Political Parties
In this type of primary election, only members of a specific political party can vote to choose their candidate for the general election.
What is a closed primary?
This is the practice where interest groups provide money or resources to candidates or political parties to gain access and influence their decisions.
What is lobbying?
These two amendments increased voting rights for American citizens.
What is the 15th and 19th amendment?
The term for fundraising to support a candidate during their campaign.
What is campaign finance?
What was the result of McCutcheon v. FEC?
Struck down aggregate limits on individual donations to multiple candidates, further deregulating campaign finance.
Describe two important functions of political parties in US elections.
Two important functions of political parties in US elections include providing platforms for issues and to recruit candidates for government office.
This term refers to the benefit that individuals or organizations receive from being part of an interest group, even if they do not actively participate or contribute.
What is the free rider problem?
This act was designed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting, particularly in the Southern United States
What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
Describe the difference between hard and soft money.
Hard money is disclosed, being regulated and limited in amount, donated directly to candidates or parties, while soft money is undisclosed and refers to unregulated funds.
Define policy agenda
A set of issues, problems, or subjects that government officials and policymakers prioritize for discussion and action
Explain the difference between dealignment v. realignment.
Party dealignment is when a mass number of people leave their political party and party realignment is when a mass number of people switch their political party.
The term for research institutions and/or analysis of important public issues, often with specific ideological goals
What are think tanks?
This amendment banned the use of poll taxes in federal elections.
What is the 24th Amendment?
This law, passed in 2002, aimed to limit the role of soft money in federal elections and imposed new regulations on political advertisements
What is The BCRA (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act)
The court case that ruled that limited individual campaign contributions are constitutional, but personal spending on one’s own campaign is a form of free speech and cannot be restricted.
What is Buckley v. Valeo?
These structures connect the public to the government and its policies, ensuring that citizens' concerns are communicated to political leaders.
What are linkage institutions?
The movement from the job of legislators to jobs within an industry affected by laws or regulations.
What is the Revolving Door?
What characteristics are required for an individual to be able to vote?
At least 18 years old, US citizen, an must meet their individual state requirements
This Supreme Court case ruled that corporations and unions could spend unlimited amounts of money on political ads, leading to the rise of Super PACs.
What is Citizens United v. FEC?
To find how much money a political candidate spent on a campaign for U.S. House, Senate, or the presidency, which agency should one consult or contact?
The Federal Election Commission
Name the main reasons as to why third parties don't win.
If they have a popular idea the major parties will pick it up, they have way less money than the major parties so they cannot advertise themselves or their goals as well, they have minimal pre existing connections in government making their support limited.
How do interest groups lobby?
They can...
Propose legislation and write potential bills for politicians; meet members of congress; run media campaigns; donate to political campaigns
Explain the difference between prospective and retrospective voting.
Prospective voting ia and individual voting based on what the candidate promises and retrospective voting is an individual voting based on what the candidate has already done
How do campaigns reach voters?
Traditional Media and controlling the media, candidate debates, the use of social media and advertising
Describe the differences between "Horse Race" journalism and investigative journalism.
"Horse Race" Journalism focuses on who's winning or losing in an election, tracking polls and competition, rather than policy or issues. Investigative Journalism looks deeply into important issues, uncovering facts or problems, often exposing corruption or scandals