A group of people who seek to control the government through winning elections.
What is a political party?
money given directly to candidates where limits and regulations apply
what is hard money
Whatever the media chooses to talk about is the information that people receive
what is agenda setting
An organization of people who have policy goals and try to influence policymakers to accomplish these goals.
What is an interest group?
Self-announcement, Caucus, Convention, Direct primary,
What are ways candidates can be nominated
How many functions do political parties function?
political donations given to the party that can avoid government regulations
what is soft money?
If the media chooses not to talk about it, then people are generally uninformed about the issue and it is not shared to the public
what is agenda cutting
Political parties work to get candidates elected, interest groups work to get laws passed.
What is the difference between a political party and an interest group?
All voters can participate, 36 states, Moderate candidates
what is open primary
Nominating candidates, informing and activating supporters, bonding agent, governing, and watchdog.
What are the functions that political parties serve?
an organization created to influence state/federal elections. Created by business/ unions to support candidates. 5000 limits. Money goes directly to candidate
what is PACS
Watches the government and makes sure that the government is serving the public interest and conveys their findings back to the people
what is a watchdog?
Bring lawsuits against the government, make donations to candidates who support their cause, influence lawmakers that are elected, advertise their issues on media/social media, and contribute to campaign ads (tv/radio).
What are the five main things that interest groups do?
Only party voters can participate, 14 states, Extreme candidates
what is closed primary?
Watchdog
The most "unfair" function?
independent expenditure groups do not give directly to a candidate therefore do not have any limits on spending. May spend money on issues/ advertising but not in connection with the campaign
what are SUPER PACS
30 second sound clips used on TV to convey the message of an entire speech
what are sound bites?
The national abortion and reproductive rights action league.
What is the NAR-RAL?
Compromises the secret of the ballot because voters have to make the party preference knows. Tends to exclude independent voters from the nomination process.
what are disadvantages of closed primaries
helps ensure a good performance of its candidate and does background checks to ensure the quality of a candidate.
What does a bonding agent do?
Struck down some spending limits therefore increasing the demand for money. Allow spending limits only in compelling government interest cases
what is Buckley V. Valeo 1976
focus is on polling data and public perception rather than candidate policies
what is horse race coverage?
fights against gun control laws
What does the NRA do?
It prevents one party from raiding the other primary. It helps make candidates more responsive to the party and its platform. It makes voters more thoughtful because they have to choose between the parties in order to vote.
what are advantages of closed primary?