Media
How does media affect the public?
By focusing public attention on selected issues.
What do lobbyists do?
Try to influence legislators to vote for or against certain bills.
What does PAC stand for?
Political Action Committee
The Electoral College is used to elect which two positions?
President and Vice President
Mrs. Shilo is 97 years old, born in Ashburn, and lives in Chicago. Why is she not allowed to vote in Virginia?
She does not live in Virginia
What is the purpose of propaganda?
To persuade or influence a person to do something (vote a certain way in elections)
What type of party system does the US have?
Two party system
With rising campaign costs, PACs and Super PACs make it so only ____________ individuals run for office.
What is the number of electors in each state based on?
Congressional representation
In order to win elections, which voters do candidates want to focus their efforts on when referring to the political spectrum?
How does the media affect public officials?
By holding them accountable for their actions
How can individuals influence public policy?
By participating in politics (voting, campaigning, seeking office, using social media)
This Supreme Court case stated PACs and Super PACs are protected under the 1st amendment.
Citizens United v. FEC
What is the formula for determining a state's electoral botes?
# in House of Reps + 2 Senators = Electoral Votes
What are the three qualifications to register to vote in V.A.?
- Be at least 18 years old on Election Day
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Reside in the state of V.A.
What is mass media's role in elections?
(Name 3)
1. Identifying candidates
2. Emphasizing selected issues
3. Writing media pieces about the election
4. Broadcasting different viewpoints.
Name two similarities between political parties.
1. Organize to win elections
2. Influence public policy
3. Reflect both liberal and conservative views on the political spectrum
4. Define themselves in a way that wins majority support by appealing to the center of the spectrum
What is the difference between a PAC and Super PAC?
Super PACs cannot donate to specific candidates or parties
Give two examples of swing states (2024).
Give two examples of safe states (2024).
Swing states: Pennsylvania, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona,
*Florida
Safe states: All the others
Name two different ways that third party candidates influence elections:
- Force Democrats and Republicans to care about certain issues
- Take away votes from the two-party candidates (Democrats and Republicans)
Name 3 strategies for evaluating the media. (SIDE)
S- Separating fact from opinion
I- Identifying propaganda
D- Detecting bias
E- Evaluating sources
What are some examples of international issues that may affect public policy?
(Name 2)
1. Public health concerns (pandemic)
2. Public safety concerns (terrorism)
3. Economic development in response to global economy
4. Policies to protect the environment
How can PACs give unlimited money to candidates without breaking the law?
By using the money against their opponent instead of using it for the candidate they support.
In the Electoral College, all states have a winner-takes-all system, with the exception of two states. Which two states are the exception?
Maine and Nebraska
Name 4 reasons citizens fail to vote.
1. Lack of interest
2. Failure to register
3. Belief their vote does not count
4. No time/too busy
5. Poverty, inability to make it to the polls