Voting Behavior
What is the belief that your vote matters called?
Political Efficacy
What type of election chooses party nominees?
caucuses
What’s the main purpose of political parties?
to win elections and thereby control government to implement their policy agenda
What’s the main goal of an interest group?
To influence public policy and government decisions in their favor.
What role of the media involves setting the public agenda?
Gatekeeper — the media decides which issues get attention and become national priorities.
Which voting model is based on looking at candidates’ past performance?
retrospective
What is the main criticism of the Electoral College system?
a candidate can win the U.S. Presidency without winning the national popular vote, which opponents argue violates the principle of "one person, one vote" and undermines representative democracy
What is party realignment?
a significant, long-term shift in voter coalitions and party alignment, where large groups of voters switch their allegiance, fundamentally changing the electoral landscape and party systems, often triggered by major events
What is lobbying?
Directly trying to persuade government officials or legislators to support a group’s interests.
What type of journalism focuses only on who’s winning?
Horse-race journalism — focuses on polling and competition rather than policy issues.
What amendment lowered the voting age to 18?
26th
What is an “incumbent”?
the current holder of an office or position
What does “dealignment” mean?
voters are breaking their long-term, stable ties to specific political parties
What’s the difference between an iron triangle and an issue network?
An iron triangle is a stable, long-term relationship between Congress, the bureaucracy, and interest groups; an issue network is a looser, temporary alliance of various actors focused on one policy issue.
What is fake news or misinformation most likely to affect?
Public trust, political knowledge, and voter behavior.
Name one demographic factor that increases voter turnout.
age
Which court case allowed unlimited corporate spending on political ads?
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
Why is it difficult for third parties to win elections in the U.S.?
the winner-take-all voting districts
Give an example of a strategy interest groups use to influence government.
Lobbying, campaign contributions, grassroots mobilization, litigation, or filing amicus curiae briefs.
How has social media changed political communication?
It allows politicians to communicate directly with voters, spread information quickly, and bypass traditional news filters.
Why do younger voters typically have lower turnout?
Explain how the winner-take-all system affects third parties.
it significantly disadvantages third parties by making it nearly impossible for them to win seats or electoral votes, even with substantial popular support
How has party dealignment affected voter behavior and elections in recent decades?
Answer:
More voters now identify as independents, splitting tickets and weakening party loyalty. This increases the importance of candidate-centered campaigns and reduces the control political parties have over elections.
What does an “amicus curiae” brief do?
It provides additional information or arguments to the court from someone not directly involved in the case, to influence the court’s decision.
What is narrowcasting, and how has it affected political polarization?
Narrowcasting targets specific audiences, leading to echo chambers and greater political polarization.