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Gov. Unit VIII

Terms in this set (70)

political party
group of people with broad common interests
organize to win elections, control govt. and influence government policies
ideologies
basic beliefs about govenment
member districts
no matter number of candidates only one will win
mostly US
proportional representation districts
several officials to represent people in area
many other nations
independent
not supporting any particular party
bosses
powerful political party leader
chose delegates and controlled conventions
ended in the 1900s
state central committee
composed largely of representatives from the party's country organization
chooses party state chairperson but follows wishes of governor, senator, or other party leader
helps to elect party's candidates for state govt.
provides assistance to local parties and candidates
cordiantes activities of local parties
raises money
national convention
gathering of party members and local and state party officals
meets every four years to nominate party's presidential and vice-presidential candidates
national committee
large group composed of moslty representatives from the 50 state party organizations
runs the party
patronage
favors given to reward party loyalty
given to party members
include jobs, contracts, and appointments to govt. positions
caucus
private meetings of party leaders to choose candidates for office
direct primary
election in which party members select people to run in the general election
most common today
open primary
all voters may participate even if they do not belong to party
can only vote in one party's primary
plurality
more votes than any other candidate
ticket
candidates for president and vice president
platform
statement of party's principles, beliefs, and positions on vital issues
Vice President selection process
nominated at national convention
usually selected by presidential nominee's running mate
balances the ticket by having different personal, political, and geographical background
strategy
planning how to capture key states and get message out
planned by campaign manager
image
mental picture that voters have of candidate
extremely important
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
independent agency in executive branch
administers federal election laws
records campaign contributions
all contributions over $100 must be reported
Political Action Committee (PAC)
established by interest groups to collect money and provide financial support to favored candidates or political parties
limited by FECA
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act
targeted the use of issue advocacy advertising and the use of soft-money donations to political parties
soft money
contributions given directly to party by PACs or individuals for general uses
precinct
voting district
absentee ballot
one that allows a person to vote without going to the polls on Election Day
cross pressured voter
voter caught between conflicting elements in life (ex. religion, income level, peer group)
straight party ticket
voter selects candidates of their party only
see party more important than issues
independent voter
do not belong to party
weak party loyalty
propaganda
messages supporting candidate
use ideas, information, or rumors to influence opinion
information in any way that supports a predetermined objective
interest groups
a group of people with common goals who organize to influence governement
public-interest groups
a group that seeks policy goals that it believes will benefit the nation
lobbying
direct contact made by a lobbyist in order to persuade government officials to support the policies their interest group favors
public opinion
the ideas and attitudes a significant number of Americans hold about issues
political culture
a set of shared values and beliefs about a nation an its government
liberal
one who believes the national government should be active in promoting heath, education, justice and equal opportunity
conservative
one who believes government should be limited, except in supporting traditional values and promoting freedom of opportunity
moderate
one whose beliefs fall somewhere between liberal and conservative views
straw poll
an unscientific attempt to measure public opinion
scientific polling
measure public opinion
1. select a sample of the group to be questioned
2. presenting carefully worded questions to the individuals in the sample
3. interpreting the results
sample error
a measurement of how much the sample results may differ from the sample universe
cluster sample
a polling method that groups people by geographical divisions
representative sample
a small group of people, typically of the universe, that a pollster questions
mass media
means of communication, such as television newspapers, movies, books, and the Internet, that influence large audiences
news briefing
a meeting during which a government official makes an announcement of explains a policy, decision, or action
press conference
the news media's questioning of a high-level government official
front-runner
the early leader in an election
spot advertising
the brief, frequent, positive descriptions of a candidate or a candidate's major themes broadcast on television or radio
Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN)
broadcasts floor proceeding of the House and Senate
prior restraint
government censorship of information before it is published or broadcast
shield laws
a law that gives reporters some means of protection against being forced to disclose confidential information or sources in state courts
fairness doctrine
rule requiring broadcasters to provide opportunities for the expression of opposing views on issues of public importance
List three demographic/socioeconomic traits associated with the Democrats and three traits associated with the Republicans.
Democrats
-women/unmarried women
-low income/ >$15,000
-without high school diploma or post-graduate degrees
-racially diverse/African Americans
-less religious
Republicans
-high school graduates and some college graduates
-middle class
-more white/ less racially diverse
-catholic/protestant/religious
Political parties serve several important functions. Please describe and explain at least four of those
functions.
1. Recruiting Candidates
select men and women who have good chance of being elected into office
2. Educating the Public
bring important issues to attention of public
ex. inflation, military spending, taxes, pollution, energy, and enviornment
3. Operating the Government
Congress and state legislatures are organized and carry out work on basis of party
members support party's position
4. Dispensing Patronage
give favors for party loyalty
may give jobs, contracts, and appointments to govt. positions
What are the basic political beliefs of Democrats and Republicans?
