Unit 2: Political Participation (part 1) Flashcards
Constitutional Considerations for VP
-35 yrs old
-14 yrs a resident
-Natural born citizen
-Should not be from the same state as the president
Why pick the VP
-“Balance the ticket”
-Seek out a key demographic constituency
-Make up for potential weakness of the presidential nominee
-Goal is to create a “dream ticket” (Age, gender, religion, region, experience, ect.)
15th Amendment (1870):
Right to vote cannot be denied on account of race, color, or previous condition on servitude
17th Amendment (1913):
People of the state gain the right to vote for senators (elite democracy to participatory democracy)
19th Amendment (1920):
Nobody on the basis of their sex can be denied the right to vote; women gain the right to vote
24th Amendment (1964):
No poll tax/payment must not be required for federal elections
26th Amendment (1991):
Allowed to vote when your 18 (used to be 21); changed after vietnam war-if you can go to war, you can vote
Voting Rights Act of 1965:
Codifying the 15th Amendment & Protecting the Right to vote
Voter Participation:
Will I vote?
Voter Behavior:
How will I vote?
Voter participation:
2 factors
-political efficacy (will my vote have an impact)
-level of engagement in community
The more education→
higher voter participation
-Builds efficacy
More religious involvement:
higher voter participation
-engagement in community
Higher economic class:
higher voter participation
-builds efficacy
Employed:
higher voter participation
-political efficacy &community
White or Black:
higher voter participation
-political efficacy &community
45+ years old:
higher voter participation
-political efficacy &community
Party Line Voting:
-Strongly identifies with single party & consistently votes with that party at all levels
-Use party label as cue
-Less important than in past
Rational Choice Voting:
-Based on what voter believes is in personal best interest & goals
-Persuaded by candidates adopting popular policies
Retrospective Voting:
-Vote based upon past performance of incumbent or party of incumbent
-“Am I better off?”
-Very significant
Prospective Voting:
-Vote based on candidate promises on issues/policies
-Must be educated on candidate platforms, etc.
-Not as significant as often thought to be
Single Issue Voting:
-Driven by stance of candidate or party on key issue
Candidate Characteristics voting:
-Driven by perspective of what the candidate(s) is like
-Personality , “likability”, repeatability, etc.
Does higher voter turnout signal a healthier democratic system?
Yes:
-Electorate is showing up
-Sharing voices/perspectives
-Taking part in system
No
-There must be a problem is so many people want to vote
What is expected of the democratic citizen?
-Have principles
-Knowledge
-Interest, discussion, motivation
-Rationality
Calculations of Electoral College
Each state has the # of votes = # of senators + members of the House of Rep
Winning Electoral Votes:
Each state holds a vote where the winner of the statewide plurality is awarded the electoral votes in a “winner-takes-all” approach
PAC- Political Action Committees:
-aligned with other interest groups
-CAN donate directly to candidates & parties
-CANNOT give unlimited money (all restricted)
Hard Money
limits on money, must be disclosed
527 Organizations
-Group organized to raise funds to advertise/further their interest (non-profit)
-CAN raise & Spend unlimited money
-CANNOT donate to candidates or parties
Super PAC Organizaitons
Seeks to further perspectives on issues/candidates
-CAN raise & spend unlimited funds, call for election of candidates
-CANNOT contribute to candidates/parties
coordinate with candidates/parties
Citizens United vs. FEC
Citizens United tried to support and advertise a movie for Hillary Clinton, but it violated the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act
Decision of the Citizens United vs. FEC
-It was unconstitutional to restrict them based off of the First Amendment Free Speech (corporations can have free speech)
-It is constitutional to require companies to disclose their identity in election-related communication
