US Democracy and Participation Flashcards
Presidential Election (x3)
Laid out in Article 2 of the US Constitution
Electoral college can be FAITHLESS ELECTORS, but despite 7 FAITHLESS ELECTORS in 2016, FAITHLESS ELECTORS have never changed the results on an election
Apart from 2000,2016 and 2020, the US election system works without controversy
Reform of the Electoral College (x4)
Direct proportional election (this would require a constitutional amendment however, so would be unlikely to occur)
The National Popular Vote has electoral college voters vote according to the national vote of the country
The Maine System is when candidates win proportional ECVs from a state rather than winner-takes-all
The Automatic Plan abolished FAITHLESS ELECTORS
Advantages of the Electoral College (x4)
Ensures FEDERALISM as small states such as Wyoming remain represented as they can influence the outcome with their disproportionate ECVs
The winner gets a clear majority and thus mandate (In 2012 Obama only won 51.2% of the popular vote but won 332 electoral votes)
FAITLESS ELECTORS prevent TOCQUEVILLE’s ‘tyranny of the majority’
Low turnout e.g. 42.5% in Hawaii in 2016, does NOT affect influence (Hawaii still got 6 ECVs)
Disadvantages of the Electoral College (x4)
The winner does not need the popular vote, e.g. Trump winning in 2016, despite having 3 million less votes than Hillary Clinton
Smaller states are overrepresented and have disproportionate influence. A voter in Wyoming has 3.6x the influence of a voter in California
Winner-takes-all system excludes 3rd parties and parties whose support is not geographically concentrated
Faithless electors clearly undermine democracy
National Party Conventions
Used to select the presidential candidate, but now acts as a coronation for the winner
Losers endorse the winner in order to increase party unity and chance of success e.g. Bernie Sanders endorsed Joe Biden
Debate policy of the party
Primaries (x4)
An intra-party election that uses a secret ballot to vote for a presidential nominee
Open primaries can attract ‘wreckers’
Republicans often use a winner-takes-all system so although Trump won 33% of the vote in South Carolina, he won all 50 delegates. Democrats usually allocate delegates proportionally
The delegates then go and vote at the national party convention
Invisible Primary
ARTHUR HADLEY used the name ‘invisible primary’ to describe the time between a candidate formally announcing their intention to run and the first official primary or caucus
In July 2017, John Delaney announced his intention to run for the Democratic nomination, even though the previous presidential had only been held 8 months earlier
Caucus
‘Democracy at its most earthy’ - The Times
First used in 1968, votes vote physically
Iowa and New Hampshire hold their primaries and caucuses first
Disadvantages of Primaries and Caucuses (x5)
As Iowa and New Hampshire hold their primaries and caucuses first, other states can become disenfranchised if a candidate has already clearly won
Unrepresentative as they have low turnout and attract only activists and radicals
Increase internal divisions as candidates slate each other, ultimately damaging the winner’s chances
Invisible primaries are too early, so make it boring and decrease turnout and interest in politics
Lack of peer review, as top party officials and experts do not get a say
Advantages of Primaries and Caucuses (x4)
‘Democracy at its most earthy’ - The Times, as direct participation
Improves political education
Gives voters choice over their party nomination
Thoroughly tests the winning candidate
TV Debates
‘US presidential debates rarely settle the outcome of the election’ - The Times
Since 1976 there has been an expectation for candidates polling above 15% to take part in television debates
Whilst it COULD be said that AL GORE’s ‘woeful performance’ was a key factor to him losing the 2000 election, there is no clear correlation between ‘winning’ the debate and the presidency
Disadvantages of Incumbency (x2)
Potentially poor record in office (Trump failing to fulfil his promise to overturn Obamacare)
Lacking party support (many Republicans did not support Trump in 2020)
Advantages of Incumbency (x4)
Greater name recognition
Greater funding
Usually lacking a primary challenge
Experience in Office
Newcome Advantages (x3)
