PLS 201-2 Flashcards
Capricious
Characterized by a sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action.
Public Opinion
What the public thinks about a particular issue or set of issues at any given point in time.
Public Opinion Poll
Interviews or surveys with a sample of citizens that are used to estimate the feelings and beliefs of the entire population.
Straw Poll
A vote with nonbonding results.
- test vote
Random Selection
A method of selection that gives each potential voter or adult the same chance of being selecting.
Types of Polls
1) Tracking Polls
- Follow candidates
2) Exit Polls
- 1st indication of how the election is going
3) Deliberate Polls
- AKA focus group: bring people that you want to survey
(Show a commercial and survey people)
Bandwagon Effect
When voters rally to the perceived leading candidate.
Underdog Effect
When voters rally to the perceived trailing candidate.
QUESTION:
What is the minimum number for a nation wide survey?
1200 people
Push Polling
Political campaign technique in which an individual or organization attempts to influence the view of the respondents under the fuse of conducting a poll.
Characterizations of The Public
1) Mass Public: 85% people
2) Attentive Public: 15% people
3) Opinion Makers: > 1%
- influence other peoples opinions
Types of Interest Groups
1) Public: Green Peace, ACLU, Sierra Club
- change policy that affects everyone
2)Private: NOW, NRA, NAACP, AARP of Retired People
( American Association)
- policies that affect their members
3)Economic: Unions/Industries
-Teamsters, VAW, VPW
Lobbying
Activities of interest groups that seek to influence policy property.
Lobbying Techniques
1) Contribution
2) Testifying
3) Grass root movement
4) Protesting
5) Endorsement
6) Gift Trips
Political Action Committees (PAC)s
A federally registered committee that represents an interest group in the political process through campaign donations.
Hard Money
Legal limits on money given directly to a candidate for an election by an individual.
INFORMATION
The federal hard money limit for the 2016 election is
$ 2700/ candidate per election.
- Can give twice/ nomination and election.
3 Weaknesses of Campaign Laws
1) Soft Money
2) Bundling
3) Advocacy Ads.
Soft Money
Any money that circumvents legar restriction on campaign donations funds that are funneled through political parties.
Advocacy Ads
Ads not funded by the candidate or political party.
Super PAC
A PAC that does not have any contribution or expenditure limits but can not coordinate directly with candidates or political parties.
527 Groups
Tax-exempt groups created to raise money for political activities.
Issue Network
Term used to describe the informal and temporary set of relationships that exists among interest groups that have a common goal.
Grassroots Lobbying
A form of pressure group activity to involve those people at the bottom level of the political system.
Astrostorfing
An attempt by interest groups to influence public policy in the guise of a grassroots movement.
Revolving Door
Term used to describe when a former governmental official leaves his job and becomes a lobbyists.
INTEREST GROUPS: Advantages
1) Promotes interest
2) Provide Education
INTEREST GROUPS: Disadvantages
1) Undue Influence
2) Pressure for voluntary contributions
Business Cycle
Fluctuations between expansion and recession which is art of modern capitalist economies.
2 Types of State Involvement in The Economy
1) Laissez-faire (hands off)
2) Interventionist State
What type does the U.S. economy policy have?
Mixed Policy
Economic Condition
1) Inflation: Too hot
- A rise in the general price levels of the economy.
2) Economic Stability: Just right
- There is economy growth, raising national income, high employment and steadiness in the general level of prices.
3) Recession: Too cold
- Short term decline that occurs as investment sags, production falls off, and unemployment increases.
2 Types of Governmental Economic Policy
1) Fiscal Policy
2) Monetary Policy
Fiscal Policy
Federal Government policies on taxes, spending and debt management.
- Congress and the President control Fiscal Policy.
3 Types of Taxes
1) Progressive- The more money you make, the higher % you pay.
2) Regressive- The more money you make, the lower the % you pay.
3) Flat- Everybody pays the same %
Constitutional
16 th
Amendment
Authorizes Congress to Collect Income Tax
What is the average american pay for all taxes?
30-35 % fed and state taxes
Budget Terms
1) Deficit- Spend more money than what you have (of a specific year)
2) Surplus- have money left over; Profit
3) Balance budget- $0 balance
4) Debt- All deficits (summations of years deficits)
U.S. National Debt
$18.6 Trillion
Federal Budget
- Revenue: $2.9 Trillion
- Expenditures: $3.8 Trillion
- Deficit: $1 Trillion
Monetary Policy
Federal Government policy regulating the nation’s money supply and interest rates.
The Federal Reserve System
Independent agency created in 1913 to regulate monetary policies. Controlled by the Federal Reserve Board(aka “Fed”)
- made of 7 members
- each member serves for 14 yrs
- members are nominated by te President and confirmed with simple majority by Congress
- Led by chairman appointed for 4 yrs
3 methods the “Fed” controls monetary policies
chose two
1) Reserve Requirements: regulate banks, how much money they can keep, and how much money they can lend out.
2) Discount Rate: When the banks borrow money from the fed.
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Measures inflation
-Inflation rate for 2014 was 1.5%
Outsourcing
Outsourcing to a different nation in order to take advantages of lower labor costs.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Total market value of all final goods and services produced in a country in a given year.
- GDP for the U.S. in 2013 was $16.9 Trillion
Dow Jones Industrial Average
Index of the total weighted value of 30 blue chip stocks.
How many points is the Dow Jones worth?
18,000 points
Individual Income Taxes
Where the gov. gets most of its money
-it goes towards individuals
What are the two basic types of welfare?
1) Social Insurance- Social Security, Medicare, Unemployment, Disability, etc.
- Medicare- health coverage for ppl 65+
2) Public Assistance
Federal Insurance Contribution Aact ( FIA tax 2013)
taxes to pay for social security and ,Medicare that assessed at 7.65% for only the first 17700 of gross wages
Retirement Plans
1) Individual Retirement Act (IRA)
2) 401 (k)
Public Assistance
- Women, infants, and children assistance (WIC)
- Medicare- health coverage for the poor
- Food stamps/ supplement nutrition assistance and programs
Means-Tested
program that establishes eligibility based on a certain level
Poverty Rate
levels defining poverty established by the department of health and Human services. In 2015 the poverty level is $24,250 for a family of 4.
- 15% American people
- 18% of the American Children,
Minimun Wage
- Federal Min Wage $7.25
- CA min wage is 9/ hr effective on July 1, 2014 ($10 on Jan 1, 2016)
