Government Ch 3 Flashcards
Closed primary
Only registered members of the political party can vote in that party’s primary election
Benefits - candidates represent ideology better; limits voter choice in elections
Caucus
Closed meetings of party members throughout th state to discuss and select delegates to national convention
Open primary
All registered voters can vote in primary election, regardless of party affiliation (sometimes must choose one primary or the other)
Benefits - more democratic
Downfall - vote raiding (members of one party might vote for other party to nominate the worst candidate)
Delegates
Individuals sent by voters to a convention to official nominate a party candidate for office
Electorate
The potential voting population (the people eligible to vote under current law)
General Election
Election in which all voters choose who will fill an elected public office
Hard money
campaign contributions regulated and limited by the federal government that are given directly to a candidate
Lobbyist
Person trying to influence the governments decisions
Party platform
a political party’s written statement of its official principles, plans and stances on major issues facing the country
Plurality
Candidate polls more votes than any other candidate
Political Action Committee
Organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates to campaign for or against candidates
Preclearance
states who have behaved badly before shall be subject to preclearance of all new voting laws by the Federal Government (History of literacy tests, poll taxes, grandfather clause, or who had less than 50% of their black population registered at the time
Primary election
elections in which voters decide which of the candidates within a party will represent the party in the general election
Run off Election
some states will hold elections between the top two vote getters if nobody wins a majority of the vote
Soft money
unlimited and unregulated campaign contributions given to federal candidates and national parties for “party building” activities (bumper stickers, etc
Super PACs
PACs that may raise and spend unlimited amounts of money in order to advocate for or against a political candidate without working directly with candidates
Suffrage
The right to vote
Name 6 Amendments that expanded suffrage
15th, 17th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, 26th
15th Amendment
This amendment was passed to grant voting freedom to people of all races in the U.S. It was meant to get rid of the denial by the national or state government of African American voting rights.
17th Amendment
This amendment gave the people the power to vote for their Senators, instead of the State Legislature.
19th Amendment
This amendment provided the right to vote for all U.S. citizens regardless of sex. It was important because it allowed women to vote.
23rd Amendment
After this amendment was passed, citizens of the District of Columbia were given the power to vote in Presidential elections for the first time.
24th Amendment
This amendment says that states can’t tax voters. This prevented Southern States from preventing poor African Americans from voting.
26th Amendment
This amendment lowered the required age to vote down to 18. Allows anyone that is 18 or older to vote without interference from the government.
What happens in Election of 1912
It was a rare four Way contest. The last election where former president ran for office without being nominated as a Republican or Democrat
Spoiler role of progressive party?
Minor party candidate is very popular & has similar idea as Republican, but minor party steals votes from Republican and Democrat candidate wins election
Innovator role of progressive party
Minor party has a popular idea and gets votes, then major party adopts ideas and minor party fades away
Voting Rights Act of 1965? Provisions? Impacts? Success?
- No voting qualification shall be imposed to deny the right of any citizen to vote based on race or color
- The court appointed federal examiners to enforce the guarantees of the 15th amendment.
- No literacy test or grandfather clause
- Federal Examiners shall oversee voter registration, voting, and vote counting in these states with preclearance
- Poll taxes are illegal
What happens at national conventions?
National Convention - held by major parties every four years to choose presidential candidate
- Delegates from each state meet to cast vote for presidential candidate
- Votes are cast until a candidate is selected
Name the three types of minor parties
Ideological, Single Issue, Splinter
Ideological Minor Party
Based on a particular set of beliefs, and apply beliefs to every political issue
Single Issue Minor Party
Focus on a single Issue; rarely take stance on more than a few related issues
Splinter Minor Party
Have usually split from one of two major parties; split off to follow a popular candidate to focus on specific issue
2 role of minor parties
Spoiler role and innovator role
Spoiler - cause an upset in election
Innovator - cause a major party to take on a certain idea
5 Roles of major parties
Nominating candidates - members of party fight to gain support for upcoming election; party votes person to represent them in general election
Informing and Activating supporters - parties provide info on their stances and campaign
Bonding Agent - Party works to protect good name
Governing- congress & executive organized by party
Watchdog - party out-of-power critiques party in-power
Legal Voting Restrictions
Citizenship, residence, registration, must be 18
Those is mental institutions can’t vote, those who are mentally incompetent can’t vote, those who are convicted of felonies are not allowed to vote, & sometimes can’t vote if dishonorably discharged from military
Illegal voting restrictions
Literacy test, poll tax, grandfather clause, voter intimidation
Explain The Electoral College
of reps + senators (2) = States electoral votes
winner of popular vote receives certain # of electors
A tie is decided by House of Reps - each state receives one vote and must have majority to win (vote until there’s a winner)
What’s an interest group?
Group of people that share the same interests, beliefs or goals; come together to influence government
Types of interest groups
Public, economic, professional, ideological, single-Issue
3 ways interest groups influence government
- Informing - provide info to government members
- Endorse candidates - supports them if they have the same beliefs; encourages group members to vote for that candidate
- Donating money - contribute money to candidates campaign to influence them
Positives and negatives of interest groups
Positives - allows people to have a voice and make changes; strength in numbers
Negatives - cause separation among citizens; can eventually end up with more power than they should have
Campaign finance as free speech?
Money is a way to express opinions, so limiting spending limits freedom of speech
Dangers of money in campaigns?
Benefits wealthy individuals and corporations, and they have too much say in elections.
Deep pockets equal lots of commercials, etc.
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002?
Banned national parties and office holders from raising or spending soft money
Set limits on all campaign donations
Limits adjust for inflation
Citizens United v. Federal Election Committee of 2010?
Ruled that spending is protected under first Amendments, and ruled that government can’t prohibit spending by corporations and labor unions to support or denounce individual candidates
These groups can’t work or contact candidates or campaigns
