Unit 3 Flashcards
What do political parties have in common?
They aim to elect candidates, define platforms, and raise money
What are the three components of a political party?
Governmental party
Organizational party
Party in the electorate
What is the governmental party?
Office holders and policy makers who promote party objectives
What is the organizational party?
Workers and activists who organize the party’s formal organization structure
What is the party in the electorate?
Voters who consider themselves allied or associated with the party
How do parties nominate candidates?
Candidates compete for their party’s nomination in primaries, then chosen candidates move on to run in the general election
What are nominating conventions?
Where parties formally select a candidate, adopt a statement of party principles and goals otherwise known as platforms
Mostly ceremonial in presidential election cycles
How did Andrew Jackson contribute to the development of political parties?
The Democratic party held its first convention during his election and he was the first president to be elected as a nominee of a true, national popularly based political party
How did the Republican party form and how did they nominate a candidate in 1856?
Formed in 1854 in response to abolition and containment of slavery
Lost presidential effort in 1856 with John C. Fremont but won in 1860 with Lincoln
What happened during the “Era of Good Feelings?”
James Monroe’s presidency: party politics was nearly suspended at the national level
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on military and national defense?
Republican: pro increase in military spending, increase VA funding, increase bioterrorism budget, overall pro-military
Democrat: terrorism is a result of over-militarization and war should be avoided, respond to terrorism with threat and uphold Constitution
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on energy and conservation?
Republican: conserve but still balance economics, increase privatization of environmental agenda, cap-and trade market based pollution reductions, provide tax incentives for energy production
Democrat: encourage open space, increase hunting/fishing on conservation lands, restore and maintain environment
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on jobs and the economy?
Republican: employee ownership > union elites, better treatment towards small business, realizes that people live off the land
Democrat: help unemployed by creating jobs to stay in America, protect low income rights and union rights, cut middle class taxes, wealthy can’t lead while others struggle
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on education?
Republican: only insure private-loans for tuition, supports prayer in school, limit role of government in education
Democrat: invest Pell grants and tax credits, reduce tuition taxes, reduce class size, modernize rooms, hire new teachers
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on health care?
Republican: repeal Obamacare, implement ABC for AIDS education, encourages only “ethical” advancements, against assisted suicide, reform Medicare, allow personalization of health insurance
Democrat: Increase availability and coverage of health care, add prescriptions to medicines covered by Medicare
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on marriage?
Republican: marriage is between a man and a woman and homosexuality poses a problem to the military
Democrat: promotes same-sex marriage and attacks discrimination, allow churches to decide how to handle it for themselves
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on taxes?
Republican: charities should end poverty, no new taxes, reform will help poor buy homes, cut taxes to stimulate economy
Democrat: cut middle and working class taxes but not wealthy
How do Republican and Democratic views differ on immigration?
Republican: tighten borders, use biometric data to track foreign travelers, emphasize family in toughening immigration
Democrat: undocumented people should be given citizenship and protected from exploitation by employers
What is a party’s #1 goal?
To get their candidate elected for president with the beliefs that the party has previously agreed upon
What does the Constitution say about political parties?
Nothing, but George Washington warned against them in his farewell address
How does region affect party affiliation?
South - Democrats
North - Republicans
How does gender affect party affiliation?
Women - Democrats
Men - Republicans
How does race affect party affiliation?
African Americans/Hispanics - Democrat
Whites - Republican
How does age affect party affiliation?
Youngest and oldest - Democrat
Middle age - Republicans
How does social and economic factors affect party affiliation?
Blue-collar workers - Democrat College-educated - Republican Advanced degrees - Democrat Rich - Republican Poor - Democrat
How does religion affect party affiliation?
White Protestants - Republican
Catholics and Jewish - Democrat
How does marital status affect party affiliation?
Married people - Republican
Single and never married - Democrat
Widowed - Democrat
Divorced / separated - liberal
Why do 3rd parties fare better in Europe?
No winner takes all system, each party is represented base on number of supporters
Why are 3rd parties important?
Third parties are important because the get the main candidates to adopt their most important issue and call attention to anything that other candidates missed along the way
What are some electoral obstacles in place that hurt 3rd parties’ chances?
Less funding, winner-take-all system, often far less popular than the dominant parties
Why did Washington warn the nation about political parties?
