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Final Flashcards

1
Q

Interest Group

A

An organization with common beliefs that tries to influence govt laws and policies.

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2
Q

How do IG’s differ from a political party?

A

political parties run candidates for office and have a broad philosophy

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3
Q

What does the theory of pluralism have to do with IG’s?

A

Theory that public policy derived from groups competing for laws/regs to benefit their members.

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4
Q

Dahl says about IG’s

A

Current representative govt is based on IG’s

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5
Q

Truman says about IG’s

A

IG’s are just a natural consequence of shared concerns

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6
Q

Are interest groups good or evil?

A

Depends on your perspective

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7
Q

Pros of IG’s

A
  1. Opportunity to win support for ideas 2. solidarity for those with like ideas 3. Exercising Right of Association in 1st Amendment 4. System is fair because anyone can join, or not.
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8
Q

Cons of IG’s

A
  1. Wealthy groups tend to have more support and $$ 2. Likewise for corporations 3. Many IG’s, so hard for govt to do its job 4. Anti-democratic, since leaders are NOT elected 5. Works to benefit a few at a cost to the many.
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9
Q

What is an Iron Triangle?

A

three-sided network of Congress, Executive agency and private interest groups

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10
Q

What are Issue Networks?

A

broad array of actors beyond the iron triangle that try to influence political areas

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11
Q

Why do people join IG’s?

A

Material, Solidarity, and Purposive benefits.

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12
Q

What are the 3 characteristics of strong interest groups?

A

Money, members, and dedicated members

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13
Q

5 types of IG’s

A

Economic groups, Business groups, Labor Unions, Professional Associations, Non-economic groups.

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14
Q

4 methods IG’s use to influence policy makers

A

Lobbying, electioneering, litigation, and persuasion/education campaigns

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15
Q

What is “yellow journalism”?

A

using half-truths to sensationalize the news

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16
Q

where will news come by if we get rid of newspapers and the AP

A

local news

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17
Q

Mass Media vs Mass Communications

A

MM is the people/organizations that report the news while MC is the method of transmitting the news to general population

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18
Q

What federal agency regulates the news, and what 3 aspects does it regulate?

A

Federal Communications Commission; Frequencies, Ownership, and Content

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19
Q

3 functions the media serves in our society

A

Objective coverage, Facilitates public debate, Government watchdog

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20
Q

Newspapers in 1775-1880.

A

37 weekly –> 8600 weekly.

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21
Q

original nickname of colonial newspapers

A

Partisan Press

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22
Q

What technological advances increased circulation in the 1800s?

A

Rotary Press, Railroads, Telegraph

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23
Q

The biggest change in newspapers came from what?

A

non-partisan papers

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24
Q

Today’s newspapers in America

A

1500 newspapers with 76 million readers

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25
Q

Radio began in and 1st network?

A

1920s, NBC in 1926

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26
Q

In 1937, the first coast to coast broadcast was about what?

A

Explosion of Hindenburg

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27
Q

Original radio, and morphed into what?

A

Original=major source of news and entertainment, now morphed into talk radio format and is VERY politically active

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28
Q

TV

A

huge growth after WW2, replaced radio as major form of news and entertainment.

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29
Q

two big effects TV had on politics

A

Pres debates, Pres press conferences

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30
Q

2014, TV’s in homes

A

98%

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31
Q

Internet

A

began in 1960s as ARPANet for military

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32
Q

1990s first internet browser by whom and called what?

A

MOSAIC made Netscape

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33
Q

Publicly owned stations

A

PBS, NPR, PRI

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34
Q

What percent of Americans use internet daily?

A

69%, most middle aged/younger with higher than average intelligence and income

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35
Q

Minimal Effects Theory

A

argues long term-deep seated opinions have more influence on individuals vote decisions than the media

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36
Q

Social Learning Theory

A

Viewers imitate what they see on tv through observation… Led to Telecommunications Act of 1990 (mandated V-chip)

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37
Q

Cultivation Theory

A

Heavy tv exposure helps develop a person’s worldview

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38
Q

Agenda Building

A

Although hard to gauge effects, concludes media is very influential in guiding thoughts

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39
Q

What law created the V-chip

A

Telecommunications Act of 1990

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40
Q

What does the media’s need for profits tend to make it do

A

a few corporations control all the media outlets, and marketshare is everything

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41
Q

What does media coverage of politics focus on?

A

Focus their attention on Horserace journalism and Candidate’s history

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42
Q

Although they’ve never won a major election, what effect do third parties have on our politics?

A

They sway some people, which would otherwise vote for the main parties, and sometimes they bring issues in the spotlight.

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43
Q

Define the four aspects of the Responsible Party Govt model.

A

Offer clear programs and policy positions to voters. Electorate makes choices based on programs and positions. Party works to put programs and policies in place. Electorate re-elects, or not, based on success of policies

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44
Q

Four characteristics of America’s weak party organization

A

Ideologically vague. Aligned with broad constituencies. Gravitate towards centrist positions. Declining in influence.

