Test 2 Flashcards
1
Q
What do politician parties do?
A
- Organize to win
- Run government
- Develop policy
2
Q
What are factions?
A
- Groups with common interests
- Predate parties
- Today they are blocs in a political party
3
Q
Functions of parties
A
- Recruit candidates
- Voter registration; recruit poll workers; campaign; raise turnouts
- Alternative policies
- Run government
- “Out party”; organized opposition (the party that is currently out of power)
4
Q
7 periods of political party system
A
- 1789-1816 (parties form)
- 1816-1828 (1 party)
- 1828-1860 (Jacksonian democracy)
- 1860-1896 (civil war; reconstruction; gilded age)
- 1896-1932 (republican rule; progressive period)
- 1932-1968 (democratic rule; New Deal; Great Society)
- 1968-present (divided government)
5
Q
What was the first partisan divide? When did it take place?
A
Federalists and anti-federalists, from 1789 through 1816
6
Q
What document did the federalists support? The anti-federalists?
A
The Constitution; the Articles
7
Q
How did Washington govern?
A
Neutrally
8
Q
What did Washington address in his farewell speech?
A
The spirit of party, or the idea that people would follow their party blindly and possibly tear the country apart.
9
Q
Who was the 2nd president?
A
John Adams
10
Q
What system did the federalists favor?
A
- Strong national government
- Merchants
- Planters
11
Q
Who won the presidency in 1800? What party were they?
A
Jefferson, associates with the Jeffersonian Republicans
12
Q
What did the Jeffersonians favor?
A
- Limited government
- Farmers
- Artisans
13
Q
Who long did Jefferson serve? Madison?
A
Both served 8 years
14
Q
When was the Era of Good Feelings? What defined it?
A
1816-1824; one-party rule
15
Q
What happened at the Hartford convention? What was the result?
A
The federalists were discredited; as a result the party collapsed after the 1816 election
16
Q
What was the nation like under Monroe? What was the result?
A
There was little opposition; this result in the monicker “The Era of Good Feelings”
17
Q
When did the anti-federalists split?
A
1824
18
Q
What was Adams’s wing called? Jackson’s wing?
A
- Adams’s: National Republicans
* Jackson’s: Democrats
19
Q
When was the Democrats and Whigs Era? What defined it?
A
1828-1860; two-party rule
20
Q
When did Jackson win the plurality?
A
1828
21
Q
Who did Henry lose to? What did he allege as a result?
A
Adams; he alleged a “corrupt bargain”
22
Q
What was Jackson’s breakdown of the 1828 election?
A
Jackson won 56% of the popular vote and 68% of the electoral college vote
23
Q
What political party emerged in 1828? What defined it?
A
The Democratic Party emerged. It was “the party of the common man” and was all about personal liberty, but did not include slaves.
24
Q
What was Adams wing called? When was it formed?
A
The Whig Party; 1832
25
What was the whig’s record like?
They’ve won twice
26
When was the era of the Civil War Crisis? What defined it?
1860-1865; a nation divided
27
What were the political parties of the Civil War era?
The North Whigs (also known as Antislavery Democrats; Freesoil Party; No Nothing) and the Republican Party
28
What act was formed in the civil war era?
Kansas and Nebraska
29
Who was elected in 1860? What was the result?
Lincoln; seven states seceded
30
What caused the Civil War?
Saving the Union, and then to end slavery
31
When was the era of the Reconstruction and the Gilded Age? What defined it?
1865-1869; two-party rule
32
What happened with the Democratic Party during the reconstruction/gilded age?
The party began to re-emerge.
33
What happened to Southern politics after 1876?
It was dominated by Democrats
34
What did republicans favor?
A Protestant school curriculum and prohibition
35
Who did Catholics align with in 1880?
The Democrats
36
When was the era of republic ascendancy? What defined it?
1896-1932, one-party dominance.
37
Who ran on a populist agenda in 1896? What was the result?
Bryan; urban workers were alarmed
38
Why were urban workers alarmed by Bryan?
They feared that he favored inflation
39
Who won the election in 1896? What did this mark the beginning of?
McKinley; the Republican period
40
What did Teddy Roosevelt believe in?
1. Reforms
| 2. Trust busting
41
Who was Wilson? What did he favor?
He was a democrat who favored broader roles in the economy
42
What were the political aspects of the Great Depression?
1. Party change
| 2. Size + scope of the government change
43
When was the Democratic ascendancy? What defined it?
