Gov 7/10 notes Flashcards
1
Q
What can an election be defined as?
A
the process by which the citizens select the officials they want to run there government
2
Q
How is an American election unique?
A
its peaceful transfer of power- no takeover by war or force
3
Q
What are the four steps of an election?
A
Primaries Caucus National convention General Election Electoral college
4
Q
What are the 5 ways of nominating candidates?
A
self announcement
caucus
convention
direct primary
5
Q
What is the oldest form of nominating candidates?
A
self announcement
6
Q
What is a cuacus?
A
group of influential people select a canidate
7
Q
What is a convention?
A
National convention chooses canidates
8
Q
What is a direct primary?
A
a party election within a party
9
Q
What are the two kinds of direct primaries?
A
Open and closes
10
Q
How many people hold elective office in the US?
A
500,000
11
Q
What is the FEC?
A
Federal elections commitee sets up and regulates all election laws.
12
Q
What is a ballot?
A
medium by which voter registers a choice in an election
13
Q
What are the three types of ballots?
A
Voice
paper
Australian ballot
14
Q
What are the four features of a ballot?
A
provided at public expense
lists names of all candidates
given out only at polls
marked in secret
15
Q
What are the two types of Australian ballots?
A
Party Column
Office Group
16
Q
What is a party column ballot?
A
lists all canidates under the parties name
17
Q
What is a office group ballot?
A
all canidates listed together by office.
18
Q
What is an absentee ballot?
A
a process of voting without going to polling place.
19
Q
What is precinct?
A
the voting district
20
Q
What is a polling place?
A
the place where voters cast there vote.
21
Q
What are some examples of a polling place?
A
school church, public house
22
Q
Who invented the first voting machine?
A
Thomas Edison
23
Q
What are the 5 kinds of political advertising?
A
introduction Endorsement positive negetive citizen testimonial
24
Q
What is an introduction advertisement?
A
description of a canidate and qualifications
25
What is an endorsement advertisement?
popular sports, entertainment, celebrity gives support
26
What is citizen testimonial advertising?
ordinary american gives there support
27
How much money did the 2016 presidential election cost?
65 billion
28
What is election moeny spent on?
```
mass mailing
campaign staffing
signs, posters, buttons
phamplets
Ads on TV/Radio
```
29
How much does a 30 second ad cost?
115,000
30
How much does a prime time 30 second ad cost?
500,000
31
Where does moeny for election come from?
```
Small contributors
wealthy individuals
canidates own money
PACS
US government
```
32
Where does most moeny in elections come from?
PACS
33
What are the two parts of a general election?
Popular vote
| Electoral college
34
How many votes must a canidate get out of the electoral college?
270 of 538
35
how often are district line redrawn?
every ten years
36
What is gerrymander?
drawing up of district lines to advantage of party in power
37
What are th two catogories of gerrymandering?
Packing
| Cracking
38
What is packing?
concentrate the opposition voters in a few districts as possible
39
What is cracking?
spread the opposition voters in as many districts as possible
40
What are the qualifications for house members?
age 25
citizen for 7 years
resident of state
41
How was the senate originally chosen?
by state legislature
42
how many members are there in the senate?
100
43
What is the senate also called?
the upper house
44
How long do senate members serve?
6 years
45
What amendment changed how senators were choosen?
17th
46
What is continious body?
all seats are never up for election at the same time
47
What are contituencies?
the people they represent
48
What are the qualification of a senator?
30 years old
citizen for 9 years
live in the state
49
What are the powers of the Senate?
holds impeachment trials
ratifies treaties
confirms executive office appointments
50
how many positions must be appointed by the senate?
over 1 thousand
51
What is the average age of a senator
58
52
What is the average age of a representative
40
53
What are some of the difference between the house and senate?
```
house is larger
house has shorter term
house has smaller constuency
house is elected every 2 years
house has less prestige
```
54
What are the 5 major roles of members of congress?
