All about voting
What is the rational choice model of voting?
Someone voting in their best interest, by supporting the candidate whose platform will give them the most favorable outcomes.
This group decides the rules for campaign funding
Federal Elections Commission (FEC)
What is the election that decides which candidate will fill an elective?
General election
Give an example of a structural barrier to voting
Answers may vary
Name the four major types of linkage institutions
Media, Elections, Political Parties, and Interest Groups
What is a linkage institution?
A group that connects the people to the government, ways for the people to communicate their preferences to the government.
What are the two main parties in the US?
Democrats and Republicans
The minimum number of votes to win the Electoral College
270
Many scholars argue that the Electoral College favors these types of states
Small states
This amendment led to the direct election of senators
17th Amendment
How are retrospective and prospective voting different?
Retrospective voting refers to voting based on the candidate's record in office or others in their party. Prospective voting refers to voting based on how a citizen thinks a candidate will act and perform if elected to office
What is the main purpose for Interest groups?
to influence and educate voters and office holders on the interest group’s chosen issue
What are swing states
states where Democrats and Republicans both have a chance of winning the popular vote
How long is a term in each position?
- The President
- The Senate
- The House
President - 4 years
Senate - 6 years
House - 2 years
What is the political organization that is allowed to raise and spend unlimited funds on political campaigns
Super PACs
If you can't vote on election day, what is an alternative
Absenteen ballot, early voting
What is one advantage of open primaries?
allows all voters to vote in all races in a Primary Election
This term is used for politicians who leave offive and then take high-paying positions with an interest group or lobbying firm
Revolving Door
Name of the system where the winner of the popular vote gets all of the state's electoral votes
Winner-take-all
How does the type of election (midterm vs. presidential) influence voter turnout?
People are more likely to turnout for Presidential elections rather than midterms, people in congress tend to stay in congress, people may believe their political efficacy is lower in those elections so they do not turn out as much, on Presidential elections there is more engagement and focus overall, since there is more political engagement more people turn out
Where do the nomiees for each party get selected?
National Convention
Why do incumbents win reelection so often?
One of the most important reasons as to why incumbents are nearly unbeatable is because they normally have much better financed campaigns than their opponents.
What was the decision in Citizens United v. FEC and how has it impacted campaign finance?
FEC that had upheld restricted corporate spending on electioneering communications. This ruling effectively freed corporations, including incorporated non-profit organizations, to spend money on electioneering communications and to directly advocate for the election or defeat of candidates.
The state with the first primary and state with the first caucus each year
New Hampshire and Iowa