Final Exam

Question 1

Why does America have little confidence in Congress?

Answer 1

Congress is less productive because of gridlock, incumbency, and the influence of money.

Question 2

Incumbency Advantage

Answer 2

Congress people almost always win reelection because of their recognition and influx of money.

Question 3

3rd party examples

Answer 3

Abe Lincoln/Republicans(most successful), Green Party, Libertarian Party, Bull Moose Party(Teddy Roosevelt).

Question 4

Barriers for 3rd parties

Answer 4

Psychological barriers (Americans are committed to voting for one of the major parties) , electoral college/rules, and they aren’t on every ballot.

Question 5

19th century 3rd parties?

Answer 5

Revolved around issues and were often long-lasting parties that didn’t revolve around candidates.

Question 6

20th century 3rd parties?

Answer 6

revolved around personalities and candidates. Parties died when the person no longer ran.

Question 7

1st party system?

Answer 7

Weak system- Federalists vs whigs

Question 8

2nd party system?

Answer 8

Nation became more partisan; more people voted, news was partisan, party loyalty developed. Democratic party.

Question 9

3rd party system?

Answer 9

Triggered by slavery, Republicans vs Democrats.

Question 10

4th Party System?

Answer 10

As America transformed from agriculture to industry- parties changed. Parties became more polarized.

Question 11

5th party system?

Answer 11

Triggered by the great depression of the 1930’s.
Northerners started to form a liberal democratic party.

Question 12

Issues that arise in campaigns?

Answer 12

Position issues: issues that set candidates apart.
Wedge issues: issues that only one-party uses to put a wedge between the other party.
Valence Issues: Everyone agrees on these issues.

Question 13

What is the electoral college?

Answer 13

people that formally cast votes for the president. Number of reps depends on what state you’re in. you win the college when you get 270 votes.

Question 14

Ranked-choice voting?

Answer 14

People vote for their first, second, third, and fourth choices for each office. Winning candidate must get 50% of the vote. If no one wins, the candidate with the least amount is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the voter’s second choice of the remaining candidates.

Question 15

Where do we get our partisanship?

Answer 15

Family, community, school, culture, race, SES etc.

Question 16

What’s an interest group?

Answer 16

an organization of individuals who share a common political goal and unite for the purpose of influencing public policy decisions.

Question 17

What is a PAC?

Answer 17

Political Action Committee- the fundraising arms of interest groups

Question 18

What is the free rider problem?

Answer 18

an economic concept of a market failure that occurs when people are benefiting from resources, goods, or services that they do not pay for.

Question 19

What are the different categories of interest groups?

Answer 19

Environmental, consumer,Religious, Second amendment, Reproductive rights, human rights.

Question 20

Media Convergence

Answer 20

the merging of traditional media with digital communication technologies such as telecommunications and the Internet.

Question 21

What are social movements?

Answer 21

as large groups of individuals or organizations organized around a common social or political issue

Question 22

What is pluralism?

Answer 22

Pluralist interest group arrangements are characterized by large numbers of interest groups competing for policy influence.

Question 23

What is Corporatism?

Answer 23

the control of a state or organization by large interest groups

Question 24

Political Efficacy

Answer 24

Citizens feeling like they have a say in politics. Higher efficacy= more political participation

Question 25

Exploratory committee

Answer 25

How candidates get their money before they run for real and campaign.

Question 26

Different kinds of polls.

Answer 26

Benchmark- tells a candidate how well known they are.
Tracking- follows changes in attitude towards candidates.
Exit- focuses on vote choice and view of candidates.
Push- seem innocent, but are pushing an agenda

Question 27

Iron triangle

Answer 27

Congress, bureaucracy, and interest groups.