Exam 3

Question 1

Three Factors to Voter Turnout

Answer 1

Higher educated, income is higher, and if they are older

Question 2

How Voters Decide

Answer 2

Partisan loyalty, issue and policy preferences, candidate preferences
The candidates race, ethnicity, religion, genders are sometimes factors

Question 3

Primary Elections

Answer 3

elections held to select a party’s candidate for the general election

Question 3

Primary Elections

Answer 3

elections held to select a party’s candidate for the general election

Question 4

Top-Two Primaries in CA

Answer 4

Where two candidates with the highest total votes advanced to the general election

Question 5

Super PACs

Answer 5

committees that may receive unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, labor unions and other PACs for the purpose of financing independent expenditures and other independent political activity.

Question 6

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Answer 6

introduced the concept that money is “speech”
Allows unlimited spending by candidates on own campaign

Question 7

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Answer 7

Super PACs allow for unlimited donations and spending
Can call for the election or defeat of specific candidates
Groups that form around specific interests
Cannot make contributions to candidates, parties, or other political committees

Question 8

Ballot Initiatives

Answer 8

1. Write the initiative draft (2k fee)
2. Submit the initiative draft to the attorney general
3. The signature Phase (2)
   Applicants have 150 days to gather the required number of signatures from registered voters
   For laws: need 600,000 signatures needed as of 2018 (5%)
   For Constitutional amendments: 8% (2018: 960,000)
4. Verification Phase (3)
   Signatures are turned in into county election officials for verification
   Initiative will either be Qualified for ballot or failed by the secretary of state (because of not enough verified signatures or deadline

Question 9

Referendums

Answer 9

A referendum is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a new policy or specific law,

Question 10

The Recall Election

Answer 10

a procedure by which, in certain polities, voters can remove an elected official from office through a referendum before that official’s term of office has ended.

Question 11

The Evolution of Media

Answer 11

Printing press (colonial period)
Newspaper (early 19th century-Present)
Radio (late 19th century-present)
Broadcast television (1950’s-present)

Question 12

Why can’t you swear on broadcast TV?

Answer 12

The FCC maintains indecency regulation over television, radio, and other broadcasters, which keep the public airwaves free of obscene material

Question 13

Equal Time Rule

Answer 13

states that registered candidates running for office must be given equal opportunities for airtime and advertisements at non-cable television and radio stations beginning 45 days before a primary election and 60 days before a general election

Question 14

Framing

Answer 14

Power of the media to influence how people interpret events and issues

Question 15

Party Polarization

Answer 15

refers to the increasing divide between republicans and democrats
America has become more polarized

Question 16

Goals of Political Parties

Answer 16

seek government power by winning elections
To obtain power they:
Nominate canydidates
Coordinate campaigns and mobilize voters
Once in power they:
Create legislation
Inform party members how they should vote on important issues

Question 17

Winner-Take-All Systems

Answer 17

Candidate with the most votes (plurality) wins
2nd place or lower earns no seats in this system
Provides little incentive for 3rd party candidates

Question 18

Proportional Representation

Answer 18

Voters select parties, not candidates
Legislative seats are awarded based on the proportion of support each party receives

Question 19

Goals of Third Parties

Answer 19

the intent is to force national public attention on such an issue

Question 20

Partisanship

Answer 20

Party identification refers to an individual voter’s psychological ties to one party or another

Question 21

Interest Groups Definition

Answer 21

play a role in representing individuals, corporate interests, and the public before government

Question 22

Pluralism

Answer 22

Pluralists believe that social heterogeneity prevents any single group from gaining dominance and argued that good government encourages multitudes of interests

Question 23

Unequal Representation

Answer 23

Individuals are less likely to join a group if income is lower, have lower levels of education, or no professional occupation

Question 24

Collective Goods

Answer 24

Items and resources that benefit everyone, and from which people cannot be excluded.

Question 25

Free-Riders

Answer 25

Those not taking action in a (collective action) group