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Political Science > Test 3 > Flashcards

Test 3 Flashcards

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1
Q

Political party

A

A private organization that seeks to win elections and control government power

Although political parties are very powerful, they are not mentioned in the Constitution

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2
Q

Party organization

A

Recruits candidates for office and provides resources for campaigns

Mobilizes voters

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3
Q

Officeholders elected or appointed in the name of the party

A

Responds to policy views of the public

Responds to the policy views of the party organization

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4
Q

Citizens who identify with the party

A

Provides workers to the party organization

Elects government officials

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5
Q

Politics in the U.S. is dominated by…

A

Two political parties

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6
Q

____ vie to control the House, the Senate, and the Presidency

A

Republicans & Democrats

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7
Q

The U.S. has ____

A

Single-member districts

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8
Q

Single-member districts

A

Favor the development of a two-party system

The one candidate with the most vote wins

The system favors the two largest parties. No one wants to “waste their vote” on smaller parties

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9
Q

The E.U.

A

Has proportional representation with multiple members per district

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10
Q

Proportional representation with multiple members per district

A

Voters generally vote by party. The parties receive seats in proportion to the votes.

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11
Q

Violence of faction

A

Interest groups

Madison warned against it

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12
Q

Faction

A

“The downfall of governments based on the people,” leading to “mortal diseases” such as “instability, injustice and confusion”

BUT you can’t outlaw faction without destroying liberty

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13
Q

Madisons opinion of factions

A

Madison believed that, in a large country, the many different factions will balance each other

Madison also believed that the election process would select representatives who are “wiser and more dedicated to the common good than the average citizen”

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14
Q

George Washington

A

Also condemned factions in his farewell speech

Yet Washington’s own Cabinet broke into the first two political parties

Federalists, Democratic-Republicans

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15
Q

Federalists

A

Led by Alexander hamilton, secretary of the treasury

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16
Q

Democratic-Republicans

A

Led by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State

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17
Q

Washington’s Cabinet - primary controversy

A

Whether the federal government had power to create a national bank

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18
Q

Modern Democratic Party

A

Founded in 1828

Federalist Party died out, and the Democratic-Republican Party split

Led by Andrew Jackson

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19
Q

Splitting of the Democratic-Republican Party

A

The opposing party, the Whigs, died out after about 20 years

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20
Q

Andrew Jackson

A

War hero

Was seen as a “man of the people”

The Tammany Society endorsed Jackson in exchange for influence over federal jobs (more later)

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21
Q

Republican Party

A

Emerged in the 1850s from the Abolitionist (anti-slavery) movement

The Republican-controlled Congress passed the Reconstruction Amendments (13th-15th)

All of the 20+ black members of Congress before 1900 were Republican

Starting in the late 1800s, the Republican Party also pushed for women’s voting rights (opposed by the Democrats)

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22
Q

Abraham Lincoln

A

First Republican president

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23
Q

Between the Civil War and the Progressive Era (1870s-1900), ____ dominated elections

A

Political machines

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24
Q

Political machines

A

Tammany hall was a powerful “machine” based in New York

Tammany and other “machines” provided social services for many new immigrants in exchange for votes

Once the candidates were in power, they gave federal jobs and contracts back to Tammany Hall

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25
Q

Many of the Progressive Era reforms targeted the corruption of the “machines”

A

Direct primary elections gave the people a voice when selecting candidates within each party

Direct election of senators also gave the people a voice and diluted the power of political parties

Prohibition was, in part, an attack on the “saloon culture” of the machines

The female vote was also seen as “purer” and less corrupt

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26
Q

Teddy Roosevelt

A

Was a Republican President who went Third Party during the Progressive Era

TR felt that his successor in officer, William Taft, was not progressive enough

When the Republicans nominated Taft for reelection, TR created his own Progressive Bull Moose Party (1912)

While TR received more votes than Taft, he acted as a “spoiler,” sending a Democrat to the White House —> Woodrow Wilson

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27
Q

The Democrats dominated from ____

A

1930s-1970s, growing social welfare programs

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28
Q

Democrats 1930s-1970s

A

During the Great Depression, FDR’s “New Deal” gained popularity, especially for the poor and marginalized

Democrats became associated with welfare entitlement program (including Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society”)

Democrats also received credit for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was passed during Johnson’s presidency

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29
Q

Republicans 1980s and 1990s

A

They led a Conservative backlash

Led by President Ronald Reagan, Republicans argued that the federal government had become too big and too invasive

America was also reacting to the Communist threat against freedom and prosperity

Reagan and conservative Republicans believed “less government is more” (except when it came to military defense)

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30
Q

Today the balance of power

A

Continues to fluctuate between Democrats and Republicans

The federal government grew in size under both President G.W. Bush and President Obama

Within the Republican Party, there is a split between moderate / Establishment candidates and conservative / Tea Party candidates

The Democratic Party is more unified in its willingness to support progressive causes

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31
Q

Democratic Platform

A

Emphasizes the need for government intervention and “social justice”

