Final Exam Flashcards
Green Lantern Presidency
Belief that president can do and fix anything as long as they put enough effort into it. With strength and willpower the president can do anything
Modern presidency encourages green lantern thinking
President budget authority, executive orders, mass communication (twitter, FDR fireside chats), see US as major global power
Challenges to achieving presidential goals
No command authority, divided government makes it hard to get things passed, public opinion is sticky
Command authority
President must delegate to get things done, must persuade others to do what they want to get done
When are presidents likely to succeed
Political environment allows it. Large partisan majorities to pass bills along partisan lines, high approval ratings increase persuasion powers
Struggle of third parties
Duvergers law and SMSP system, political polarization and fear of wasting a vote
Duvergers law
In SMSP system, small parties are inherently disadvantaged. Only need slight majority to win everything, so small groups joining together to form one group gives them the highest chance of success
Limited government influence over media
Agenda setting effect of the media, prior restraint, profit motive of the media with ads making news independent and consumer preferences driving content
Agenda setting effect of the media
Media tell people what policies to focus on, but not what side to be on. Studies show what the media covers is then associated with what political discussions are about
Prior restraint
1971 SCOTUS case on pentagon papers, set very high bar for prior restraint (censorship) of the media. Public right to know greater than possible harm to government
Long and expensive presidential campagins
Long: no limit on when to start campaigning and with set term limits always know when the next election is, starting earlier allows name to be known and get more donations
Expensive: Can limit individual donations but not campaign spending
Buckly v Valeo 1976
Limiting campaign spending is against 1st amendment of free speech. Individual donations can be limited but the campaigns spending cant be
Cost of voting
P(rob your vote decideds the election)*B(enefit if your candidate wins)-C(osts: transportation, not being able to do other things during that time). P is always essentially zero meaning really only costs of voting exist, creates the paradox of why then do people show up and vote
Why do people vote?
Ability, Motive, and Opportunity. Easiest for campaigns to change motive, hardest for opportunity.
Ability
Knowledge on political events/information, knowing who to vote for so less effort on prior research
Motive
Internal: Personally caring about policies
External: Get out the vote campaigns, esp in person. Social pressure about others knowing if you vote, study showed 8%
Opportunity
Rules that make it easier/harder to vote (is same day voter registration or 30days in advance), living in a place longer so you are registered and know where your voting place is
Federalist paper 78
Written by Hamilton, Courts are least dangerous branch as pass judgement not policies, lifetime appointments are needed, Courts are intermediate body between president and congress to ensure both following the rules
Sources of Judicial Power
Judicial Review of what is or is not constitutional, Lifetime appointments, Delegation to power courts, public legitimacy
Lifetime appointment
Federalist 78 by Hamilton. Ensures justices arent single minded seekers of elections, can make unpopular decisions to protect minority rights. Favors independence over accountability
Marbury v Madison
SCOTUS case establishing judicial review. Constitution is the supreme law of the land, SCOTUS job is to interpret and apply the constitution, dont have power to issue writ in the case
How SCOTUS makes decisions
Rule of four to review the case, amibus briefs from solicitor general to encourage or discourage a ceritori to be granted,
Factors to influence decisions
Stare Decisis (precedent) and stability in the justice system, Public opinion and if it changes over time, Ideology comes from presidential appointments
How court rulings change
Change in public opinioins (plessy –> brown v board), large ideological changes on court (roe –> dobbs)
Federalist 10
By Madison. Pluralism means no tyranny of the majority. Many diverse groups assure everyones opinions are heard
Pluralist defense of interest groups
Many groups allow everyone to have a voice, lots of opinions prevent one group from having tyranny, group competition ensures what the public cares about is brought up. Yet some interest groups have advantages over the others so its not perfect, its not an equal playing field for interest groups
Types of influential interest groups
Smaller, wealthier groups have most influence. They have a large amount of resources. Also groups in alignment with politicians interest are usually listened to by those politicians
Types of influential public opinions
More affluent (wealthy) people are listened to as they are more likely to vote. Also if public opinion has had a major shift or if the interest/opinion is salient to the public
Why have political parties endured
SMSP and duvergers law, PIG, PO, PIE
PIG
Party In Government=Elected officials. Their political party gives them a durable coalition and cooperation/coordination
PO
Party Organization=candidates and campaigns. Their political party simplifies campaigns and helps get donations, having party gives them a base of voters
PIE
Party In Electorate=voters, citizens. Party identification tells people who to vote for, know which party their beliefs more largely align with
Partisanship effects attitudes
Political elites and rhetoric enforces partisanship, creates constant stable ideology. Know what conservatives and liberals want in broad strokes
Partisanship effects votes
Cognitive missers, don’t want to put effort into thinking/learning about politics. Voting on party line makes it easier and simplifies it