```
legislature
Representatives
commitee members- screen bills
servants to constiuency
politicians- work for government
```
55
What is oversight function?
process through which congress checks to see if the executive branch following the policies/laws.
56
What are the 2 major types of committees?
standing
| Special
57
What is a standing commitee?
deals with subject matter. (education fincance, gov, agri)
58
What is a special commitee?
deal with investigations and presidential apointments(watergate, supreme court nominee)
59
What is a bill?
proposed law
60
What are the two types of bills?
Public
| private
61
What are public laws?
laws that involve everyone
62
What are private laws?
laws involving specific group or territory
63
Where do ideas for bills come from?
executive branch
congressmen
people
special intrest groups
64
Who introduces a bill
only a congressman
65
How does a bill become law?
```
bill introduced by congressman
bill goes to standing committee
bils goes to full house/senate
bill goes to conference committee
bill sent back to both houses
```
66
what is the name for where most bills die?
pigeon hole
67
What are the 3 choices a president has when presented with a bill?
sign
veto
pocket veto
68
what is a pocket veto?
happens towards the end of a session. 10 days and if not signed after it dies.
69
how can a veto be overridden?
by 2/3 vote in each house
70
how many bills are introduced each year?
5,000 bills
71
how many bills actually become laws in a year?
4 percent.
72
whats a filibuster?
attempt by the senator to stop the passage of a bill. talk it to death.
73
how long can a filibuster last?
unlimited
74
what is the record for how long one man talked?
24 hours
75
what is the one way to stop a filibuster?
cloture rule. 60% vote to end filibuster.
76
what is a ridder?
addition to a bill. nothing to do with the bill. knews the bill won't pass but sneaks it in with the bill that will pass.
77
what is the legislative branch also called?
congress
78
What established congress?
Article 1 of the constitution
79
What is congress also called?
first branch
80
What are the jobs of congress?
represent the people and do the day to day work.
| translate will of the people into laws
81
Why do we have bicameral government?
history- based off of british parliment
practical- settled dispute between New jersey and Virginia plan
theoretical- check and balance each other
82
What is a term of congress?
lenght of time an elected official serves.
83
2017- 114th term
............
84
What is a session?
one year time period during which congress conducts business.
85
What is a recess?
to suspend business temp. during session
86
what is adjourn?
to suspend until the new session
87
What is Sine die?
neither house can adjourn without the consent of other.
88
whats prorogue?
the president has the power to end a session when two houses can't agree to adjourn.
89
What's a special session?
when the president calls congress together for an emergency meeting.
90
why are special sessions rarely called anymore?
congress meets year around.
91
What is state representation based on?
population of state
92
how many members are there in House?
435 members
93
how many states have one representative?
7 states
94
how long do house members serve?
2years
95
what do members of the House represent?
the district, not the entire state
96
What are the 3 powers the house has?
impeach the president
decided the presidential winner
starts all tax bills
97
whats reapportionment?
the seats are redistributed every 10 years.
98
When are congressional elections?
Tuesday following the first Monday in November on even numbered years.
99
What happens in midterm elections?
party in power loses seats. party in power is blamed for things going wrong.
100
how many people does a voting block represent?
740,000
101
How many districts are there in NC
13
102
What is a single member district?
geographic district from which one rep is chosen from candidates.
103
How many states are at large districts
7
104
what is congress pay set at right now?
74,000
105
What are some fringe benefits congress members receive?
```
house tax allowance
travel allowance
cheap health insurance
pension plan
free office and expenses for staff
```
106
three limits on congressional pay raise?
presidents veto
voter backlash
27th amendment
107
what is the most important limit on congress?
voter backlash- fear that people will say there pay is to high and not elect them.
108
What does the speech and debate clause do?
protects congressmen from lawsuits for libel or slander arising from their speech in congress
109
What is the purpose of the speech and debate clause?
allows for free and open legislative debate- protects free speech.
