone
Hustler v Falwell (1988)
“Deep Throat”
source for Watergate Scandal, remained anonymous for 27 years
Pentagon Papers
NYT Co. v U.S (1971)
government lied about not knowing how badly lost the Vietnam war was and kept sending in troops. NYT published and gov retaliated so other papers picked it up.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
makes information available to journalists, academics, and the public
anything touched by the president is subject to subpoena if the need arises
FCC
licensing (no one owns airways)
decency (free channels are subject, networks must dedicate time to children’s shows)
Equal Time Rule
network has to run equal ads for candidates up for re-election if they both want to run ads on the same channel
Media effects theories
Minimal effects theory
Social learning theory
Cultivation theory
Agenda setting theory
Minimal effects theory
deep seeded political attitudes are already set and thus the media will have a minimal impact
Social learning theory
viewers will imitate what they see on screen; especially children
Cultivation theory
heavy exposure to TV will influence your worldview
Agenda setting theory
media is very influential in telling you what you need to know
Functions in Political parties
management choice bridge link recruitment staffing reconciliation (not currently practiced)
Why do we have a 2 party system?
Winner take all system
Election laws are hurdles for 3rd parties
Centrist
Electoral College
Realignment elections
1800-Jefferson (1st) 1824-Jackson 1860-Lincoln (republicans) 1896-political parties switched ideologies 1912-Wilson (progressive era) 1932-FDR 1980-Reagan (conservative revolution) 2008-Obama (coalitions)
Types of 3rd parties
Factional
Issue
Economic Protest
Ideological
National Party Organization structure
National committee RNC/DNC state central committee district precinct/local
15th Amendment
1870
African- Americans given right to vote (men only ofc)
19th Amendment
1920
Women given right to vote
23rd Amendment
D.C residents given ability to vote
24th Amendment
abolished poll tax
26th Amendment
1971
changed voting age to 18
Psychological voting factors
party identification, the candidates, the issues
Sociological voting factors
class/income, education, religion, race, geography, primary groups, age, gender
Pre-nomination campaign
invisible primary
fight to be seen as legitimate and possible front-runner
Nomination campaign
primaries and caucuses
voter registration
National Convention
VP selection
need majority of delegate to win party nomination
General Election
270/battleground states
many solid red/blue states
Electoral College Decision
if the candidate tie in the EC then president is decided by a vote in the HoR with each state getting 1 vote
Gerrymandering
redistricting to benefit a party or race
Baker v Carr prohibited gerrymandering based on race; one person, one vote
Buckley v Valeo
Buckley was funding his own campaign and SCOTUS ruled that he could because money is speech
Citizens United v FEC
ruled corporate contributions to campaigns are free speech
