Voting Rights and Voter Turnout
Define one of the following: rational-choice voting, retrospective voting, prospective voting, or party-line voting.
Define TWO for DOUBLE the points!
rational-choice voting: When a voter has examined an issue or candidate, evaluated campaign promises or platform points, and consciously decided to vote in the way that seems to benefit the voter
retrospective voting: A theory of voting in which voters essentially ask “what have you done for me lately”
prospective voting: Basing voting decisions on well-informed opinions and consideration of the future consequences of a given vote
party-line voting: A vote in which a substantial majority of members of a political party vote for those in their party
Define Linkage Institution.
The channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda
Name one third party.
Name TWO for double the points!
Independent, Libertarian, Progressive, etc.
What is the primary function of an interest group?
To educate legislators (act as "experts") and influence policymaking.
How many Electoral College votes are needed to win the Presidency?
270
Name and describe ONE voting rights amendment.
15th - U.S. cannot prevent a person from voting because of race, color, or creed
17th - Established the direct election of senators instead of being chosen by state legislatures
19th - Women gained the right to vote
24th - Eliminated the poll tax as a prerequisite to vote in national elections
26th - Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
Provide one example of a linkage institution.
Name TWO and get DOUBLE the points!
1. Elections
2. Political Parties
3. Interest Groups
4. Media
What is a "winner-take-all" voting district?
An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the party who received the most votes in an election
Explain the "free rider" problem
The result of relying on others to contribute to a collective effort while failing to participate on one’s own behalf, yet still benefiting from the group’s successes
What is the difference between a PAC and a Super PAC?
PAC - Officially recognized fundraising organizations that are allowed by federal law to participate in federal elections
Super PAC - Independent-expenditure only committees-can raise unlimited sums of money then spend unlimited amounts to overly advocate for or against candidates as long as they don’t coordinate with a campaign
Name two demographics that normally vote republican, and two demographics that normally vote democrat.
Name one way that political parties attempt to educate/mobilize voters.
Door-to-door campaigning, fundraisers, party platforms, media strategies, etc.
Explain why “winner-take-all” voting districts serve as a barrier to third-party and independent candidates success.
An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the party who received the most votes in an election; most common system in the U.S., and it does not benefit minor political parties since third-party candidates rarely win the majority of votes in an election
Describe the iron triangle, and name each of its 3 points.
Interest Groups, Bureaucratic Agencies, and Congress work together to influence the policymaking process.
How can a candidate win the popular vote, but lose the Electoral College vote?
The presidential candidate who wins the popular vote in a state wins all the electors which means he will get all the electoral votes of that state even if he wins by only one popular vote. Therefore, it is possible for a losing candidate to win by huge majorities in the states he wins and lose by tiny majorities in several large states and so lose the electoral vote and the election but receive an overall majority of popular vote.
Define "Political Efficacy"
The belief that one’s political participation really matters-that one’s vote can actually make a difference
Which is more important to the average voter: the candidate, or the party the candidate is a part of?
The candidate. The US has shifted from party-centered campaigns, to candidate-centered campaigns. Parties have become weaker in modern American history as campaigns have become more media-centered.
What 2 states do not have winner-take-all allocation?, and what system do they use instead?
Maine and Nebraska - Proportional voting system
What makes some interest groups more successful than others?
Inequality of political and economic resources - The more resources (money, members, etc) you have the more voice you have
Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party’s candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty
Explain how the Voting Rights Act of 1965 changed the political landscape.
Banned racial discrimination in voting. Provided for federal election examiners to enforce the law
Explain the Incumbency-Advantage phenomenon.
An incumbent is a person who already holds the office for which he or she is running for. Incumbents are likely to win an election than a newcomer candidate.
Ms. Phipps will judge :)
How can social/protest movements influence the work of interest groups?
If an ideological/social movement becomes popular that could magnify the interest group’s influence if they are associated with that movement...or the other way around it is unpopular
What is the difference between an open primary, and a closed primary?
Open - Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on election day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests
Closed - A type of direct primary limited to registered party members who must declare their party affiliation in order to vote