1932-1968; one-party dominance
44
What was one of Hoover’s weaknesses as a president?
He was slow to combat the depression.
45
Who won the 1932 election? On what grounds?
FDR; promising help for the depression
46
What were some major changes of FDR?
* The law became larger and more governmental
| * A more dominantly democratic government
47
How long did Eisenhower serve?
Two terms
48
What marked the end of the Democratic dominance?
“Great Society” and the Vietnam War
49
When was the era of divided government? What defines it?
1968-present; two-party rule
50
Who won the election in 1968?
Nixon
51
How was the ticket split in 1968?
Republicans won the presidency while Democrats won the congress
52
What was the change in the 1990’s?
Clinton became president in 1992, but there was a republican congress in 1994
53
What was the change in 2001?
Republicans had the presidency while the Democrats had the senate
54
What was the state of the government in 2007?
Democrats regained both houses
55
What are recent voting shifts like?
More democratic, but polls show that the country remained divided.
56
Who are the Democrats core constituents?
1. Poor and middle class
2. Union members
3. Post-grads
4. Most Jewish persons
5. 90%+ of African Americans
6. 60%+ of Latinos
7. 50%+ of women
57
Who are the republicans core constituents?
1. Middle and upper class
2. College grads
3. White evangelicals
4. Conservative Catholics
5. Orthodox Jewish people
6. Cuban Americans
7. 60%+ of men
58
What are the economic philosophies of the Democrats?
1. Progressive taxes
2. Protectionist policies
3. Economic welfare
4. Greater access to or universal healthcare
5. Social welfare spending
59
What are the economic philosophies of the Republicans?
1. Lower taxes
2. Open markets or free trade
3. Limited regulation
4. Greater choice in healthcare
5. Support private charities
60
Do all members of a party always agree on every issue?
No
61
What are the three components of political parties?
1. Party-in-the-electorate
2. Party organization
3. Party-in-Government
62
What defines party-in-electorate?
* People who identify with a party
| * May not campaign or vote straight ticket
63
What is party organization like?
Rather complex
64
How often does the national convention meet? What is decided?
Every 4 years; decides the party platform and what legislation to enact if needed
65
What are delegates like at a national convention?
More partisan
66
Who is chosen at the national convention? What is their function?
A national chairperson is ratified by the presidential nominee’s choice. They are meant to be the spokesmen for the party.
67
How uniform is party organization of the state’s?
Not at all. Each have their own rules.
68
Is there a typical state government structure?
No
69
What do all state parties have?
1. Chair person
2. State committee
3. Local parties
70
What does the state central committee oversee? What does it carry out?
It oversees:
1. Congressional districts
2. Legislative districts
3. Counties
Carries out state legislation
71
What makes up parties at the local level?
* District leaders
* Precinct and ward captains
* Local party workers
* County committees and chair persons
72
What has recently ended in local politics?
Machine politics
73
What is the job of the local party?
Recruit new members
74
What is necessary for local party political forerunners?
Political experience.
75
What makes up the party-in-government?
The elected and appointed officials that identify with a party
76
What results from ticket splitting?
Party powers being limited and aggressive checks and balances
77
Is party unity always strong?
No
78
What does redistributing allow for?
Party safe seats.
79
Do politicians always vote with their party?
No, but they tend to
80
What are the four reasons for the two party system?
1. Historical foundations
2. Political socialization and practical reasons
3. Winner-take-all system
4. Federal and state laws
81
What are the historical foundations of the two party system?
* Federalists and anti-federalists
* Divide over slavery
* New Deal period division
82
How do political socialization and practical reasons reinforce the two party systems?
Schools and families promote party identification, and if you want social changes to be made you must work within the two parties.
83
What defines the US as a winner-take-all system?
Majority/plurality rules, and in 48 states the plurality winner gets ALL of the electoral college votes
84
How do the federal and state laws reinforce the US’s two party system?
State and federal laws limit 3rd parties, forcing them to gather signatures. Committees of the government are also divided between two parties.
85
Have third parties done well in history?
A few candidates have done well.
86
Who was the first modern candidate to run on a 3rd party? How much of the vote did he win? Who beat him?
Teddy Roosevelt won 27.4% of the vote, which split the Republican boys and allowed Wilson to win.
87
Who were the major candidates of the Progressive Party? What years?
Roger La Follette in 1924, and George Wallace in 1968
88
Who beat Follette?
