Political Parties
Define Plurality
Plurality: (in an election with more than 2 options) the number of votes for the candidate or party receiving the greatest number (but less that half of the votes). Majority. (elections) more than half of the votes.
What is a manifest opinion?
An opinion held by the majority of Americans
How many members of the House of Reps are there?
435 Members
What is a filibuster?
a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required procedures >Senate power
What amendment limited the president to two terms of office?
22nd Amendment
Duverger's Law states that...
Duverger's law holds that plurality-rule elections structured within single-member districts tend to favor a two-party system, whereas "the double ballot majority system and proportional representation tend to favor multipartism".
What is the single most important agent of political socialization
Family
Who is the presiding officer of the House of Reps and the leader of his or her party in the House?
Speaker of the House
What is an open rule?
An order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended and freely debated on the floor
Who was the longest serving president?
FDR
What is party dealignment?
Dealignment is a trend or process whereby a large portion of the electorate abandons its previous partisan (political party) affiliation, without developing a new one to replace it.
What is it called when people choose media that agrees with their political ideology?
Selective Attention
What group reconciles bills from the house and senate?
Conference Committee
What does it take to end a filibuster?
Invoke Cloture- 3/5 of all senators
What is the difference between an executive order and a law?
orders carry the same force of law as executive orders—the difference between the two is that executive orders are aimed at those inside government while proclamations are aimed at those outside government.
Orders are less permanent than laws.
Name three functions of a political party:
They bring people together to achieve control of the government, develop policies favorable to their interests or the groups that support them, and organize and persuade voters to elect their candidates to office.
What is the most common form of American political participation?
Voting
Which committee deals with tax bills?
Ways and Means
Amendments on matters unrelated to a bill that are added to an important bill are called
Riders
Name three positions the president can appoint:
Federal judges (SCOTUS)
Ambassadors
Cabinet Members
Name three realigning or key elections in American history
1860, 1896, 1968
Watchdog, Gatekeeper, Scorekeeper
Watchdog: The role played by the national media in investigating political personalities and exposing scandals.
Scorekeeper: The role the press plays by keeping track of who is being mentioned as a presidential candidate, and help decide who is winning and losing.
Gatekeeper: the role the press plays by influencing what subjects become national political issues and for how long.
What majority is needed to vote to override a presidential veto?
2/3 vote
Permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area
What is a lame duck?
A lame duck is an elected official whose successor has already been elected.