Economic Security for Middle Class

Economic Fairness

Social Justice

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32
Q

Democratic Platform: Economic Security for Middle Class

A

Government protection and subsidies for workers, housing, education, health care

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33
Q

Democratic Platform: Economic Fairness

A

Higher taxes for wealthy, more regulation of Wall Street and corporations

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34
Q

Democratic Platform: Social Justice

A

Combat climate change, fix immigration, guarantee rights of minorities, women, LGBT

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35
Q

Republican Platform

A

Promotes less government intervention and “traditional values” (conservative)

Economy

Defense Security

Traditional Values

Nonetheless, it is politically difficult to cut entrenched subsidies and entitlement programs. Most Republicans don’t try

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36
Q

Republican Platform: Economy

A

Reduce taxation and regulation

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37
Q

Republican Platform: Defense Security

A

Strong military, secure borders

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38
Q

Republican Platform: Traditional Values

A

Importance of families, traditional marriage and sanctity of unborn life

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39
Q

GOP: freedom views

A

Freedom “from”

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40
Q

GOP: equality views

A

Equality “before the law”

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41
Q

Democrats: freedom views

A

Freedom “to”

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42
Q

Democrats: equality views

A

Equality of “opportunity”

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43
Q

Freedom “to”

A

Bigger government promotes important social goals

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44
Q

Equality of “opportunity”

A

Means the government actively promotes the rights of disadvantaged groups

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45
Q

Freedom “from”

A

Smaller government protects individual choice and responsibility

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46
Q

Equality “before the law”

A

Means the government protects all parties equally, including the unborn and those who hold traditional religious beliefs

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47
Q

In the U.S. _____ dominate

A

Two political parties

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48
Q

In the U.S., two political parties dominate

A

Party leaders can increase their power by limiting our choice of candidates

Activists during the Progressive Era fought to give voters control over the candidates for each party…Leading to primary elections

49
Q

Federal elections are a two-step process

A
  1. The Primary elections
  2. The General elections

The exact primary election process varies from party to party and from state to state

50
Q

Primary elections

A

Select the top nominee from each party

51
Q

General elections

A

The party nominees run against each other for the office

52
Q

Most primaries are ____

A

Closed, open, or mixed

53
Q

Closed primaries

A

You must be registered with a Party to vote in that Party’s primary

54
Q

Open primaries

A

You can choose a Party primary regardless of your affiliation

55
Q

Mixed primary

A

Registered voters must vote in their own Party primary, but unaffiliated voters can pick

56
Q

In each of these systems, you can only vote in ___ primary

A

One

57
Q

A few states have ____ primaries

A

Top two

58
Q

A few states have “top two” primaries

A

In a few states (including LA), all primary candidates run on the same ballot

In CA and WA, the top two candidates (regardless of Party) run in the general election

In LA, the majority candidate wins. If there is no majority candidate, the top two have a “runoff” election

59
Q

Top two system

A

Not allowed for Presidential primaries

60
Q

Louisiana is ____ for Presidential primaries

A

Closed

61
Q

Presidential primaries

A

Held on a state-by-state basis, and the results are aggregated

62
Q

2016 presidential primary

A

Clinton won the Democratic primary

Trump won the Republican primary

They ran against each other in the general election

63
Q

2016 Presidential race

A

Presidential primaries started in early 2016

General election was in Nov. 2016

64
Q

Presidential race

A

The earliest states get the most media attention

Super Tuesday

Some states have primary caucuses instead of elections

65
Q

Super Tuesday

A

The Tuesday in Feb./March where the greatest number of states vote

66
Q

The Louisiana presidential primaries took place on ____

A

March 5

67
Q

Traditionally, ____ have the first primaries

A

Iowa and New Hampshire

68
Q

Iowa has the ____

A

First primary caucus

69
Q

New Hampshire has the ____

A

First primary elections

70
Q

After the state primaries

A

Final party nominees are chosen at the Party National Convention

71
Q

Party National Conventions

A

These conventions take place in the summer before the Nov. election

Each state sends delegates to the conventions based on the rules of their Party

The delegates select the final party nominees

72
Q

RNC 2016

A

Cleveland, OH

July 18-21

73
Q

DNC

A

Philadelphia, PA

July 25-26

74
Q

After the primaries comes the ____

A

General election

75
Q

After the primaries comes the general election

A

The general election uses the electoral college system

76
Q

General election 2016

A

Tuesday, Nov. 8

Louisiana voters elected 6 members of the House (1 per district), 1 senator and the President

77
Q

Elections are very expensive

A

Over $6 Billion was spent during the last presidential election cycle (2016)

Members of Congress spend a significant amount of time fund-raising for re-election

78
Q

Average spent to win in the House

A

Over $1 Million

79
Q

Average spent to win in the Senate

A

Over $8 Million

80
Q

Decisions by elected officials can have a huge financial impact on individuals and businesses

A

Remember the government spends $4+ trillion per year

Regulation

Spending $6 billion for an election cycle is tiny compared to potential impact (the federal government spends many hundreds of times more every year!)