Coolidge
89
Who was the major candidate of the Independent Party? What year?
Ross Perot in 1992
90
What change did the Independent Party make in 1996?
It became the reform party.
91
What does the Libertarian Party advocate on?
Extremely limited government
92
What is the reform party’s ideology?
They don’t have one; they merely oppose budget deficits
93
What platform does the Green Party run on?
Globalization is opposed, pro-environmentalism, and living wages
94
What part of the Constitution outlines presidential qualifications?
Article II, Sect. I
95
What are the qualifications to become president?
* 35 years old
* Resident for 14 years
* Natural born citizen
96
What is a possible exception to presidential qualifications?
U.S. children born abroad; the issue is not yet settled.
97
What is compensation like for the president?
$400,000/year
98
What is compensation like for the Vice President?
$230,700/year
99
What were 60% of presidents before they became president?
Lawyers
100
What was Truman before he became president?
Haberdasher, judge, former senator, sitting VP
101
What was Carter’s job before president?
Peanut farmer, nuclear engineer, governor
102
What was Reagan before he was president?
Former CA governor, actor, president of Screen Actors Guild
103
What was Obama before president?
Senator, community organizer,
| former Illinois State Senator, and a sitting U.S. Senator.
104
What was the average age of the president?
54
105
Who was the youngest elected president? What was his age?
JFK; 43
106
Who was the youngest president not elected? What was his age?
T. Roosevelt; 42
107
How old was Trump when he was elected?
70
108
What does the electoral college mean?
The vote is indirect, and the vote is attributed to presidential electors
109
How many times has the plurality lost the presidency?
5 times
110
What were the results of the 2000 election?
```
Gore = 48.4%
Bush = 47.9%
```
111
What were the results of the 2016 election?
```
Clinton = 48.2%
Trump = 46.1%
```
112
What was the result of the 1796 election?
Adams won over Jefferson
113
What year was the 12th amendment established? Who were the candidates, and what was the result of the election?
1800; Jefferson and Burr, who tied
114
Who did Hamilton support?
Jefferson
115
What did the 12th amendment establish?
Electors receive separate ballots for president and Vice President
116
How many years may the president serve?
4 years
117
What year was the 22nd amendment passed? What did it result in?
Passed in 1951, it states that the limit for presidents is two four year terms
118
What happens during the lame duck period?
Official’s influence is diminished
119
What are the 5 roles of the president?
1. Head of state
2. Chief executive
3. Commander-in-chief
4. Chief diplomat
5. Chief legislator
120
Who acts as a head of state?
Monarchs, or the president in parliamentary systems
121
What kind of role is the head of state?
A ceremonial role
122
What is the president the head of aside from the state?
The government
123
Being the head of the government makes you what?
The chief of state
124
What is a disadvantage of the role of head of state? What is the advantage?
It is time consuming, but it is an opportunity to campaign
125
What does the role of chief executive entail?
* Enforce act of Congress, federal court decisions and treaties
* Heads federal bureaucracy (~2.7 million workers)
* Nominally oversees bureaucracy
* Appoints: cabinet and agency heads; federal judges; about 2,000 other job
* Grants reprieves and pardons
126
What part of the constitution outlines the role of the commander-in-chief?
Article II, section 2
127
What does the commander-in-chief handle?
* Civilian control
| * War Powers Act
128
Who is the main force of civilian control?
The US military
129
Who declares war?
Congress
130
Who engages the forces?
The president
131
How has the War Powers Act been interpreted?
Many presidents have questioned it.
132
What does the role of chief diplomat entail?
* The president can make treaties with foreign governments as long as he or she receives the advice and consent of the Senate.
* Nominate ambassadors
* Recognize foreign governments
* Create executive agreement
133
What governments have the presidents recognized?
* The Soviet Union (1933)
| * China (1978)
134
Why would a president create an executive agreement? What is the con of this?
To avoid senate ratification process; they are not binding, and the next president can overturn them.
135
Who can modify treaties?
The senate
136
Which president signed the Treaty of Versailles? What year?
Wilson signed it in 1919
137
When was the ABM (anti-ballistic missile) treaty signed?
1972
138
When were the Panama Canal treaties signed?
1977
139
When was the START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) treaty signed?
1991
140
What is the main duty of the president as chief legislator?
To give the state of the union address
141
What equates to being the head of the government?
Being the chief executive and the chief legislator
142
Is congress required to pass president’s legislation?
No
143
What 4 things of may a president do when it comes to a bill?