Newcomers can also have great name recognition e.g. Joe Biden and Hillary. Biden won in 2020 despite Trump being the incumbent
Biden spent 952 million whereas Trump spent 612 million in 2020 so the newcomer can raise more funds than the incumbent
Funds do not guarantee success as Trump spent less than Hillary in 2016. As Clinton spent $768 million in whereas Trump spent $398 million
Factors that Affect Congress Elections (x4)
97% incumbency rate in 2016 but in 2018 AOC beat an incumbent. Incumbents benefit from Pork-Barrelling e.g. Byrne securing a multimillion dollar ship building contract for his state of Alabama
Affected by the coat-tails effect
Gerrymandering e.g. North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District ‘snake’ reduces competition leading to a foregone conclusion
On average an incumbent raises 7x as much as a newcomer to Congress
Choosing a Running Mate
Balancing the ticket e.g. Joe Biden, an older white man chose Kamala Harris, a younger mixed race woman
Candidates often choose their main rival in the primaries as their running mate in order to unite the party e.g. Ronal Reagan chose George Bush Senior in 1980 as his VP
Candidates also factor in their running mate’s experience e.g. George Bush Junior chose Dick Cheney as his VP
US Electoral Reform (x5)
Limits on when candidates declare themselves (difficult to enforce)
Legislation about how much can be spent (Citizens United v FEC 2010 ruled this unconstitutional)
Abolishing caucuses and holding all open primaries at the same time (wreckers and state’s right to hold primaries when and how)
Redistributing district lines to end gerrymandering and increase contest (this would harm both parties as they would lose their safe seats)
Compulsory voting and automatic registration increases turnout
US Campaign Finance (x3)
Presidential candidates have unlimited funding
Grassroots funding is seen as democratic and Bernie Sanders criticised Pete Buttigieg for using wine cellars
Spending does not guarantee success as Hillary Clinton spent $768 million in whereas Trump spent $398 million
Democrats and 3 Factions
Pro-choice, minority rights, welfare and larger government
MODERATES: Centrist and are more willing to reduce welfare and taxes e.g. Amy Klobuchar
LIBERALS: Federal government should be used to achieve social justice. Elizabeth Warren criticised the Trans-Pacific Partnership for exploiting workers for the benefit of the manages
CONSERVATIVE: AKA Blue-Dog Democrats, they support conservative moral issues, but not a Republican stance on the economy. e.g. Stephanie Murphy. In 2015 47 House Democrats voted with Republicans to have additional screening for Iraqi refugees
Republicans and 4 Factions
The GOP support controlled immigration, small government and are pro-life
‘Government is the problem, not the solution’ - Reagan
CONSERVATIVES: Low taxation and spending, small government e.g. George Bush Junior
MODERATES: RINOs support welfare and taxation, and are also socially liberal. Susan Collins
LIBERTARIANS: Small government, support gay marriage and low tax, such as Rand Paul
SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE: Christian and oppose abortion e.g. Ann Coulter
Super PACS
Super Political Action Committees
Raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose candidates but without directly donating or co-ordinating with these candidates
2010 Citizens United v Federal Election Campaign Act ruled that independent spending is a 1st amendment right
Interest Groups Influence (x3)
Resources (members and money e.g. US Chambers of Commerce)
Status (National Rifle Association)
Methods (Lobbying and legal methods)
US Interest Groups Methods (x4)
LOBBYING (when AIPAC lobbied to overturn the Iran deal)
LEGAL (when the NAACP sponsored Brown v Board in 1954)
ELECTIONEERING (League of Conservation ‘dirty dozen’)
PUBLICITY (such as when the NRA made adverts to highlight Obama’s hypocrisy on armed guards in schools as his daughters had guards)
Types of Interest Group (x3)
POLICY GROUPS attempt to influence a whole policy area e.g. American Israel Public Affairs Committee
PROFESSIONAL GROUPS represent the economic interests of their members e.g. American Medical Association
SINGLE INTEREST GROUPS advocate policy surrounding a limited specific issue (National Rifle Association)
