Unit 2: Political Participation (part 1)

Question 1

Constitutional Considerations for VP

Answer 1

-35 yrs old
-14 yrs a resident
-Natural born citizen
-Should not be from the same state as the president

Question 2

Why pick the VP

Answer 2

-“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.)

Question 3

15th Amendment (1870):

Answer 3

Right to vote cannot be denied on account of race, color, or previous condition on servitude

Question 4

17th Amendment (1913):

Answer 4

People of the state gain the right to vote for senators (elite democracy to participatory democracy)

Question 5

19th Amendment (1920):

Answer 5

Nobody on the basis of their sex can be denied the right to vote; women gain the right to vote

Question 6

24th Amendment (1964):

Answer 6

No poll tax/payment must not be required for federal elections

Question 7

26th Amendment (1991):

Answer 7

Allowed to vote when your 18 (used to be 21); changed after vietnam war-if you can go to war, you can vote

Question 8

Voting Rights Act of 1965:

Answer 8

Codifying the 15th Amendment & Protecting the Right to vote

Question 9

Voter Participation:

Answer 9

Will I vote?

Question 10

Voter Behavior:

Answer 10

How will I vote?

Question 11

Voter participation:
2 factors

Answer 11

-political efficacy (will my vote have an impact)
-level of engagement in community

Question 12

The more education→

Answer 12

higher voter participation
-Builds efficacy

Question 13

More religious involvement:

Answer 13

higher voter participation
-engagement in community

Question 14

Higher economic class:

Answer 14

higher voter participation
-builds efficacy

Question 15

Employed:

Answer 15

higher voter participation
-political efficacy &community

Question 16

White or Black:

Answer 16

higher voter participation
-political efficacy &community

Question 17

45+ years old:

Answer 17

higher voter participation
-political efficacy &community

Question 18

Party Line Voting:

Answer 18

-Strongly identifies with single party & consistently votes with that party at all levels
-Use party label as cue
-Less important than in past

Question 19

Rational Choice Voting:

Answer 19

-Based on what voter believes is in personal best interest & goals
-Persuaded by candidates adopting popular policies

Question 20

Retrospective Voting:

Answer 20

-Vote based upon past performance of incumbent or party of incumbent
-“Am I better off?”
-Very significant

Question 21

Prospective Voting:

Answer 21

-Vote based on candidate promises on issues/policies
-Must be educated on candidate platforms, etc.
-Not as significant as often thought to be

Question 22

Single Issue Voting:

Answer 22

-Driven by stance of candidate or party on key issue

Question 23

Candidate Characteristics voting:

Answer 23

-Driven by perspective of what the candidate(s) is like
-Personality , “likability”, repeatability, etc.

Question 24

Does higher voter turnout signal a healthier democratic system?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

What is expected of the democratic citizen?

Answer 25

-Have principles
-Knowledge
-Interest, discussion, motivation
-Rationality

Question 26

Calculations of Electoral College

Answer 26

Each state has the # of votes = # of senators + members of the House of Rep

Question 27

Winning Electoral Votes:

Answer 27

Each state holds a vote where the winner of the statewide plurality is awarded the electoral votes in a “winner-takes-all” approach

Question 28

PAC- Political Action Committees:

Answer 28

-aligned with other interest groups
-CAN donate directly to candidates & parties
-CANNOT give unlimited money (all restricted)

Question 29

Hard Money

Answer 29

limits on money, must be disclosed

Question 30

527 Organizations

Answer 30

-Group organized to raise funds to advertise/further their interest (non-profit)
-CAN raise & Spend unlimited money
-CANNOT donate to candidates or parties

Question 31

Super PAC Organizaitons

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Citizens United vs. FEC

Answer 32

Citizens United tried to support and advertise a movie for Hillary Clinton, but it violated the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

Question 33

Decision of the Citizens United vs. FEC

Answer 33

-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