1. Sign the bill into law
2. Not sign bill (bill will become law if Congress is still in session 10 days later)
3. Reject bill with a veto message
4. Not sign the bill (bill will fail if Congress adjourns within ten working days (referred to as a pocket veto))
144
How can a vetoed bill be revived?
2/3 of a roll call vote
145
How many vetoes have been overridden by Congress?
~7%
146
Who pronounced 2/3rds of all vetoes?
Cleveland, FDR, Truman, Eisenhower
147
Who was briefly granted a line-item veto? How long did it last?
Clinton, about 2 years before it was declared unconstitutional
148
What is a presidential signing statement?
A statement from the president about how a bill to gain advantage, disagree, or to describe how the bill is to be executed
149
What was George W. Bush accused of using presidential signing statements to do?
Expand his power
150
What are the powers of the presidency that are guaranteed by article II of the constitution called?
Constitutional powers
151
What are powers that have been created for the presidency through Congressional legislation called?
Statutory powers
152
What is the combination of constitutional powers and statutory powers called?
Expressed powers
153
What are inherent powers?
Powers named through a broad constitutional statement
154
What does being a party chief entail?
* Retain some patronage
* Raise campaign $
* Support party members
155
What act enacted in 1883 limited the president’s patronage?
Civil Service
156
What does being a persuader entail?
Helping ensure policy implementation.
157
What happens when public approval of the president is high?
Legislation is passed
158
What happens when public approval is ebbed?
Legislation is stalled
159
What happens when public approval of a bill is strong?
It goes around congress
160
What special powers and privileges are afforded to the president?
* Emergency powers
* Executive orders
* Recess appointments
* Executive privilege
161
What are emergency powers?
Powers that a president may exercise during a time of national crisis
162
When were emergency powers first described?
U.S. v. Curtiss Wright
163
What are some examples of presidents using emergency powers?
* Lincoln suspending habeas corpus
| * FDR declaring an unlimited national emergency
164
What case limited emergency powers?
Youngstown Sheet and Tube v. Sawyer
165
How powerful are executive orders?
They have the force of law
166
What do executive orders do?
1. Enforce statutes
2. Enforce constitutions or treaties
3. Establish administrative rules
167
What is the name of the publication that puts out executive orders, rules, and regulations?
The Federa Register
168
What is a recess appointment? What is an example?
It fills a vacancy while congress is in recess: Ex. The appointment of John Bolton
169
What does executive privilege equate to?
Withholding information
170
What concerns are there when executive privilege is envoked?
National Security concerns
171
What are some examples of limits to executive privilege?
* White house tapes could not be covered
* President’s aides and secret service cannot be kept from testifying
* Federal judge claims
172
What are the White House tapes?
Tapes turned over in U.S. v. Nixon
173
Who impeaches the president? Who removes them?
The house impeaches; the senate removes
174
How many presidents have impeaches? Resigned?
* Impeached = 2
| * Resigned = 1
175
What act did Johnson veto? What was the result?
He attempted to veto the Tenure Of Office Act, resulting in him being one vote short of being removed.
176
Who voted on Nixon’s possible impeachment?
The house judiciary committee
177
When did Nixon resign? What was significant about this?
He resigned 8-9-74; this is significant because he was the only president to resign.
178
When was Clinton impeached? Why wasn’t he removed?
The house impeached him in 1998; however, the senate acquitted him
179
How many employees were in the White House in 1933? How many today?
37; ~600
180
What kind of White House staff members are there?
Direct staff members and borrowed staff members
181
Who coined the term “the cabinet”?
George Washington
182
What were the positions of the original cabinet? Who held them?
1. Secretary of State (Jefferson)
2. Secretary of the Treasury (Hamilton)
3. Secretary of War (Knox)
4. Attorney General (Randolph)
183
Who makes up the kitchen cabinet? Who was the first president to coin this?
Informal advisers; coined by Jackson
184
Why is it dangerous to rely on your cabinet?
Members often have their own interests at heart
185
What is the executive office of the president generally called? What is it’s purpose?
* The EOP
| * Coordinate federal bureaucracy
186
Who makes up the EOP?
1. White House office
2. Office of Management and Budget
3. National Security Council
4. Office of the Vice President
187
Who makes up the White House office?
1. Key people and policy advisors
2. The chief of staff
3. Those closest to the president
188
What is the OMB? When was it founded?
The office of management and budget, founded by Nixon in 1970
189
What was the OMB’s original title? When was it created?
