Unit 4 - Political Participation

Question 1

Incumbency effect

Answer 1

People are more likely to vote for and donate to someone they are familiar with

Question 2

Federal Election Campaign Act

Answer 2

Imposed limits on individual campaign contributions, and requires reporting of who donates

Question 3

Soft Money

Answer 3

Can only be used for party building and issue ads, but not directly for the actual candidate

Question 4

How has nominating a presidential candidate changed over time?

Answer 4

it has included more power for state primaries and a longer timeline for the process.

Question 5

Those opposed to the electoral college feel that…

Answer 5

The Electoral College lessens political participation in “safe” states, undermines majority rule, and violates the one-person, one-vote expectation.

Question 6

What was the “King Caucus”?

Answer 6

a group of party operatives from state legislatures that reflected the rise of political parties

Question 7

What is the purpose of Political Party Caucuses?

Answer 7

to select a party’s candidates.

Question 8

Purpose of primary systems during the Progressive Era?

Answer 8

to influence the outcome of voter selections in a primary election.

Question 9

3 Necessities for running for president…

Answer 9

acquire a majority of you parties delegates, compete in caucuses, and maintain 50 different state campaigns

Question 10

What is a brokered convention?

Answer 10

no candidate acquires a majority of a party’s delegates before the start of its convention.

Question 11

2 Strategies to be considered when running for office…

Answer 11

negative campaigning and focusing on independent voters.

Question 12

How are general elections different from primary?

Answer 12

You face a whole new group of voters.

Question 13

Describe district method for voting

Answer 13

allocates one electoral vote to the popular vote winner of each congressional district and two electoral votes to the winner of a state’s popular vote.

Question 14

What determines outcome of Presidential elections

Answer 14

Electoral votes and swing states

Question 15

What happens if no candidate receives a majority of electoral college votes?

Answer 15

the House of Representatives determine who of the top three finishers will be elected with each state having one vote.

Question 16

What is one advantage of the Electoral College system?

Answer 16

The Electoral College system, with its runoff procedure, has always worked.

Question 17

What is the primary goal of interest groups?

Answer 17

to influence public policy.

Question 18

Who or what is represented by a membership interest group?

Answer 18

a large number of people, usually paying dues, in support of common policy goals.

Question 19

Whom does a lobbyist represent?

Answer 19

an individual, a company, a group of companies, unions, or a great variety of groups

Question 20

Main basis or tactic for lobbying?

Answer 20

Exchange of information

Question 21

Define Outside lobbying

Answer 21

Influencing public opinion as a means to influence public officials

Question 22

How do interest groups influence politics?

Answer 22

contacting government officials and politicians and trying to influence the general public.

Question 23

Define public interest group

Answer 23

Interest group that wants to better overall public situations/services ex. stricter seat belt laws

Question 24

Who do legislative liasons represent?

Answer 24

Government institutions such as U.S. Dept of Health

Question 25

Political Action Committee

Answer 25

An entity formed by an interest group to raise money and make contributions to political candidates and parties

Question 26

Max amount of money a Political Action Committee can contribute

Answer 26

$5000

Question 27

Citizens United v. FEC

Answer 27

made super PACs legal, allows them to spend unlimited, as long as they do not coordinate their activities with a candidate.

Question 28

Interest Group - Legislative Strategy

Answer 28

Donating to both candidates so you’ve technically given $ to the winner either way

Question 29

Interest Group - Electoral Strategy

Answer 29

Giving $ to candidate they really want to win, even if they may not be predicted to win by everyone else

Question 30

Bundling Fundraising

Answer 30

Not writing one big check, breaking it up into many smaller ones so no one check is over the limit

Question 31

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Answer 31

removed the discriminatory practices of states, limiting the right to vote because of race.

Question 32

National Voter Registration Act of 1993 aka Motor Voter Law

Answer 32

Let people register to vote when they get their driver’s license, increased registration but not turnout

Question 33

The Fifteenth Amendment

Answer 33

intended to open voting rights to African Americans, but that goal was precluded by discriminatory laws.

Question 34

Nineteenth Amendment

Answer 34

Women in all states can vote

Question 35

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

Answer 35

Breedlove v. Suttles, a court case that had declared the poll tax as constitutional.

Question 36

The Twenty-Sixth Amendment

Answer 36

Lowered voting age from 21 to 18, bc military age was 18

Question 37

Which system produces most voter turnout?

Answer 37

Mail-only system of voting

Question 38

Why is caucus voter turnout lower?

Answer 38

Caucuses take more time for the voter than primaries.

Question 39

Nominating Convention

Answer 39

Presidential candidate is chosen

Question 40

What is generally true of primary voters?

Answer 40

They tend to be on more extreme ends of the political spectrum.

Question 41

Amicus Brief

Answer 41

Lobbyists attempt at influencing Supreme Court Decisions

Question 42

Closed Primary

Answer 42

Congressional nominee is elected

Question 43

Difference between PAC and Super PAc

Answer 43

PAC can give money to a candidate, Super PAC cannot