Political Study Guide Flashcards
A group of people who share point of view about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs – known as lobbies
Interest groups
Representatives of an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials to influence their policymaking
Lobbyist
Election where voters choose a party’s candidates for the general election.
Primary elections
How you learn about the beliefs and positions on election issues, A series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues, and the political beliefs of a party that a candidate agrees to pursue if elected.
Party platforms
These citizens have a high level of education, this is a citizen’s responsibility, convicted felons cannot do this in the USA, and absentee ballots can be used by citizens who will be away from their __________ precinct for any election.
Voters in the United States, voting
An election where voters choose a party’s candidates for the general election, Florida has closed _____________, meaning only registered party members can vote, and these are held every 4 years to determine who will be the party candidates in the general (presidential) election.
Primary Elections
Held every 4 years prior to the presidential election, each state selects their delegates, where the party develops its platform of believes – lots of speeches, meetings, etc., political parties kick off the presidential campaign and rallies party members across the country for the work ahead, and like a pep-rally for political parties, but includes lots of work to develop a platform.
National conventions
The number of delegates (____________)for each state is determined by what?
The state’s population; electoral college votes
This election is won by the candidate who receives the most electoral votes, The number of delegates equals the number of representatives that the state has in the house, +2 which is the number of senators each state has in the Senate, and the candidate must reach 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
How the president elected
Relevant past experience – meaning what has this candidate done in the past that qualifies him/her for the job, what is the voting record of the candidate – do you agree with the way she/he voted on the issues that are important to you?, And what is the party platform of the candidate – do you identify with the party platform, beliefs
What are good indicators of whether you should vote for a certain candidate?
This plays a key role in democracy, sometimes information is leaked to the public to test the public reaction to an idea, and is often influenced by media.
Public opinion – what are the political opinions of most citizens?
The activities of lobbyist can appear of vote-buying and influence- peddling, they influence government by preparing their own drafts of bills to be presented to the Congress by member of Congress, critics are concerned that contribution from those lobbyists/interest groups corrupt government officials, influence government by lobbying government officials, and the primary goal is to influence public policy.
Lobbyist/interest groups
Print media – newspaper, magazines, newsletters, books, electronic media – the Internet, television, and radio, media has an important influence on politics and government and also helps set the public agenda (the interest and needs of the public).
Types of media
Written untruths that are harmful to someone’s reputation.
Libel
Spoken untruths that are harmful to someone’s reputation.
Slander