Bureau of the budget; founded in 1921
190
What does the OMB director have influence over?
The federal budget
191
What positions make up the National Security Council? Who does it include?
```
•Military advisers and foreign affairs specialists make up NSC
•Made up of:
1. The president
2. The Vice President
3. The secretary of defense
4. The Secretary of State
5. The national security adviser
```
192
What is the Vice President’s main job? How do they do this?
Preside over the senate by:
1. Un-tying votes
2. Forcing the senate to adopt their rules
193
What is the name of the role that the Vice President plays as a possible interim President?
President pro tempore
194
What is important about the Vice President in terms of how the voters react?
VP is often meant to be someone who will “balance the ticket”, therefore strengthening it
195
Is the role of the Vice President demanding?
Not usually
196
What differences should the president have the the Vice President?
Coming from different regions and having a different political stance
197
Who decided the VP’s tasks?
The president
198
Which Vice President pursued environmental issues during his term?
Gore
199
Which Vice President was a key adviser on defense issues?
Cheney
200
When is the Vice President most important?
When the president is incapable
201
Who was the first of 8 VP’s to assume the presidency? For what reason?
Tyler assumes the office after the death of President harrison
202
Has the US ever gone without a Vice President?
Yes; there have been 16 different periods when we’ve done so
203
Which part of the constitution referring to the pacts between the president and Vice President was purposefully left ambiguous?
Article II, section I
204
Which presidents determined the meaning of presidential incapacity?
Nixon and Johnson
205
When was the 25th amendment formed, and what did it state?
Formed in 1967, it stated the boundaries of what made a president disabled and also outline procedure for filling presidential and Vice Presidential vacancies
206
Which presidents were disabled during surgeries?
Reagan and GW Bush
207
What can the president do to fulfill a VP vacancy?
Make a nomination
208
When did Congress pass the Succession Act? Whose death was tied to it?
1947; two years after the death of FDR.
209
What is the line of succession?
1. VP
2. Speaker of the House
3. President pro tempore
4. Secretary of State
5. Secretary of treasury
6. Secretary of defense
7. Attorney General
8-18. Remaining cabinet secretaries
210
Who is the most significant branch in foreign policy? Why?
The executive branch; it has a significant role in the development of foreign policy
211
What does the president do in terms of foreign policy?
1. Gathers info about situations abroad
2. Negotiates w international organizations
3. Staffs U.S. embassies
212
Who formulated military policy? When?
The defense department in 1947.
213
Which defense departments were consolidated?
The war and navy departments
214
[Important] Who provides foreign affair advice?
Joint chiefs of staff
215
Who collects and analyzes foreign affair data? As of what year?
The CIA and NSC, as of 1947
216
When was the department of homeland security founded? What was the significance of this?
2002; this was the largest reorganization since 1947
217
What is included in the department of homeland security?
1. The transportation security administration
2. The coast guard
3. Customs + border protection
4. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management)
218
Who is the second most powerful branch when it comes to foreign policy? Why and as of when?
Congress; in 1973 they were able to reassert control over military events
219
What are some recent foreign policy issues/conflicts?
1. 9/11
2. War in Iraq
3. Guantanamo Bay
220
What was 9/11’s main political effect?
The president’s role in foreign policy had changes
221
What did the Bush doctrine do?
Addressed other threats preemptively; “right of self defense by acting preemptively against such terrorists”
222
Describe a brief timeline of the Iraq war
1. Gulf War (1991)
2. Operation Desert Fox (1998)
3. Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003)
4. Invasion proves costly, causing a longer war
5. Fighting diminishes (2011)
6. Sporadic fighting remains
7. Remaining combat troops are removed in December of 2011
223
What actions did Obama take against Guantanamo Bay?
1. Suspended military commissions within his first 120 days
| 2. Closed the facility within a year
224
What were the challenges of Guantanamo Bay?
1. Relocating detainees
| 2. Maintaining intelligence gathering
225
What are today’s foreign policy issues/conflicts?
* Iraq, Afghanistan
* Conflict in Georgia (US/Russia relations)
* Annexation of Crimea and fighting in Eastern Europe (US/Russia relations)
* Trade w China despite military buildup
* North Korea
* Iran nuclear program (potential weapons)
* Achieving international peace and security is proving to be challenging
226
Why is North Korea posing such a threat?
1. Long range missiles
2. Nuclear weapons
3. The death of Kim Jong II
