J and C Chapter 5

Question 1

Differences between congressional election voters/nonvoters

Answer 1

1. Voters- older/educated/wealthy white individuals.

2. Nonvoters- younger/uneducated/poor/minorities

Question 2

Comparison of midterm electorate with presidential year electorate

Answer 2

1. Presidential year is significantly higher. Attracts weaker voters and significantly.
2. Midterm years very low turnout, depending on Presidential influence and midterm decline.

Question 3

Implications of low turnout in congressional elections

Answer 3

1. The older/wealthy/educated are over represented

2. Most votes remained untapped

Question 4

Why more voters defect to incumbents than to challengers

Answer 4

1. Incumbents are better known
2. Maintain status quo
3. Ways to create support from voters/past experience

Question 5

Significance of recall/recognition of candidates by voters

Answer 5

1. More recognition than recall, but both correlate with success in winning elections on familiarity
2. Very low defection of House/Senate voters to less familiar candidates than their own party’s.

Question 6

Significant of contacting voters

Answer 6

1. Greater familiarity/votes gathered.
2. Builds over time, especially in House, less distinct in Senate
3. Ensures recognition for future years

Question 7

Differences in mass media contacting between Senators/House members

Answer 7

1. Senate- more money, better candidates, closer elections. All good for media coverage/contacts.
2. House- less of all the above, less expectations.

Question 8

Ways voters positively evaluate incumbents’ performance/affects on voting behavior

Answer 8

1. The ability to keep in touch with the district they represent
2. Personal virtues
3. Focus on party/ideology stance

Question 9

Impact of National issues and policy preferences on congressional voting

Answer 9

1. Link the incumbent party to national failures/unpopular leaders
2. Policy failures or stagnation of legislation
3. Hurts ruling party members throughout the country

Question 10

Key takeaways from model predicting congressional voting (Tables 5.4/5.5)

Answer 10

1. Partisanship, incumbency, and name recognition strongly linked to vote in House/Senate
2. Incumbency status still increases probability of receiving votes
3. People rarely vote off of party lines these days, no split-ticket voters