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A-Level Politics > Us Elections > Flashcards

Us Elections Flashcards

1
Q

What are some desirable non-constitutional qualities for becoming president?

A
  • Experience of political office
  • The support of a major party
  • A positive image
  • Financial resources
  • A strong organisational structure
  • The right image for television, radio and social media
  • Relevant policies

These qualities are not legally required but are often important for a successful presidential campaign.

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2
Q

True or False: A candidate must be at least 30 years old to run for president.

A

False

The minimum age requirement to become president is 35 years.

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3
Q

Fill in the blank: A president must be a _______ citizen.

A

natural-born

This requirement ensures that only individuals born as U.S. citizens can hold the office.

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4
Q

How many years of residency are required to become president?

A

14 years

This residency requirement is designed to ensure that the president has a strong connection to the country.

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5
Q

What is one requirement that disqualifies a person from becoming president?

A

Not to have served two previous terms

This limitation is intended to prevent any individual from holding the presidency for an extended period.

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6
Q

What is the invisible primary?

A

The period between candidates announcing their intention to run and the Iowa caucus.

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7
Q

What do candidates aim to achieve during the invisible primary?

A

Candidates campaign to become the ‘front runner’ with the most funds and highest poll numbers before the primaries begin.

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8
Q

Does winning the invisible primary guarantee the nomination?

A

No, winning the invisible primary does not guarantee the nomination.

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9
Q

What occurs in primaries?

A

Members of the public elect delegates to a party’s national convention, who will select the party’s presidential candidate.

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10
Q

When does the primary process begin?

A

The primary process begins with the Iowa caucus, usually in January or February of an election year.

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11
Q

Who determines the order and timings of state-based primary votes?

A

The party national committee determines the order and timings, but the rules and means of allocating delegates are up to the party in each state.

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12
Q

What types of primary votes can state-based parties choose?

A

A primary vote or a caucus, an open vote or closed vote, and winner takes all or proportional allocation of delegates.

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13
Q

What factors determine voter turnout in primaries?

A

The timing of the primary, the type of primary, whether it is a primary or caucus, who turns out, the competitiveness of the contest, and whether the outcome has been decided.

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14
Q

What is the Iowa caucus?

A

The Republican and Democrat party caucuses in Iowa always mark the start of the presidential primary race.

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15
Q

What is the invisible primary?

A

The period before the official primary campaign begins.

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16
Q

What are primaries?

A

Elections by state to determine delegate support for a presidential candidate.

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17
Q

What are caucuses?

A

A series of meetings to determine delegates for a presidential candidate.

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18
Q

What is an important exam tip regarding the invisible primary?

A

A strong performance in the invisible primary will not win the nomination, but a bad performance can end a candidacy.

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19
Q

What are the positives of the primary process?

A

Weakens the power of party bosses.
More opportunity to participate.
Greater scrutiny of candidates.
Time to assess the candidates.
Greater voter choice.

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20
Q

What are the negatives of the primary process?

A

Forces poor candidates on parties.
Low turnout.
Apathy from the electorate.
Lengthens the electoral process.
Expensive process.
Candidates present themselves to the public.
Campaigns can become personal battles and populist.

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21
Q

What are the formal functions of national nominating conventions?

A

Choosing a presidential candidate.
Choosing a vice presidential candidate.
Deciding the party platform.

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22
Q

Why are the formal functions of national nominating conventions no longer very important?

A

Candidates are chosen through the primaries.
Presidential candidates now pick their vice-presidential running mates.
Presidential candidates choose their own platform.

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23
Q

What are the informal functions of national nominating conventions?

A

Unifying the party after the primary campaigns.
Enthusing the party base to campaign for the nominee.
Winning over voters.
Generating positive media reporting and a bounce in the opinion polls.

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24
Q

What is the Electoral College?

A

The Electoral College is a shadow congress with one job: to elect the president.

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25
Q

How are Electoral College votes allocated?

A

Based on the number of seats a state has in the House of Representatives and the number of senators a state has.
Three Electoral College votes are awarded to Washington DC.

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26
Q

How many Electoral College votes are there in total, and how many does a candidate need to win?

A

There are 538 Electoral College votes in total, and a successful candidate needs a clear majority to win: 270.

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27
Q

What is a national nominating convention?

A

Meetings of party delegates held every 4 years to choose a presidential candidate for the party.

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28
Q

What is the Electoral College?

A

The body that elects the president.

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29
Q

What is a synoptic link regarding the Electoral College?

A

The Electoral College is set out in the Constitution, so any reform would require a constitutional amendment.

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30
Q

How does the Electoral College work?

A

Voters elect delegates from their states, who choose the president on their behalf. Nowadays, many delegates are bound to vote according to the state’s choice, but some may become rogue electors.

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31
Q

What is the winner-takes-all system in the Electoral College?

A

Most states award all their Electoral College votes on a winner-takes-all basis, meaning a narrow win in a swing state can give a candidate all their delegates.

