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42 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
What are the functions of elections in the united states?
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to pass laws
elect ppl nominate |
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voter turnout rates in the US as compared to other democracies
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very low compared to everyone else
turnout 55% |
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Bush v. Gore holding
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Called for a recount in Florida that needed to be done in a more consistent fashion; however, they said there wasn't enough time to recount
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Political efficacy
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Belief that your political participation counts and makes a difference
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civic-duty voters
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feel like they have to vote in order to support democracy
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purpose of voter registration
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in order to avoid fraud
get 1 vote per person |
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factors that contribute to low voter turnout
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voter registration
vote on a work day a lot more elections than in other countries go to a polling place jail vote only 1 day |
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voter rates for race/ethnicity
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whites tend to have a higher turnout
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voter rates for gender
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women vote more
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voter rates for income
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higher the income the more likely to vote
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voter rates for education levels
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higher the education the more likely to vote
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voter rates for relgious affliation
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if you attend religious services more likely to vote
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voter rates for single v married
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married more likely to vote
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importance of party identification to voting
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despite current ticket splitting identification still shows hoe people will vote
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how the electoral college works
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ppl are appointed by the party and they cast their votes by mail for the majority of the peopl
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why the electoral college was established
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the founding fathers didn't trust the people and they wanted the choice to be in the hands of the elite
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how do most states allocate their votes
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winner take all
exceptions: maine and nebraska |
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retrospective voting
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when someone asks what have you done for me over the past 4 years?
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effect of retrospective voting on incumbents
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effects negatively b/c usually pessimistic view
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importance of economic policy in elections
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#1 factor in elections
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how interest groups differ from political parties
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interests groups focus on specific issues where parties focus on general areas of issues
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pluralist theory
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interest groups compete and counterbalance each other. the market is fair and those that do best come out on top
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hyperpluralist theory
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too many groups and government granting them what they want that there is gridlock and conflicting policy
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elite theory
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that only the wealthiest groups get the most power
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interest group liberalism
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theory that with the rise of interest groups that there has been more passed laws that have broadened the scope of government
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sub-governments
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lobbyists
congressional comittees beaurecratic agencies |
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olson's law of large groups
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that small groups are more effective
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three major factors that determine the effectiveness of interest groups
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size
intensity resources |
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potential group
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ppl that could join but haven't
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actual groups
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ppl that joined
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collective good
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something of value that benefits potential and actual
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free rider problems
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ppl that won't join unions b/c they will still receive benefits
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selective benefits
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benefits for memebers of an interest group
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single issue groups and advantages
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they have a lot of intensity
congressmen/women forced to listen to them very passionate about issue |
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strategies of interest groups
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lobbying
electioneering litigation going public |
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litigation
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suing and going to court
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electioneering
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getting the right ppl into office
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amicus curiae brief
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friend of court written by someone outside of the case
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class action lawsuits
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similar situated plantiffs can sue together under one complaint
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role of PACS in interest groups
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money lending arm of interest groups
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who pacs donate money to
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incumbents b/c 90% get reelected and know it is a sound investment
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work laws
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you don't have to be in union to get a job
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