Washington warned the nation about political parties because they divide us as a nation and generally each party focuses on a few important subject. If we weren’t divided, everything would have to be dealt with together and with multiple opinions in mind- creating the closest to best for everyone.
What is a caucus?
Open debate meeting for a party to decide who runs in big elections
What is an open primary?
Party members, independents, and sometimes members of other parties are allowed to participate
What is a closed primary?
Only party’s registered voters can participate
What is a runoff election?
Second primary between the two top candidates
Who determines when dates for presidential primaries are held?
Each state party determines the date of its primary or caucus, many states choose to participate in Super Tuesday
What is an initiative?
An election that allows citizens to propose legislation and submit it to the state electorate for popular vote
What is a referendum?
An election whereby the state legislature submits proposed legislation to the state’s voters for approval
What is a recall?
An election in which voters can remove an incumbent from office by popular vote
What factors are most important in affecting voter turnout?
Interest in politics, group membership, education, income, age, gender, race, and ethnicity
Describe how the Electoral College works.
The Electoral College is made up of 538 electors who cast votes to decide the President and Vice-President of the United States. When voters go to the polls on Tuesday, they will be choosing which candidate receives their state’s electors. The candidate who receives a majority of electoral votes (270) wins the Presidency
How is the number of 538 electoral votes calculated?
It is the sum of the number of representatives, senators, and 3 DC electors
What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
The act allowing the enforcement of the 15th amendment, banned regulations like poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses
What did the 12th amendment declare?
Must nominate both president and vice president
What does the 15th amendment declare?
Race, color, or previous conditions of servitude cannot deny voting or any fair treatment
What does the 19th amendment declare?
Gives women the right to vote
What does the 26th amendment declare?
Gives all 18 year oSlds and older the right to vote
Who is the campaign manager?
Right hand man; travels with candidate and coordinates campaign; delivers good and bad news about condition of campaign, decides to hire hire and when to air which TB and, determines strategy
Who is the finance manager?
Coordinates fundraising and brings in large contributions to fund the campaign
Who is the pollster?
Takes public opinion surveys that guide political campaigns, and use these surveys to tell candidate what to address in speeches
Who is the direct mailer?
Supervises campaigns direct mail fund raising
Who is the communications director?
Develops media strategy, blending free press coverage with paid TV, radion and mail media, and ads on web sites visited by those likely to favor the candidates positions
Who is the press secretary?
Interacts and communicates with journalists every day, the person who is quotes in the newspapers or on TV explaining the positions or recating to actions of opponent, announces bad news
Who is the Internet team?
Uses internet to communicate with voters, raise funds, organize volunteers, and plan capaign events
What is a campaign consultant?
Sells to a candidate technologies, services, and strategies; first appeared in 1930s and have grown; candidiatess generally higre specialized consultants who focus on onnly one or two ares like fundreaising, speech writing, etc
What is a media consultant?
Produces TV radio and print ads, more than one may be assignment, works with the communications director to craft ad message and address key issues
How much money can PACs give?
$5000 per candidate per election and $15,000 each year to parties
What is a political action group (PAC)?
Federally mandated ,officially registered fund raising committee that represents interest groups in the political process
Who does the majority of PAC money go to?
Incumbents (no one likes challengers anyways)
How do PACs use their influence?
They use money to reward/punish legislators and influence policy
What are 527 committees?
Nonprofit and unregulated interest groups that focus on specific causes or policy positions and attempt to influence voters
What acts as a loophole to the 2002 BCRA?
527 committees
Which party uses 527s more?
Democrat
What did Buckley v. Valeo establish?
There is no limit to the amount of money from a candidate’s own pocket that they can contribute to their own campaign.
What is hard money?
Legally specified and limited contributions that are clearly regulated by the Federal Election Campaign Act and by the Federal Election Commission
How is hard money used?
Used to pay for express advocacy campaign ads, such as those including phrases like “vote for,” “vote against,” or “elect”
What is soft money?
The virtually unregulated money funneled by individuals and political committees through state and local parties, outlawed by the BCRA
How is soft money used?
Used to cover expenses like political education and GOTV efforts
What are arguments in favor of campaign reform?
Too much power in the hands of a few wealthy groups is an oligarchy and undemocratic
Less government-sponsored money means that candidates have to work harder in grassroots
Reform allows for new challengers
What are arguments against campaign reform?
Campaign contributions are a form of free-speech
Government regulation and bureaucracy is not the solution
Reform may actually help incumbents, not challengers
