unit 1

Question 1

what are the two congresses and when do they come into conflict?

Answer 1

the institutional congress (washington) and the personal congress (local representatives)- in decision making

Question 2

what drives approval of members of congress

Answer 2

local constituency representation, separating themselves from congress

Question 3

how did the constitutional convention affect congress/separation of powers

Answer 3

predominant legislature, extensive powers for congress, limited other branches

Question 4

why do people usually run for office and what effects does that have

Answer 4

ideologically extreme ppl think they will win office- tend to run for office.
polarization

Question 5

what are the key differences btwn primary and general presidential elections

Answer 5

primaries- the party decides
higher turnout for general, general out of step out of office, shouldn’t align too much w party

Question 6

what are factors that determine success in primaries

Answer 6

funding, communication opportunities and the harmony within the party (restaurant agree example)

Question 7

what are factors that determine success in general

Answer 7

clarifying v insurgent candidate (insurgent must reset the agenda on something else in their favor)
use campaigns to activate how much public cares abt fundamentals

Question 8

what are the fundamental factors that determine elections and how are they being set for 2024

Answer 8

not aligning w usually moderate constituent views and instead voting extreme: out of step/out of office, members should be careful abt aligning too much w one party , only applies to general

Question 9

what outside forces affect campaigns

Answer 9

coattails, high turn out elections effect lower turn out (at same time). midterms heavily weighed by opinion on president- surge and decline: pres candidates attract additional support for their party but disappears when not on the ballot, relies on independents
campaign finances (incumbent adv here)

Question 10

what messages do members of congress use in campaigns

Answer 10

civic duty, hawthorne effect (you’re being studied), diff variations of social pressure, present themselves as active in their constituencies (home style)

Question 11

have the factors affecting campaigns changed over time?

Answer 11

independents that surge and decline relies on increasingly lean partisan, almost no split ticket voting
senate races more competitive- more expensive, court cases effecting finances

Question 12

fenno paradox

Answer 12

americans usually disprove of congress as an institution but approve of their member of congress- incentive to separate their identity from institution/run for congress by running against congress