Unit 5 Flashcards
14A
equal protections, due process
15A
gave african americans the right to vote
17A
direct election of senators
19A
right to vote cannot be denied based on sex
24A
abolished poll taxes
26A
must be 18 yrs old to vote
effects of the voting rights act of 1965
outlawed literacy test for voting fed’l gov’t could send in officials to register voting in places where local officials reside
rational choice
voter considers issues and makes decisions for THEMSELVES. politicians understand their voters and adopt themselves to voters wishes
retrospective voting
a voter looks at politican or party’s record usually an incumbent. incumbent knows they must be accomplished
prospective voting
evaluates someones promises, vision of the future, character, etc. usually a challenger knows their constituents very well to win their vote
party-line voting
just voting for the party regardless of the candidate
- party must maintain a platform that is acceptable to a group of voters
voter turnout
percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election by casting their votes
structural barriers between citiaens and voting that jelp explain depressed voter turnout, and show ideas to increase voter turnout
- working class has deterrents (less likely to have childcare)
- registering to vote, varied requirements
- varied absentee voting laws
- varied felon voting laws
- less educated people might not know local voting laws
- voting ID laws
define linkage institutions
groups in society that connect people to the gov’t and facilitate turning the people’s concerns on the gov’t policy agenda
what are the 4 linkage institutions
1) political parties
2) interest groups
3) elections
4) media
functions and impact of political parties on the electorate and government
1) educate and mobilize
2) recruit candidates
3) manage campaigns
4) share control of the gov’t
5) create platforms
how have modern politics weakened parties and led to candidate-centered campaigns
as the internet, transportation, TV, and radio evolved, the candidates were more able to speak directly to potential voters instead of relying on their party to voice their agenda
- rise of primaries (1970s–>)
free rider problem
when individuals benefit from a resource, good or service without paying for it
single issue groups
a group that focuses exclusively on one specific area of public policy
ideological/social movements
collective efforts by groups of people to promote or resist change in society, getting the word out, pressuring congress
protest movements
influence a policy outcomes by raising awareness, swaying public opinion, pressuring decision makers, strategy/type of social movement
electoral rules
- the electoral college first to 270
- debate thresholds (15%)
WTA in pres. elections –> 0 electoral votes - WTA in congressional elections –> 0 seats (we dont have proportional representation)
define/ what is a party platform
formal set of principles and goals the outlines the party’s various stance on issues
how the major parties respond to third parties
the major parties try to incorporate the third party agendas into their platform to try to win some more third party voters
what are a bunch of things interest groups do to push their agenda
- contribute $ to political action comittees (PACs), mobilize voters, hire lawyers
what is the interplay between interest groups and the other points of the iron triangle?
iron triangles: benefit interest groups, members of the bureaucracy
inequality of political and economic resources
- wealthier interest groups can have greater influence in lobbying, campaign contributions
unequal acess to decision makers
well connected interest groups, especially tied to policy makers can directly shape policy
free rider problem
when individuals benefit from a resource, good or service without paying for it
bipartisan campaign reform act of 2002
- (moccasin and feingold)
- sick of outside groups having influence
- premise: outside groups had too much influence over elections, rise in negative attack adsm too much $ in elections
- BCRA attempts to curb these problems
Citizens united v FEC
- citizens won 5-4 conservative
- $ enhances speech –> restricts someones spending of $ to promote political opinion, violates 1A
what are PACs
collect and distribute funds to support candidates, parties or policies. they influence elections through campaign donations, independent advertisements, lobbying efforts
what are the differences between PACs and Super PACs
- PACs have contribution limits and can donate directly to candidates
- Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts but can’t coordinate directly with/ candidates campaigns
