Iron Triangles
Interest Groups
Major Parties
Third-Parties
Random Review
100
Name 2 of the 3 groups involved in an iron triangle.
100
What is the main goal of an interest group?
To spread awareness about their selected issue and, therefore, influence policy in their favor.
100
Name the two major parties in the U.S. and explain which one is more LIBERAL and which one is more CONSERVATIVE
Democrats - Liberal
Republicans - Conservative
Ms. Phipps can't help herself but to remind you that Democrats are still pretty conservative compared to liberal parties in other countries. Anyways
100
Name one "Third Party" that has a presence in the United States.
The Green Party, Libertarian Party, Pirate Party, etc.
100
How does someone tend to vote if they are a "straight ticket" or "party line" voter?
A straight ticket voter always votes for the same political party, no matter who the candidate is.
200
Provide an example of an interest group or a bureaucratic agency
Interest Groups: NRA, AARP, PETA, etc.
Bureaucratic Agencies: EPA, DEA, Dept. of Agriculture, etc.
200
What is a "single-issue" group?
A single-issue group is an organization that focuses exclusively on one specific area of public policy, advocacy, or concern, often mobilizing people to influence legislation or political action related to that issue.
200
Different demographics (genders, races, etc.) tend to vote for particular parties. Name ONE demographic that tends to vote in certain ways.
Men - Republican, Women - Democrat, White - Republican, Black - Democrat, Christian - Republican, Non-Religious - Democrat, etc.
200
What is the name of the government structure that makes it almost IMPOSSIBLE for Third-Parties to win a NATIONAL election?
The Electoral College
200
Name one amendment that protects a group (or groups) of people's ability to vote.
The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including formerly enslaved people.
The 15th Amendment granted African American men the right to vote.
The 17th Amendment changed the practice for electing Senators from a vote by state legislatures to a direct vote by the people.
The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote.
The 24th Amendment eliminated poll taxes, a structural barrier to voting.
The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18.
300
When working in an iron triangle, how can Congress help a Bureaucratic Agency in exchange for favorable regulations?
Congress can use the "Power of the Purse" to provide bureaucratic agencies with more funding when they create the federal budget.
300
Several post-World War II social movements led to significant public policy outcomes favoring groups that had historically been pushed to the side or ignored by the government. Name one of those social movements, and one piece of policy that was passed as a result.
Civil Rights Movement - Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act
Women's Rights Movement - Title IX, The 19th Amendment
Environmental Movement - The Clean Air Act, The Clean Water Act, the creation of the EPA
300
What do the major parties do to attract voters of different demographics?
Adapt their policies to attract those particular voters, or change the messaging/advertisements that they put out. Major parties' greatest weapon to attract voters is by advertising to particular demographics using user data.
300
Due to the electoral college, voting districts in the United States have a "______ take ______" system for elections. Name and explain the issues with this system, or name and explain a system we can use INSTEAD.
In comparison to proportional systems, winner-take-all voting districts serve as a structural barrier to third-party and independent candidate success. Winner-take-all voting advantages the two-party system in the U.S.
300
Name a structural barrier or political concept that may influence voter turnout in the United States.
The following can influence voter turnout:
i. Differences in state-controlled elections (the hours polls are open, Voter ID laws, variations in funding for polling places and workers, variations in types of voting allowed, such as voting by mail, absentee voting, and early voting)
ii. Variations in voter registration laws and procedures (registering in-person, online, or automatically)
iii. Election type (more turnout for presidential elections than midterm elections)
400
What is the main function of interest groups in an iron triangle?
Acting as "experts" on specific policy areas, therefore educating bureaucratic agencies and congress alike on their issue.
400
Explain what the problem with "free riders" means for interest groups.
iii. Free riders are individuals who benefit from the work of an interest group without providing financial support. Interest groups may deal with this issue by providing selective benefits, goods and services that are only available to members, to encourage more people to join.
400
Parties have evolved over time, now more voters are less interested in the party itself and more interested in their...
CANDIDATES!
Political parties have evolved to have more candidate-centered campaigns.
400
What do major parties do when third-parties gain too much attention?
The incorporation of third-party agendas into platforms of major political parties serves as a barrier to third-party and independent candidate success.
400
There are two types of "effects" that may lead to changes in a citizen's political ideology. Name one of those effects and describe it.
Generational effects (experiences shared by people of a common age) and life cycle effects (experiences a person encounters during different life stages) contribute to the development of a person’s political ideology.
500
Describe one advantage of the iron triangle, AND one negative side effect of the iron triangle.
Advantages: In order to pass quality legislation, Congress needs access to lots of research and expertise. It would be impossible for Congress, or the bureaucracy, to employ a team of experts to deal with every issue that comes before it.
In this sense, the relationship these institutions have with interest groups is very beneficial to the public. The interest groups have experts and specialized knowledge, and can help Congress craft effective legislation.
Drawbacks: The various Iron Triangles that form are often called sub-governments, as they are often impregnable, durable and incredibly influential. This too, while building their expertise, makes them less responsive to the demands of the public, and even to the influence of elections. Most bureaucrats remain in place even after a switch in party control of the presidency or Congress.
500
Explain how the inequality of interest group resources can affect the amount of influence they may have on the policymaking process.
i. Some interest groups, such as AARP, have large memberships, are able to mobilize those members, and possess access to large financial reserves.
ii. Some interest groups have more direct and more frequent access to important people in the policy process.
500
Name one of the THREE governmental/social factors that have influenced the structure of the two major parties over the last few decades.
The structure of parties has been influenced by:
i. Critical elections (elections in which there is a realignment of political party support among voters)
ii. Campaign finance law
iii. Changes in communication and data management technology
500
Make an argument: Is voting Third-Party ALWAYS a waste of your vote?
Ms. Phipps will be the judge.
500
Explain the relationship between one of the four core beliefs of U.S. citizens and attitudes about the role of government.
Different interpretations of core values, including...
1. individualism (each person has the ability to shape their life and destiny through the choices they make)
2. equality of opportunity (all people are given an equal chance to compete)
3. free enterprise (the market
determines prices, products, and services) and
4. rule of law (every person, even those in power, must follow and is accountable to the same laws that govern all)
...all affect the relationship between citizens and the federal government and that citizens have with each other.