Interest Groups
Identify 3 ways interest groups try to INFLUENCE public policy
Lobby lawmakers and bureaucrats
Provide technical information to inform policymaking
Endorse candidates and encourage members to vote to get allies in power
Amicus Curiae Brief to the Court
File a lawsuit on behalf of plaintiff
Explain how the modern hi-tech media contributes to political polarization.
Issues of "fake news" and loss of trust in traditional media institutions
What does “split-ticket” voting refer to?
When people vote for multiple political parties on a given ballot. For example, a voter might choose a Democrat for president, but then on the same ballot choose a Republican for the US Senate. The main idea...little party loyalty!
How do we determine the winner of a PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?
Describe the function of "linkage institutions"
A structure within a society that connects the people to the government
Provide one way an interest group can INFLUENCE the results of an election.
Many possible answers exist: - donate money to a candidate - endorse candidates...informs public and interest group members - mobilize members to vote for a candidate-make PAC donations
This phrase describes the media’s role when it influences what issues receive lots of attention for long periods.
Agenda setting (gatekeeping)
-Elect people to office -Gain control of government -influence policy by gaining control of the government/winning office
Candidates tend to focus on swing/battleground states and states with larger populations in order to win a majority of electoral votes
What is one reason why voter turnout in congressional races is lower than in presidential races?
Many possible answers exist: - The ONE presidential race receives more national media coverage compared to the 535 congressional elections... - Easier for the media to focus on ONE person than a large and decentralized national legislative branch
This concept describes a committee set up to raise and spend a LIMITED amount of money on campaigns and candidates.
Why does the media use “sound-bites” more than longer excerpts from speeches and press conferences?
Many possible answers exist: - B/C news programs are relatively short, not enough time to show longer excerpts - People not as knowledgeable, media likes to get to the point of a story/news event - News programs like to put as much into their limited airtime...especially items that will garner large viewer ratings
List 2 effects third parties can sometimes have on elections.
Many possible answers exist, here are a few acceptable responses: - spoiler in elections - develop ideas that major parties adopt - mobilize people who might not have voted for the main parties to vote for a third party candidate
Explain the process of REAPPORTIONMENT and REDISTRICTING
REAPPORTIONMENT: After the census is taken every ten years, each state is allocated a number of representatives in the House proportionate to its population.
REDISTRICTING: State legislatures must approve the boundaries for the number of legislative districts determined by reapportionment.
If no presidential candidate was able to win a majority of electoral votes, who would decide who would be the next president?
Political Parties must take a position on many policy issues and seek broad appeal to win elections
Describe "horse-race journalism"
Media tends to focus on elections like a "horse race" in that the focus is more on who is leading in polls, while NOT focusing on the issues very much
Explain the concept of REALIGNMENT and provide an example of this happening with a CRITICAL ELECTION
-When a demographic group changes what major political party it supports over time
Ex. African Americans realigned from Republican to Democrat in 1932 (New Deal Coalition)
Southern White Democrats realigned to Republican Party after the Civil Rights Movement (1968-first Presidential Election)
Explain how a FEDERAL LAW influences VOTER REGISTRATION
VOTING RIGHTS ACT of 1965: States cannot use a literacy test. Preclearance from the federal government for states with a history of voter disenfranchisement (until 2013).
MOTOR VOTER ACT of 1993: Allows eligible voters to register at public facilities like the DMV when getting a driver permit/license
Candidates appeal directly to voters; candidates can raise money by appealing to voters or PACs directly; candidates choose their own issues to campaign on.
List a strategy an interest group could take to lessen the effects of free riders.
Provide benefits for only those who join the organization... think AARP
Explain how the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. FEC (2010) influenced INTEREST GROUPS' use of the media during an election cycle
Interest Groups (along with corporations and labor unions) can form SuperPACs which can spend unlimited amounts of money on political ads supporting a candidate or attacking their opponent
List at least 2 reasons why the United States tends to have a Two-Party system?
A few answers exist, here are the main reasons: (1) Winner-Take-All System: Winner gets everything--No 2nd place points (2) Single-Member Districts: person represents people of a given area--person with the plurality of votes wins (3) State laws can hinder 3rd party ballot access--each state has different rules
RATIONAL CHOICE: Voting for the candidate that supports policy positions that are personally beneficial
RETROSPECTIVE VOTING: Looking back on a candidate's time in office to determine whether or not to re-elect that candidate
Explain how campaign strategy typically changes from PRIMARY ELECTION CAMPAIGNS to GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS and WHY
More partisan and ideologically extreme in primary campaigns, especially if it is a CLOSED primary
More moderate in general election campaign to appeal to Independents and Centrists in order to win enough votes to secure election victory