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45
Q

Define party-less Republic

A

type of government that hires pragmatic intellectuals

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46
Q

Define Political Party

A

An organization with common beliefs who nominate candidates for office and have broad philosophies

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47
Q

What were the two English political parties in colonial America

A

Whigs (country) and Tories (court)

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48
Q

What term was used for someone who sided with the English during the American Revolution

A

Loyalists (Tories)

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49
Q

What 2 interest groups debated the ratification of the constitution?

A

Federalists and Antifederalists

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50
Q

What were America’s first 2 political parties?

A

Federalists and Democratic-Republicans

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51
Q

Who were the leaders of the federalists?

A

Alexander Hamilton and John Adams

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52
Q

Who were the leaders of the Democratic-Republicans?

A

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

53
Q

What is the reason for the 12th Amendment?

A

12th Amendment needed to make President and VP separate elections after 1800 Election, where Jefferson & Burr tied.

54
Q

Where did the Democrats and Whigs come from?

A

They both split from the Democratic-Republicans. Democrats identified with Andrew Jackson and South, Whigs were a coalition of business owners and disgruntled federalists

55
Q

Why was the American Party nicknamed the “Know Nothing” party?

A

They said they knew nothing about anything except immigration

56
Q

What did it mean to be a member of the Free Soil Party?

A

wanted new states to have no slave, and thus be free soil for everyone to live on.

57
Q

1828 American critical election

A

1828- Created Democrats and Whigs.

58
Q

1860 American Critical election

A

First election of Republicans for national power and Union vs Democrats for states’ rights and slavery

59
Q

1896 American Critical election

A

Republican dominance in north and west vs Democrats only in southern states

60
Q

1932 American Critical election

A

Democrats replace Republicans as Liberal

61
Q

1968 American Critical election

A

Republicans create Solid South and establish equality

62
Q

What is the Hallmark of our Republican form of govt?

A

free and open election

63
Q

What are the four functions of political parties?

A

Contesting elections/running campaign, Recruiting and organizing candidates, Provide a framework of choice for voters, Organize govt.

64
Q

Four reasons American still uses a two party system

A

Tradition, Electoral College System, Winner-take-all approach, Ideological nature of American politics

65
Q

Why don’t people vote for a third party in major elections?

A

Wasted vote, tradition of 2 party system, too many people already ID with Dem/Rep, Media tends to focus on major candidates.

66
Q

4 Basic types of third parties

A

Economic protest party, Ideological party, Issue Party, Factional party

67
Q

What are the 2 permanent national organizations of the parties?

A

National Party Organization, National Committee

68
Q

Why do National parties need local party organizations?

A

Are critical for grassroots volunteers, registration drives, organizing fundraisers, conducting rallies & staffing phone banks.

69
Q

Natural Law Party

A

Problem solving party. Best policies, and ideas from both sides.

70
Q

The Constitution Party

A

under Christianity principles. Argues Constitution was made under these principles

71
Q

The Reform Party

A

party of efficiency

72
Q

Libertarian Party

A

freedom of the individual

73
Q

Socialist party

A

equal. Govt to play large role in maintaining equitible distributions of resources in society

74
Q

Why are American political parties in decline?

A

Media has replaced parties as first source of info, candidates can buypass parties using TV and directly appeal to voters, decline of patronage, reduction in party’s nominations role with direct elections.

75
Q

What two reasons explain why parties are focused elsewhere?

A

Money is still a major area of impact for parties, De-emphasis of parties (all areas to contest elects and make every election challenging.

76
Q

How are voting, political participation, representative democracy & majoritarianism related?

A

They are all equal. voting=political participation=rep dem=majoritarianism.

77
Q

least common form of political participation

A

volunteering to work in a political campaign.

78
Q

15th A

A

Universal male suffrage

79
Q

19th A

A

Universal suffrage

80
Q

24th A

A

bans poll tax

81
Q

26th A

A

lowered voting age from 21 to 18

82
Q

Four obstacles that keep people from voting

A

Literacy Test (grandfather clause), IQ/Gen Knowledge test, poll tax, Residency requirements.

83
Q

five common factors influence if a person votes

A

interest in politics, sense of civic duty, perception on if their vote will have impact on election, social peer pressure that voting is the right thing to do.

84
Q

most common reason people don’t vote

A

no time

85
Q

5 most common methods to cast a ballot? which one used most?

A

(most) Computer punch cards, hand count paper ballots, machine lever machines, optical scanners, electronic voting systems.