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32
Q

Can a candidate win the Electoral College without winning the popular vote?

A

Yes, candidates can win the Electoral College without winning a majority of the popular vote.

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33
Q

How are Electoral College votes allocated in Maine and Nebraska?

A

In Maine and Nebraska, Electoral College votes are allocated by congressional district, with the state-wide winner of the popular vote gaining the two ‘senate’ votes.

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34
Q

What are some positives of the Electoral College?

A

It promotes federalism, a clear two-horse race, enhances a presidential mandate, ensures national support for a candidate, and usually works.

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35
Q

What are some negatives of the Electoral College?

A

Large states are underrepresented, it discriminates against third parties, distorts results, is determined by a few swing states, and in 2000 and 2016, winners lost the popular vote.

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36
Q

What are some proposed reforms for the Electoral College?

A

Proposed reforms include a national popular vote (opposed by small states), a congressional district system (gerrymandering risk), a proportional system (harder majority), and getting rid of individual electors (requires a constitutional amendment).

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37
Q

What is a rogue elector?

A

A rogue elector is an elector who does not vote for the candidate his/her state chose.

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38
Q

What are swing states?

A

Swing states are states that could choose a candidate from either party.

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39
Q

What is gerrymandering?

A

Gerrymandering is the practice of redrawing electoral district boundaries to give a political advantage to one group.

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40
Q

What is campaign finance?

A

Campaign finance refers to money spent fighting an election.

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41
Q

What factors affect presidential elections?

A

The winner of a presidential election is often determined by campaigns, the incumbency factor, campaign finance, issues, media, and leadership.

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42
Q

What do campaigns need to do to be successful?

A

Campaigns need to enthuse the public to participate, have an effective ‘Get out the vote’ strategy, have a positive media presence, raise sufficient funds, target events and promotions in swing states, and perform well in debates.

43
Q

What is the incumbency advantage in elections?

A

Incumbent presidents rarely face a serious primary challenge, allowing them to focus on fundraising and preparing for the election campaign.

44
Q

What are the benefits of being an incumbent president during a campaign?

A

Incumbent presidents have a record of achievement to be judged by, can use federal pork to win support in key states, gain higher media attention, and can appear presidential during crises.

45
Q

How does media portrayal affect a candidate’s success?

A

How a candidate is portrayed by the media is crucial to success, with media being either earned (costs nothing) or bought (paid for by the campaign).

46
Q

What role has television played in political campaigns since the 1950s?

A

Television has dominated the debate with political shows, presidential debates, and adverts displaying a candidate’s ideas and attacking opponents.

47
Q

How has social media impacted political campaigns in the twenty-first century?

A

Social media has played an increasingly important role, allowing candidates to contact voters directly, generate earned media, and shape the debate.

48
Q

Why is money essential in US elections?

A

Money funds advertising, staff and campaign teams, travel, support staff, holding events, and polling.

49
Q

What attempts have been made to regulate campaign finance?

A

The Federal Election Campaign Act (1974), the creation of the Federal Election Commission (1974), and the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act (2002).

50
Q

How have Supreme Court rulings affected campaign finance regulations?

A

Supreme Court rulings have protected political donations as a form of freedom of speech.

51
Q

What was the significance of Citizens United vs FEC Election Commission (2010)?

A

The Court ruled that the 1st Amendment gave pressure groups, unions, and corporations the same rights to free speech as individuals.

52
Q

What is the difference between hard money and soft money in campaign finance?

A

Hard money is regulated and raised directly for a candidate’s official campaign, while soft money is unregulated and not directly linked to candidates’ campaigns.

53
Q

What are super PACs?

A

Super PACs are political committees that raise soft money for election campaigns, with no limits on how much they can raise and donate.

54
Q

How has the cost of elections changed since 2000?

A

The cost of elections has increased dramatically since 2000.

55
Q

In which election was money a significant determining factor?

A

In the 2008 election, Barack Obama raised more than double the amount of his rival John McCain.

56
Q

What was notable about the 2016 election regarding campaign spending?

A

Donald Trump was elected despite being outspent by Hillary Clinton ($398 million vs $768 million).

57
Q

What is a PAC?

A

A PAC is a political committee that supports candidates with hard money, with limits on how much they can raise and donate.

58
Q

What is hard money?

A

Hard money is money raised directly for a candidate’s official campaign and is regulated.

59
Q

What is soft money?

A

Soft money is money that is not directly linked to candidates’ campaigns, although it may support their election, and is unregulated.

60
Q

What is direct democracy?

A

Direct democracy allows the public to vote directly on laws and policies.

The USA has direct democracy at the state level only.

61
Q

What are referendums?

A

Referendums are votes where the state legislature suggests a new law and asks the public to vote on it.

62
Q

What are initiatives or citizens’ propositions?

A

Initiatives allow the public to initiate a vote on a measure by collecting a required number of signatures.

63
Q

What are recall elections?

A

Recall elections allow the public to trigger a vote to remove an elected official if enough signatures are collected.

