Midterm Exam Flashcards
Path dependency
The notion that earlier events or decisions deeply affect current and future outcomes.
The choices made in the past influence the choices we make today.
Name one example of path dependency in politics
Ex.) because the founding fathers choose to implement an electoral college candidates now focus on swing states because path dependency shows the solid states and politicians don’t want to waste their time in a won/lost state. They purchase more ads in swing states
Give a time line of suffrage with explanations and a definition
Definition: right to vote
1.) only white male property owners because they had a stake in society, were committed members of the community, had personal interest in the policies and taxation of the state, and possessed sufficient independence from the state.
Lots of variation in how to vote state to state
Duverger’s law
The generalization that if a nation has a single member plurality electoral system, it will develop a two party system.
A winner takes all system is created and it squeezes out the independent/third parties.
Citizens United ruling
Political spending is a form of protected speech under the first amendment and the government may not keep corporations or unions from spending money to support or denounce individual candidates in election.
-money is speech and corporations are people too
Was a 5-4 decision with Kennedy as the swing
What movie started the process of citizens United and why? Who represented the creators.
Hilary: the movie
Bloaze and bossy made this documentary and wanted to release it but were denied by the FEC because it was made with corporate money and considered a political ad.
They were represented by Jim Bopp
What justice dissented form the ruling and retired from the Supreme Court and why
David Souter
Liberty and equalit have to balance. Cannot hand the rich a megaphone and drown out the voices of the less rich. This would allow the super pacs to to have unlimited funds and buy democracy.
Left because his scathing dissent would have looked bad for Roberts as he questions the integrity of the court. Practically forced to retire so the case would be re-heard and the dissent not aired
What swayed justice Kennedy and Roberts in favor of the ruling
Malcolm Stewart- US solicitor general says the government could go as far as banning political ad books.
What was the first campaign era and how is it categorized
First era from 1788-1824
Legislators selected their state vote for president for many states
Limited federal government
Jeffersons coalition maintained presidential power
What was the experimental era and how is it categorized
The down the ballot era 1789-1812
the Collapse of federalism in the war of 1812
party factions begin to form
Low voter turnout because of who was allowed to vote
What is the second campaign era and how was it categorized
The second big campaign era 1828-1892
Mass mobilization with party’s organizing turnout the vote efforts
Changes in voting laws increase the electorate and allowed electioneering and entertainment and patronage
Two party system arises from from Martin Van buren idea that they had too many candidates on the same side. Need a party machine on the national level
What is the democratizing system era and how is it categorized
1820-1860
Federalist Party is broken up
Two party system because really strong
Slavery becomes the dominant political issue
What is the third campaign era and how is it categorized
Is progressive era from 1896-1948
Reforms: popular elections of senators Women suffrage Australian ballot (secret ballot) No vote reward system, Civil service reforms (no jobs for backing) Primaries became a things
Decrease in voter turnout
Increase in technology makes campaigning easier
What is the early-mid 20th century era and how is it categorized
Primaries strengthen the incumbent advantages
-parties could no longer push out a candidate who had been around for too long becomes the people choice
Panic of 1893 (Grover Cleveland and democrats are blamed for having too many seats) large party realignment
Vote is in the hands of the people
What is the fourth campaign era and what categorizes it
Campaign era form 1952-present
Candidate centered campaigns
elevated role of fundraising
Power belongs to individual candidates over party
Political message changes to social issues and political message is altered
Rise of television and televised debates
Changes geographic unit for targeting and measuring the effects of campaigns
Swing state
States where outcomes of presidential elections are difficult to predict because voters swing back and forth from election to election
-sometimes called purple states since they have a near equal number of red and blue voters
Nascent ambition. What supports and suppresses it
The potential interest in office seeking that precedes the actual decision to enter a contest. What drives people to run for office initially.
Support: political upbringing and aware parents
Suppress: being a minority, black, or female
What is Progressive ambition and what supports and suppresses it
Ambition for political office and moving up the political ladder
Supports: political upbringing/aware parents
Suppresses: being a minority race, being female,
Descriptive representation
Idea that representation is better when representatives reflect the gender/race of their constituents
Incumbency advantage
The advantage an incumbent has when running for re-election
Includes: name recognition, work history, access to campaign financing and government resources, potentially pre-earned trust
Motivated reasoning
An emotion-based decision making process.
People like and listen to things they agree with and support people based off the emotions they have concerning the opposite side
What affects voter turnout
Timing and dates of elections
Higher turnout for midterms when there is a high profile position like governor low turnout for things like school board
Too many separate voting days is confusing
Lack of primary uniformity influence other election turnouts- showing chances of favored candidate
Tuesday is a hard day for people to get to the polls
What is one side effect of low voter turnout
Gives organized groups the power to make then decisions for a lot of people