86
Q

reasons why voter turnout in America is low

A

lowered voting age, election day is a Tuesday, Too many elections, register before election, voting is not mandatory, decline in social capital

87
Q

two big problems with low voter turnout

A

Sign of a weak democracy, too much influence to voters

88
Q

characteristics of a typical voter in America

A

female, educated, older, wealthy

89
Q

5 factors that influence people’s voting choices

A

Candidate familiarity, Party identification, issue voting, retrospective/prospective voting, Candidates image

90
Q

Two nations with highest voter turnout

A

Italy and Iceland

91
Q

Two nations with lowest voter turnout

A

Guatemala, Columbia (US is 4th worst)

92
Q

What two phases must every candidate for state and federal positions win?

A

nomination phase and general election phase

93
Q

4 campaigns of every presidential election?

A

Pre-Nomination campaign, Nomination Primary campaign, Convention campaign, General election campaign

94
Q

Open primary vs closed primary

A

Open- voters choose which primary to run for in primary and Run-off. Closed- Must declare a party and stick with it for primary and run-off

95
Q

Blanket primary

A

all candidates on same ballot

96
Q

What is frontloading?

A

Moving campaign earlier in the year for more media attention

97
Q

What happens if on one wins a primary election outright?

A

the top two candidates go head to head 30 days later in a run-off election

98
Q

incumbent race vs open seat race

A

office holder runs for reelection vs no incument on either side

99
Q

factors that influence the outcome of a presidential election

A

VP pick, Courting the battleground states, presidential debates, advertising, electoral votes

100
Q

battleground states in 2012 election

A

Ohio, Penn, North Carolina, Florida, Iowa, Colorado, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Virginia, New Hampshire

101
Q

the most important aspect of any campaign

A

Campaign financing

102
Q

Sources of campaign funding

A

individuals, companies, PACs, political parties and interest groups

103
Q

What is a PAC?

A

political action committee

104
Q

What Federal agency regulates campaign funding?

A

Federal Election Commission

105
Q

Hard money vs Soft money

A

Hard is given directly to candidates from individuals and can use for any purpose. Soft is given to political party for “party building activities” (anything but advertising)

106
Q

what was the BCRA and what did it try to accomplish?

A

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, meant to cut down on money flowing to candidates but ended up allowing more. it tried to limit soft money

107
Q

Why is the incumbency so powerful?

A

running for re-election, should win 90% of our races

108
Q

what is the coattail effect?

A

Presidential candidates help congressional candidates

109
Q

how are safe seats different than marginal seats?

A

when candidate is running where district is of same party, marginal seat is when it will be a competitive election

110
Q

Laissez-faire economics vs Keynesian economics

A

LF= (French for leave us alone) Doctrine that favors minimal intervention from government in economy. K=doctrine that favors government spending to increase demand in down times and government taxing to decrease demand during boom times

111
Q

how does “supply side” economics work and how does it benefit the poor and middle class?

A

Economics argues that suppliers can more effectively influence economy, so government should give tax breaks. W/extra cash, suppliers can expand production and make more jobs. Increased investment by businesses will then “Trickle down” to benefit poor and middle classes.

112
Q

what 3 things did supply side economics do for America

A

it reduced unemployment and inflation and created huge governmental debt

113
Q

fiscal policy vs monetary policy

A

Fiscal is manipulation of the economy through government spending and taxing. Monetary is manipulation of the economy through the control of money supply and tax rates

114
Q

according to monetary theory, what are you supposed to do in a good economy and in a bad one?

A

in a poor economy you should increase money supply and decrease interest rates. in a good economy decrease money supply and increase interest rates

115
Q

what are 3 problems with monetary policy

A

we love to increase money supply but hate to decrease it, we love to decrease interest rates but hate to increase. Whatever we do, it takes 6-9 months for an effect on the economy.

116
Q

2 Major economic problems to watch out for

A

recession/depression (high unemployment), and inflation (high prices)

117
Q

who do most people hold responsible for the state of our economy?

A

President

118
Q

current national debt

A

$17.5 trillion

119
Q

debt definition

A

how much money is owed to all sources. all the deficits from previous years.

120
Q

deficit definition

A

outstanding balance of over spending in single year

121
Q

Why are appropriation bills important?

A

they are authorization to release money to various departments, such as agriculture, science, defense, transportation, and labor and health.

122
Q

Regressive taxes

A

extra payments that make the poor pay more of their overall income to the govt

123
Q

Progressive taxes

A

extra payments that make the wealthy pay more of their overall income to the govt

124
Q

proportional tax

A

like a flat tax. Makes sure everyone pays equally with few, if any, exceptions.

125
Q

Redistributive tax policies

A

makes sure that some of the excess profits of those on upper end of the socioeconomic spectrum are used to give a minimum standard of living to the very poor.

126
Q

Distributive tax policies

A

makes sure that government programs benefit everyone equally regardless of socioeconomic status

127
Q

What 3 areas provide most of the revenue for our federal govt?

A

individual income taxes, Social insurance taxes, corporate income taxes

128
Q

in what four areas do we spend most of our budget on?

A

Health, Social Security, Defense, and income security.

GOVT (5 decks)

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