Unit 3 IDs

Question 0

Median voter theorem

Answer 0

The theory that parties in a two-party system can maximize their vote by locating themselves at the position of the median voter, the voter whose preferences are exactly in the middle

Question 1

Single member districts

Answer 1

The form of representation in which only the candidate who gets the most votes in a district wins office

Question 2

Party coalition

Answer 2

The groups and interests that support a political party

Question 3

Divided government

Answer 3

When one party controls the executive branch and the other party controls one or both houses of congress

Question 4

Gridlock

Answer 4

When opposing parties and interests often block each other’s proposals, creating a political stale,ate or inaction between the executive and legislative branches of government

Question 5

Types of third parties

Answer 5

There are four types, ideological, splinter/personality/factional, single issue, and protest

Question 6

Reform (minor) party

Answer 6

A minor party that bases its appeal on the claim that the major parties are having a corrupting influence on government and policy

Question 7

Single-issue (minor) party

Answer 7

A minor party formed around a single issue of overriding interest to its followers

Question 8

Ideological (minor) party

Answer 8

A minor party characterized by its ideological commitment to a broad and noncentrist philosophical position

Question 9

Factional (minor) party

Answer 9

A minor party created when a faction within one of the major parties breaks away to form its own party

Question 10

National convention

Answer 10

The party’s national voice, party delegates meet in the summer of every fourth year to select the party’s candidate for President and Vice President; also responsible for writing and adopting the party’s platform, describing the party’s policy beliefs

Question 11

National committee

Answer 11

Manages the political party’s business between conventions. They are responsible for selecting the convention site, establishing the rules, publishing and distributing party literature, and helping the party raise campaign contributions

Question 12

National chairperson

Answer 12

Appointed by a committee as head of a party

Question 13

Superdelegates

Answer 13

A democratic or republican delegate that was not chosen for in the party’s primary, but chosen for their status; they are free to support any candidate

Question 14

Political machine

Answer 14

A political organization that commands the support of corporations and businesses. They rely on the workers to get out to vote on election day

Question 15

Soft money

Answer 15

Money distributed to a national political party organization that was not regulated by law

Question 16

Interest group

Answer 16

Any organization that actively seeks to influence public policy

Question 17

Free-rider problem

Answer 17

The situation in which the benefits offered by a group to its members are also available to nonmembers. The incentive to join the group and to promote its cause is reduced because free-riders receive the benefits without having to pay any of the groups cost

Question 18

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Answer 18

The organization through which an interest group raises and distributes funds for election purposes. By law, the funds must be raised through voluntary contributions

Question 19

Lobbying

Answer 19

Attempting to influence policymakers through a variety of methods

Question 20

Inside lobbying

Answer 20

A form of lobbying where people develop contacts with legislators and executives, provide information and policy proposals to key officials, and form coalitions with other groups

Question 21

Outside lobbying

Answer 21

A form of lobbying in which an interest group seeks to use public pressure as a means of influencing officials

Question 22

Grassroots lobbying

Answer 22

A form of lobbying designed to persuade officials that a group’s policy position has strong constituent support

Question 23

Mass media

Answer 23

All forms of communication that reach a large portion of the population

Question 24

Objective journalism

Answer 24

A model of news reporting that is based on the communication of “facts” rather than opinions and is “fair” in that it presents all sides of partisan debate

Question 25

Agenda setting

Answer 25

The power of the media through news coverage to focus the public’s attention and concern on particular events, problems, issues, personalities, and so on

Question 26

Priming

Answer 26

E process by which a communicated message, because of its content, activates certain opinions but not others

Question 27

Framing

Answer 27

The process by which the media play up certain aspects of a situation while downplaying other aspects, thereby providing a particular interpretation of the situation

Question 28

Sound bite

Answer 28

The length of time within a television story that candidate speaks without interruption

Question 29

Equal time rule

Answer 29

Requires a station selling time for a candidate for office to make the same amount of time available for his or her opponent

Question 30

Gatekeepers

Answer 30

Media executives, news editors, and prominent reporters who decide what news to present and how it will be presented

Question 31

News release

Answer 31

Prepared texts to be used exactly as written

Question 32

News briefing

Answer 32

Announcements and daily questioning of the press secretary about news releases

Question 33

News conferences

Answer 33

Questioning of high-level officials, often rehearsed

Question 34

Leaks

Answer 34

Information released by officials who are guaranteed anonymity; may be intentional to interfere with opposition or to “float” an idea and measure reaction

Question 35

On the record

Answer 35

The official may be quoted by name

Question 36

Off the record

Answer 36

What the official says cannot be printed

Question 37

On background

Answer 37

What the official says can printed but may not be attributed to the official by name

Question 38

On deep background

Answer 38

What the official says can be printed, but it cannot be attributed to anybody