Political Science Chapter 2 Flashcards
When individuals or groups try to influence or escape the influence of others
Political Behavior
Political orientation is solidified during early adulthood
Impressionable Years Hypothesis
Political attitudes become less likely to change as individuals become older
Increasing Persistence Hypothesis
Political attitudes of individuals remain flexible regardless of age
Life-Long Open Hypothesis
Sociological Factors are short/long term influences on political behavior
Long term
3 Sources of Long Term Influence on Political Behavior
Parents, Teachers, Peers
Psychological factors are short/long term influences on political behavior
Short term
2 Short term influences on political behavior
Media, Election Issues
3 Current issues
Abortion, Gun Control, Economy
Average Voter Profile
Older, White, Female, Higher Education, Higher Income, Married
Average Non-Voter Profile
Younger, Non-white, Male, Lower Education, Lower Income, Single
Average Democrat Voter Profile
Younger, Female, Lower Education, Lower Income, Jews & Catholics, Minority, Urban/Coasts
Average Republican Voter Profile
Older, Male, Higher Education, Higher Income, Protestant, White, Rural/Midwest
Suffrage/Franchise
The right to vote
Original Constitutional Voting Rights (1789):
White, Male, 21+, Property Owner (Tax Payer), Be Protestant
No race requirements in voting
15th Amendment
No gender requirements in voting
19th Amendment
No Poll Tax requirements in voting
23rd Amendment
No Literacy Test for Voting
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Minimum voting age 18
26th Amendment
Washington D.C. Residents have electoral votes in presidential elections, but still no representation in HoR or Senate
24th Amendment
Who sets voting laws/requirements?
States
All people who are eligible to vote
Electorate
When are elections held?
The Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even numbered years
How many seats are in the House of Representatives?
435; each state gets so many depending on population
How many HoR seats are up for election every 2 years?
All seats are elected every 2 years
How many seats in the Senate does each state get?
2 per state
How many seats of the Senate are up for re-election every 2 years?
1/3 of the Senate every 2 years
What do we vote for in a General Election?
House of Representatives, Senate, State Elections
When are Presidential Elections held?
Every 4 years
What does a candidate need to win a Presidential Election?
Electoral College: 435 HoR + 100 Senators + 3 DC = 538/9 = 269
270 To Win
3 Universal Voting Requirements
Citizenship
Residency
Age
Other Voting Requirements
Registration
ID
Mental Competency
Convicts
Dishonorably Discharged
Feeling that your vote/opinion matters in an election
Political Efficacy
The single most significant and lasting predictor of how a person will vote
Party Identification
Voting for candidates of more than one party
Split-Ticket Voting
People with no party affiliation; a growing group
Independents
Voting all for one party
Straight-ticket Voting
The process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions
Political Socialization
Loyalty to a particular party
Party Identification
Time zone fallout
Polls in states in Est. and Central Time zones close before states in mountain and pacific time zones
The main reason non-voters do not vote
Lack of Interest
The farther down an office is on the ballot, the less likely people will vote for it
Ballot fatigue