Democrats
-liberal social issues
-higher taxes for more social programs
-separation of church and state
Republican
-conservative social issues
-lower taxes
-religion can provide moral compass for govt.
Analyze the origin, development and role of political parties, noting those occasional periods in which there was only one major party or were more than two major parties.
*Before Civil War
Democrat-Republicans
-dominated politics
-split due to banking, tariff, and slavery
*Parties after Civil War
Republicans
-majority party
Democrats
*Parties in and after Great Depression
Democrats
-control of White house and Congress
-became majority party for 50 years
Republicans
-1968 on controlled white house for 6 of 9 terms
Describe the three types of third parties. What makes it difficult for third parties to win election in the
US?
single-issue party
-focuses exclusively on one major social, economic, or moral issue
-generally short lived
-fades when issue is no longer important
ideological party
-overall change in society rather than on an issue
splinter party
-splits away from one of the major parties because of some disagreement
-ex. Roosevelt splits to form Progressive party
Discuss the history of the nomination process for presidential candidates and the increasing
importance of primaries in general elections.
candidates originally chosen by secret congressional caucus meetings
Jackson discredited caucus which led to nominating convention
voters originally choosing groups within party rather than candidate then group would pledge candidate to national convention
1970s delegates included women, minorities and young people
16/466
Describe three propaganda techniques. How can propaganda influence an election?
1. Labeling
-name calling
-identifying candidate with a term such as "un-American"
2. Spin
-interpreting a political event or statement from a particular point of view
3. Card Stacking
-giving only one side of the facts to support a candidates position
how much we rely on media to inform ideas about politics
ideas can be very effective
Discuss the trend of voter turnout, voter registration, and voter alignment. (Researching this information outside the textbook might be helpful.)
education, age, income important factors in who will vote
more education
middle-aged
high income
more prerequisites to register to vote the less people will vote
education, religion, region, and racial or ethnical backgrounds effect attitudes towards canidates
Describe the main objectives of interest groups and how interest groups can affect public policy.
a group of people who share common goals and organize to influence govt.
help bridge gap between citizens and govt.
by representing more than one person they have stronger bargaining positions with leaders in the govt.
can funraise to support specific legislation or candidates
influence voters
can hire experts like lobbyists
How do lobbyists affect the political process? Please give at least three examples and make sure to explain them.
hired by interest groups to influence congress members to vote for favorable legislation
usually experts of specific field
usually previous government employees
1. provide useful information
2. drafts bills
3. testifying before congress
Discuss five factors that shape public opinion.
Family
Social Characteristics
Peer Groups
Schools
Mass Media
What characteristics are present in a high quality public poll?
Sample Populations
Sampling Error
Sampling Procedures
Poll Questions
Mail and Phone Polls
Some observers would argue that not all interest groups are created equal. Please describe some of
the different types of interest groups.
Business-Related Groups
Labor-Related Interest Groups
Public-Related Interest Groups
Interest groups that have more funding and more big business have more pull with congress because they can fund campaigns and have more connections with important figures
What is a PAC and how do PAC's influence politics?
Political Action Committee
organize fundraising for any political nominee
federal or state level
if organization raises at least $2600
individual PACs limited by FECA
powerful way for interest groups to target candidate or discourage a candidate
Evaluate the roles of polls, campaign advertising and the controversies over campaign funding.
polls
-can effect the way people see a candidate
-sway peoples votes
Campaign advertising
-get your name out there more people voting for you because they know the name not the politics behind the person
campaign funding
-people that give huge amounts of money expect to have the politician do favors for them once they are in office
Explain how civil society provides opportunities for individuals to associate for social, cultural, religious, economic and political purposes. Explain how civil society makes it possible for people, individually or in association with others, to bring their influence to bear on government in ways other than voting and elections.
Interest groups
-ex enviornmental
grass roots organizing
-door to door
-signing petitions
city council
-going to meetings
Describe the means citizens use to participate in the political process (e.g., voting, campaigning, lobbying, etc.).
voting
-candidates that address concerns and represent interests
campaigning
-influence other to vote for others
-rallys
participating in civil society
-get people familiar with issues or support issues
-ex. mass incarceration
Discuss the meaning and importance of a free and responsible press. Describe the roles of broadcast, print and electronic media, including the Internet, as a means of communication in American politics. Explain how public officials use the media to communicate with the citizenry and to shape public opinion and campaign advertising.
television
-present public with mental image of candidate
-allows presidents to be "packaged"
Internet
-social media allows candidates to connect with voters in a more informal setting
-voters and reporters can learn more about candidates from websites or dirt
-can see who is getting campaign contributions
press should report on all candidates free from bribes
interest groups use mass media to inform public of views
List five steps in the process of being elected President of the United States.
1. announce campaign
2. primary election
3. general assembly
4. campaign for general election
5. electoral college
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