Final Flashcards
Media bias
Liberal
Policy agenda
Issues the media covers, the public considers important, and the politicians address. Setting the agenda is the first step in political action.
Groupthink
Tendency among small group of decision makers to converge on a shared set of views; can limit creative thinking or solutions to policy problems
Gender gap
Women prefer democratic candidates
First mass media
Newspapers. Cost a penny.
Motor voter law
Passed in 1993, enables prospective voters to register when they receive their drivers license
Voter turnout
A measure of what proportion of eligible voters actually vast a legitimate ballot in a given election.
Ours is low as hell.
Paradox of voting
Cost of voting (informing yourself, travel, waiting in line) outweighs the apparent benefits.
Mandate
Political authority claimed by an election winner as reflecting the approval of the people.
Push poll
Form of negative campaigning that masquerades as a regular opinion survey. Usually conducted by a campaign or allied group; features strongly critical or unflattering information about an opponent.
Sampling frame
A designated group of people from whom a set of poll respondents is randomly selected.
Types of people they plan to poll
Random sample
Ea. Member has an equal chance of being selected.
New media
On demand access to info and entertainment through digital devices that feature interactive participation with content
Midterm election
National elections held between presidential elections involving all seats of the house of reps, one third of those in the senate, 36 governorships and other positions.
Incumbency advantage
People in office tend to stay in office.
Party id
Strong attachment to one party usually established by parents and friends.
New deal
Broad series of economic programs and reforms by FDR
Social security, unemployment
Partisanship
Quality of taking the side of a party or espousing a viewpoint that reflects a political party principles or position on an issue. Often decided by people who wish the parties would work together.
Party system
Broad organization of us politics comprising of two major parties, the coalition of supporters backing each, the positions they take on major issues and each party’s electoral achievement.
Interest groups
A group who tries to influence gov
Pluralism
Open participatory style of gov in which many different interests are represented.
Lobbyist
A person who contacts government officials on behalf of a particular cause or issue.
Budget deficit
Amount we will be in the hole
Public policy
Policy related to things the public is concerned with.
Isolationism
Belief that a nation should not interfere in other nations affairs.
Soft power
Influence a nation exerts by attracting others through culture and commerce, a contrast to persuasion through force of arms or money.
Single member district
Minorities have a chance to get a representative.
Sample error
Error gets bigger with less sample size but only so good up to a certain point.
Critical election
Election where there are dramatic shifts.
17th amendment
Two senators from each state, six year term, ea. 1 vote.
19th amendment
Right to vote regardless of sex
Education & economic influences
More education more liberal
More income more conservative
More matters more generally
Differences and similarities of political parties and interest groups
Both advocate for issues
One wants to control the other wants to influence.
Interest group aren’t trying to elect its members.
Negative incentives
Ostracizing, remind those things you get for free.
Elite centered model of political parties.
Parties serve a function. Elites want then. Useful for people running to get elected. Helps citizens get involved.
Federalist paper 10
Factions are “a number of citizens who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion.” –Madison
Concern if one group has advantage in gov they will wield significant influence.
Eliminate or control?
Control.
Moral incentive
Pull heart strings to get work done.
Positive incentive
Benefits for support
Joining aarp gets discounts.
Progressive reforms
New deal, social security, welfare, unemployment.
Functional party model
More realistic Have elections Should have different positions on policies Converge in center Run on differences
Responsible party model
Normative model
Social norms, how they should act
Clear policy choices
Deliver on these choices and be held responsible
Broadcast and cable tv
Those who pay get different information
Undermines regulation
Liberal
Favor gov involvement in economy
Oppose gov in social issues
Libertarian
Oppose gov in social issues and economic ones
Collective security – a little
Conservative
Oppose gov economic involvement
Support gov social involvement
Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare - contributory, everyone gets
Medicaid - non contributory, help for needy
Contributory programs
Everyone gets
Medicare and social security
Non contributory programs
means-tested (based on wealth)
AFDC – replaced by TANF – aids to families with dependent children.
Food stamps
Medicaid
Populist
Classical liberalism
Genuine constitutional government
Realignment of 1860
Slavery.
Dems and Whigs. Isolate slavery. Whigs in contention with each other. Reps emerge.
Realignment of 1896
No new party
Industrial revolution. East west divide. West is unhappy railroads cost too much to ship goods.
Advocate for elimination of gold standard. Grover Cleveland (Dem) says no. Populace movement, reps win office, strengthens rep party.
Realignment of 1932
Great Depression. FDR if states won’t act the Feds will. Fundamental shift in our relationship with the Feds and president. Elected 4 times. Strengthens dems.
Food stamps
Changed to SNAP - supplemental nutritionist assistance program
Non contributory
History of social security
Exclude large sectors of society
No women - secretary jobs excluded
No Africans - no agricultural jobs
Getting married, having children gets, perpetuated stereo type
Modern welfare state
Not a lot of assistance if you are able bodied
Small size
Small coverage
Focus on specific groups
More business friendly
Great society programs
Lyndon B Johnson
Medicaid, Medicare, welfare, food stamps
Foreign policy president
Receive ambassadors
International agreements
Treaties - senate approval - 1500
Agreements - 12000, no cong approval, temp
Appointments
Appoints key members of national security
Use of military force
Cic. Repel invasion
Negative powers, to seize war
Act of 1983 - 60 days to notify congress, with extra 30 or withdraw troops
Foreign policy congress
International agreements
Approve treaties
Appointments
Approval
Use of military force
Declare war
Power of the purse