81
Q

Regulation

A

Can have an even greater impact than direct grants of money

  1. Makes things more expensive
  2. Stifles competition
82
Q

Federal Election Commission

A

FEC

Regulates campaign finance

83
Q

Source of funds

A

Candidates own money

Individual donors

National Party

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Super PACs

Public funds

84
Q

Candidate’s own money - Limits

A

Unlimited spending on own campaign

85
Q

Individual donors - Limits

A

$2.7K to candidate

$5K to PAC

86
Q

National Party - Limit

A

$5K to candidate

$5K to PAC

87
Q

Political Action Committees - Limit

A

$2.7K or $5K per candidate per election

88
Q

Super PACs - Limit

A

Unlimited “independent” spending; can accept unlimited contributions

89
Q

Public funds - Limit

A

$250 match per donor in primaries and $20M in general election; must accept spending limits

90
Q

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A

Allows voters to pool their campaign donations

91
Q

Super PAC

A

Not affiliated with any particular campaign, and is allowed to freely engage in “independent” spending

Were created by the 2010 decision of the Supreme Court in Citizens United

First Amendment

Priorities USA, Future 45

92
Q

PACs and Super PACs are formed by ___

A

Interest groups

93
Q

Interest groups

A

Seek to influence government on behalf of their members

Chamber of Commerce

AFL-CIO

Agricultural industry

94
Q

Chamber of Commerce

A

A powerful interest group on behalf of business

Generally aligned with the Republican Party

Spends millions on lobbying

Many chamber employees previously worked for the government (the “revolving door” phenomenon)

95
Q

AFL-CIO

A

A powerful interest group on behalf of unions

Generally aligned with the Democratic Party

11% of the American workforce is unionized. But about half of union members are public employees

35.7% of the public sector is unionized compared with 6.6% of the private sector

Spends millions on lobbying and obtains employees through the “revolving door”

American Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations

96
Q

Agricultural industry sponsors many interest groups

A

The federal government has subsidized farmers since the Great Depression

Every 5 years, Congress passes a “farm bill” authorizing hundreds of billions of dollars of spending

U.S. farm policies have increased prices for consumers (in addition to taxes)

97
Q

Farm bill

A

Contains both farm subsidies and food stamp/nutrition funding

98
Q

There are also interest groups for ____

A

Social issues

99
Q

Interest groups for social issues

A

Planned Parenthood

NRA-ILA

100
Q

Interest groups may engage in ____

A

Lobbying

101
Q

Lobbying

A

Direct contact with members of congress

102
Q

Interest groups may engage in lobbying

A

There are about 10,000 registered lobbyists specifically paid to influence Congress

Lobbying is highly regulated, and lobbyists must file disclosures

103
Q

Interest groups may file ____

A

Lawsuits

104
Q

Interest groups may file lawsuits

A

If you can’t get something through legislation, try litigation!

An interest group may file a test case on behalf of a sympathetic member who has been wronged

An interest group may file an amicus brief seeking to influence the judge in someone else’s lawsuit

105
Q

Interest groups try to ____

A

Influence the public (YOU)

106
Q

Interest groups try to influence the public

A

“Grassroots” campaign

AstroTurf

107
Q

“Grassroots” campaign

A

Staffed by ordinary, local volunteers

108
Q

AstroTurf

A

Involves paid professionals who mimic a grassroots effort

109
Q

Political speech by ____ is generally not regulated by the Federal Election Commission

A

News media

110
Q

Political speech by news media is generally not regulated by the Federal Election Commission

A

The FEC has considered regulating political commentary on the internet

The public has generally protested such regulation

111
Q

The media shows bias how?

A

By what stories it chooses to cover…or not cover

In how it covers stories

112
Q

The media shows bias by what stories it chooses to cover…or not cover

A

When Sarah Plain made a gaffe about Hawaii, the liberal media had extensive coverage

When President Obama made a similar mistake, the right-wing media covered it

113
Q

The media also shows bias in how it covers stories

A

Fox News leads story with content of undercover videos

MSNBC leads story with statement by Planned Parenthood

114
Q

The media

A

Will often choose the sensational over the serious

Also directly influenced by business and government interests

115
Q

The media is also directly influenced by business and government interests

A

Media covers companies / Companies buy ads and suggest stories

Companies lobby the government / Government regulates companies

Media covers government / Government provides media with access

116
Q

It can be hard to tell the difference between news and advertising

A

John Rutland

117
Q

John Rutland

A

Cinematographer, Paranormal Activity: Ghost Dimension

118
Q

Bureaucratic Agencies are ____

A

Media-savvy

119
Q

Bureaucratic agencies are media-savvy

A

Agencies lobby news media for favorable coverage

They use access to import government figures as leverage over the media

Many agencies even have their own media facilities

The media may stick with “safe” stories to avoid hassle and avoid being cut out of the loop

Political Science (4 decks)

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