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57 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What are the three types of elections?
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Party nominations, general elections for officeholders, and referendum and initiatives (vote on specific policies)
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What type of election is the official endorsement of a candidate?
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Party nominations
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What is referendum?
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State voters approve or disapprove proposed legislation put forth by government
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What is referendum often used for?
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Constitutional amendments
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What is initiative?
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Legislation proposed by citizens (interest groups or policy entrepreneurs) to be voted on, up or down
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Why factors affect the decision to vote?
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Interest groups that skew voting to confuse voters, some think it is irrational, political efficacy, and civic duty
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Explain the Anthony Downs voting theory
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It is irrational to vote, since one vote doesn't change much
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What is political efficacy?
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The belief that one's political participation really matters
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What are the effects of political efficacy?
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Enhanced participation and increased rationality
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What is civic duty?
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The belief that in order to support the democratic government, a citizen should always vote. It is the idea of unselfish American values
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What has been the pattern of voter turnout throughout the 20th century?
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Generally decreasing
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What is voter registration?
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System adopted by the states that requires voters to register well in advance of the election day
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How can the states control voter turnout?
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Indirectly by various registration laws and procedures
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Why are states' different registration laws important?
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They can effect electoral outcomes
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What is the Motor Voter Act?
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Requires states to permit people to register to vote when they apply for their driver's license
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What characteristics affect who votes?
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Education, age, race, gender, marital status, mobility union membership, and cumulative combinations
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How does education play a part in who votes?
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It is the most important factor. The more educated, the more likely to vote
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How does age play a part in who votes?
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Older more likely to vote
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How does race play a part in who votes?
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Caucasian generally more likely to vote, other ethnicities are higher with comparable education
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How does gendr play a part in who votes?
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Female more likely to vote
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How does marital status play a part in who votes?
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Married more likely to vote
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How does mobility play a part in who votes?
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Don't move = more likely to vote
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How does union membership play a part in who votes?
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Union membership = more likely to vote
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What is the best predictor of vote choice and how Americans filter information?
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Party identification
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What has caused the major change in the importance of the party?
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Candidate centered politics
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What is candidate centered politics?
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Voting where individual characteristics of candidate are more important than party
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How does party act as a mental short?
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You don't need to know everything about a candidate because you know what their party stands for
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How does the cost of deciding affect the vote?
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The lower the cost, the more likely to vote
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How does party act as a perpetual screen?
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You see your party favorably
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How is party identification like being loyal to a sport's team?
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Creates a strong psychological connection that is not easy to change. You participate because you want your "team" to win. The stronger you identify, the more likely you are to vote.
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Are most opponents in congressional elections good?
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No, most are inexperienced, underfunded, unorganized.
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What does party identification say about voters and their districts?
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Likely to share views and be in the same party.
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How does one defeat incumbents despite overwhelming odds of money, influence, media, and momentum?
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Scandals, massive voter retaliation, technicalities.
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What is an incumbency advantage?
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Challengers have a little chance to win.
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Would term limits encourage turnover and inspire change?
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Perhaps.
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Do people approve of term limits?
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Yes, except for their congress people (contradictory).
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Do elections affect government policy?
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Yes, only when the two candidates are noticeably different in issues.
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Why do candidates often look similar in issues?
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Those that vow to continue popular issues win, which means they often support the same issues.
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Do campaign promises really occur?
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Yes, to be re-elected, spending must occur and promises must be made to garner more support.
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What is policy voting?
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BAsing your vote choices on issue preferences and where the candidates stand on policy issues
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Why might policy voting occur?
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Voters know where they and candidates stand on issues and see differences between candidates
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Why is policy voting generally unlikely to occur?
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Candidates can be ambiguous on issues, media tend to foucs on "horse race" not issues
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What increases chances for policy voting today?
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Candidates are forced to take a clear stand in the party primaries
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Why does money matter not as much as in the primaries?
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Both candidates have about the same amount, federal matching funds after convention
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What is incumbency advantage and what factors contribute to it?
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The advantage of someone in office if there is no war and economy is blooming
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What type and level of voting is most critical to the election process?
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Popular vote by state
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What actually elects the President and why?
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The Electoral College: founders didnt want the masses to directly elect the president, resulting in state-by-state presidential elections
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The electors are chosen by ____
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State
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What does the Winner-take-all system do?
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Give bigger emphasis to more populated states
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Each state has as many votes as it does _____ & _______
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Representatives and senators
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For a state, the winner of the popular vote typically gets what?
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All the electoral college votes for that state
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When must electors meet and when are votes reported by the vice president?
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December, and then January
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What happens if no candidate gets a majority (270 votes) of the vote?
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The House of Representatives votes for presdient, with each state casting one vote
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What are Congress members' primary goal (David Mayhew)?
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Win reelection
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How often do Representatives run for reelection?
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Every 2 years
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How much of the Senate is up for reelection every 2 years?
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1/3
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What are off presidential election years termed?
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Congressional or "midterm" years
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