Political Parties
What is the primary function of political parties in the United States?
To organize elections and facilitate the electoral process.
What is the purpose of primaries in the electoral process?
To select a party's candidate for the general election.
What is an interest group?
An organization of people with shared goals that seeks to influence public policy.
What is the main role of the media in a democracy?
To inform the public about political issues and events.
What does PAC stand for?
Political Action Committee
What is the process of redrawing district lines after every ten-year census?
Reapportionment
What is the Electoral College?
A group of representatives from each state who formally elect the President and Vice President.
What are the three ways interest groups typically exert influence policymaking?
Lobbying, legislation, electioneering
What is the concept of "fake news"?
Misinformation presented as news, often designed to mislead or manipulate public opinion.
In Buckley v. Valeo (1976), the Supreme Court ruled that spending money to influence elections is a form of this constitutional right, though limits on direct contributions to candidates could still stand
Free speech
What is a party platform?
A formal set of principal goals supported by a political party or candidate
What is the term for the practice of drawing district boundaries to benefit a particular political party?
Gerrymandering
These organizations represent workers and negotiate for better pay and conditions
Labor unions
How has social media changed the landscape of political communication?
It has lowered the costs associated with producing media, reducing the role of gatekeepers
This federal agency oversees and enforces campaign finance laws.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC)
What did James Madison argue for in Federalist No. 10?
A large republic
What role do debates play in the electoral process?
They provide candidates the opportunity to present their views and challenge opponents, influencing public perception.
What are Political Action Committees (PACs)?
PACs are organizations that collect and distribute funds to political candidates, influencing elections and legislation.
This term describes journalists’ role in monitoring government actions and exposing wrongdoing
Watchdog journalism
In Citizens United v. FEC (2010), the Supreme Court ruled that corporations and unions have this right in elections.
Free speech / the right to spend unlimited money on independent political ads
How do third parties impact the electoral process in the United States?
They can influence major party platforms and outcomes by drawing votes away from major candidates.
What comes right before election day in the Presidential political process?
Presidential debates
This problem arises when individuals benefit from a group’s actions without joining or contributing.
The free rider problem
The media can influence public opinion by doing this—making certain issues more important in the public’s mind
Agenda-setting
The massive independent political spending groups that arose after Citizens United are known as these.
Super PACs