64
Q

What are core voting coalitions?

A

Core voting coalitions refer to the different groups that support American political parties, making them umbrella organizations.

65
Q

Which groups tend to support Democrats?

A

Groups that tend to support Democrats include women, younger voters, racial minorities, urban residents, and those with lower education.

They also tend to have low religious attendance.

66
Q

Which groups tend to support Republicans?

A

Groups that tend to support Republicans include men, older voters, white individuals, rural residents, and those with higher education.

They also tend to have high religious attendance.

67
Q

Why do certain groups vote as they do?

A

Democrats support civil rights and affirmative action, while Republicans oppose these measures and focus on immigration control.

68
Q

What is the Republican stance on abortion?

A

Republicans generally oppose abortion, appealing to the religious right by leaders like Reagan and George W. Bush.

69
Q

How do Democrats approach socially liberal policies?

A

Democrats support socially liberal policies that often conflict with religious teachings.

70
Q

What is the Republican position on the Equal Rights Amendment?

A

Republicans oppose the Equal Rights Amendment.

71
Q

What is the Democratic stance on abortion?

A

Democrats support abortion rights.

72
Q

What do Democrats promote regarding social welfare?

A

Democrats promote social welfare programs.

73
Q

What is the Republican focus in terms of military?

A

Republicans focus on military and conflict.

74
Q

How does education level affect voting behavior?

A

Lower educated individuals tend to be lower earners and favor Republican job protection and immigration curbs.

75
Q

What effect does higher education have on political views?

A

Higher education has a liberalizing effect.

76
Q

What other factors influence voting behavior?

A

Voters are influenced by campaign issues, candidates’ personalities, leadership, and expertise.

77
Q

What are realigning elections?

A

Realigning elections are significant turning points in long-term voting behavior.

78
Q

What was a notable realigning election in 1932?

A

The 1932 election saw a shift from Republicans to Democrats in support of F.D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.

79
Q

What happened in the 1968 election?

A

The 1968 election marked a shift from Democrats to Republicans, with Nixon’s ‘Southern Strategy’ appealing to southern voters.

80
Q

What was significant about the 1992 election?

A

The 1992 election resulted in a shift from Republicans to Democrats with the election of Bill Clinton.

81
Q

What is the ‘religious right’?

A

The religious right refers to people who support a conservative, religious-based ideology.

82
Q

Are all Republicans opposed to abortion?

A

Most Republicans oppose abortion, but there are exceptions, such as Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski.

83
Q

What does ‘voting by groups’ refer to?

A

Voting by groups refers to general trends, with many exceptions within each group.

84
Q

What is split-ticket voting?

A

Split-ticket voting occurs when a voter votes for candidates of more than one party in the same election.

85
Q

How common is split-ticket voting in recent years?

A

Split-ticket voting has become less common as politics has become more polarised.

86
Q

What was the voter turnout in the 2016 presidential election?

A

The voter turnout was 55.7% in the 2016 presidential election.

87
Q

What factors contribute to low voter turnout?

A

Factors include too-frequent elections, FPT electoral system, voter registration requirements, felony disenfranchisement, disillusionment with politicians, negative campaigning, and lack of competitive districts due to gerrymandering.

88
Q

How often are elections held in the UK?

A

Elections in the UK are held every 5 years, but can occur earlier.

89
Q

What is the typical duration of election campaigns in the UK?

A

Election campaigns in the UK usually last 4-6 weeks.

90
Q

How is the party leader chosen in the UK?

A

The party leader is chosen by their party.

91
Q

What is required for a party to gain majority support in the UK?

A

A party needs majority support in the House of Commons.

92
Q

Is television advertising allowed in UK elections?

A

Television advertising is banned in UK elections.

93
Q

What is the estimated total cost of UK elections?

A

The total cost of UK elections is around £80 million.

94
Q

Are there leadership debates in UK elections?

A

Yes, there are leadership debates in UK elections.

95
Q

How often are congressional elections held in the US?

A

Congressional elections are held every 2 years.

96
Q

How often are presidential elections held in the US?

A

Presidential elections are held every 4 years, without fail.

97
Q

What is the typical duration of election campaigns in the US?

A

Election campaigns in the US can last up to 2 years.

98
Q

How are candidates chosen in the US?

A

Candidates are chosen by the public.

99
Q

What is required for a party to gain majority support in the US?

A

A party needs a majority in the Electoral College.

100
Q

Is advertising restricted in US elections?

A

Advertising is unrestricted in US elections.

101
Q

What is the estimated cost of the presidential election in the US?

A

The cost of the presidential election in the US is over $2 billion.

102
Q

Are there presidential debates in US elections?

A

Yes, there are presidential debates in US elections.

103
Q

What are some important questions regarding US elections?

A

Important questions include how presidential candidates are chosen, how the primary system works, the importance of party conventions, why US elections are so expensive, and the strengths and weaknesses of the Electoral College.

A-Level Politics (6 decks)

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