Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
95 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
HIGH-TECH POLITICS
|
Politics in which the behavior of citizens and policymaers and the politcal agenda itself are increasingly shaped by technology
|
|
MASS MEDIA
|
Televison, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and other means of popular communication
|
|
MEDIA EVENTS
|
Events purposely staged for the media that nonetheless look spontaneous. In keeping with politics as theater,media events can be taged by individuals, groups, and government officials, especially presidents
|
|
PRESS CONFERENCES
|
Meetings of public officials with reporters
|
|
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
|
The use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams, and schemes, which at times puts reporters in adversarial relationships with political leaders
|
|
PRINT MEDIA
|
Newspapers and magazines, as compared with broadcast media
|
|
BRODCAST MEDIA
|
Television and radio, as compared with print media
|
|
NARROWCASTING
|
Media programming on cable TV or the Internet that is focused on one topic and aimed at a particular audience. Examples include MTV, ESPN, C-SPAN
|
|
CHAINS
|
Newspapers published by masive3 media conglomerates that account fr almost 3/4 of tha nations daily circulation. Often these chanins control broadcast media as well.
|
|
BEATS
|
Specific locations from which news frequently emantes, such as Congress or the White House. Most top reporters work a particular beat, thereby becoming spcialists in what goes on at that location
|
|
TRIAL BALLOONS
|
An intentional news leak for the purpose of asesing the political reaction
|
|
SOUND BITES
|
Short video clips of about 15 seconds; typically all that is shown from a politician's speech or activites on the nightly televions news
|
|
TALKING HEAD
|
A shot of a person's face directly to the camera. Because this is visually unappealing the major comerical networks rarely show a politicing talking one-on-one for very long.
|
|
POLICY AGENDA
|
The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actively involved in politics at the time
|
|
POLICY ENTREPRENEURS
|
People who invest their political "capital" in an issue. According to John Kingdon, a policy entrepreneur "could be in or out of government, in elected or appointed positions, in interest groups or research organizations"
|
|
POLITCAL PARTY
|
According to Anthony Downs, a "team of men seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election"
|
|
LINKAGE INSTITUTIONS
|
The channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, politcal parties, interest groups, and the media.
|
|
PARTY IMAGE
|
The voter's preceptiong of what the Republican or Democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalsim
|
|
RATIONAL-CHOICE THEORY
|
A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. It assumes that individuals act to their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benegits of possible alternatives.
|
|
PARTY IDENTIFICATION
|
A citizen's self-proclaimed prefernce for one party on the other.
|
|
TICKET-SPLITTING
|
Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices. It has become the norm in American voting behavior
|
|
PARTY MACHINES
|
A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and to govern
|
|
PATRONAGE
|
One of the key undcuments used by party machines. A patronage jobm promotion, or contract is one that is given for politcal reasons rather than for merit or competence alone. Compre civil service and the mert principal
|
|
CLOSED PRIMARIES
|
Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests
|
|
BLANKET PRIMARIES
|
elections to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of candidates from all the parties. Voters can then select some Democrats and som eRepublicans if they like.
|
|
NATIONAL CONVENTION
|
The meeting of party delegates every four years to chose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform
|
|
NATIONAL COMMITTE
|
One of the instituions that keeps the party operating between conventions/ The natonal committee is composed of representatives from the states and territores
|
|
NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON
|
The national chairperson is responsible for the day-to-day activites of the party and is usually hand-picked
|
|
COALITION
|
A group of individuals with a common interest upon which every political party depends
|
|
PARTY ERAS
|
Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections.
|
|
PARTY REALIGNMENT
|
The displace of the majority party by the minorty party, usually during a critical election period
|
|
CRITICAL ELECTION
|
An electoral "earthquake" whereby new issues emerge,new coalitions replace old ones, and the majrity party is often dislaced by the minorty party. Critical election periods are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more thn one election to bring about a new party era
|
|
NEW DEAL COALITION
|
A coalition forged by the Democrats, who dominated American politcs from the 30s to 60s. Its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, Afircan Americans, and intellectuals
|
|
PARTY DEALIGNMENT
|
The gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties, as seen in part shinking party identification
|
|
THIRD PARTIES
|
Electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections
|
|
RESONSIBLE PARTY MODEL
|
A view favored by some poitcal scientists about how parties should work. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the vters, who can then use those choices as cues to their own preferences of candidates. Once in office, parties would carry out their campaign promises
|
|
NOMINATION
|
The official endorsement of a candidate for office by a politica party. Generally, sucess in the nomination game requires momentum, money, and media attention
|
|
CAMPAIGN STRATEGY
|
The master game plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign
|
|
NATIONAL PARTY CONVENTION
|
The supreme power within each of the parties. The convention meets every four years to nominate the party's presidential and vice-presidential candidates and to write the party's platform
|
|
CAUCUS
|
A meeting of all state party leaders for selecting delgates to the national party convention. Caucuses are usually organized as a pyramid
|
|
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES
|
Elections in which voters in a state vote for a candidate (or delegates pledged to him or her) Most delegates to the national party conventions are chosen this way
|
|
MCGOVERN-FRASER COMMISSION
|
A commission formed at the 1968 Democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups and others who sought better representation
|
|
SUPERDELEGATES
|
National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the Democratic national party convention
|
|
FRONTLOADING
|
The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention
|
|
NATIONAL PRIMARY
|
A proposal by critics of the caucuses and presidential primaries systems would replace these elctoral methods with a nationwide primary held early in the election year.
|
|
REGIONAL PRIMARIES
|
A proposal by critics of the caucuses and presidential primaries to replce these electoral methods with a series of primaries held in each geographic region
|
|
FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN ACT
|
A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. The act created the FEC. Provided public financing for presidential campaign spending, required disclosure, and attempted to limit contributions
|
|
FEDERAL ELCTION COMMISSION (FEV)
|
A six-member bipartisan agency created by the Federal election Campaign Act of 1974. The FEC administers and enforces campaign finance laws
|
|
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FUND
|
Founded by the $3 check-off on IRS tax forms, this fund provides a source of money for matching funds in the primaries and complete financing of Democratic and Republican presidential nominees in the general election.
|
|
MATCHING FUNDS
|
Contributions of up to $250 from individuals are matched for qualified presidential candidates in the primaries
|
|
SOFT MONEY
|
Political contributions earmarked for party-building expenses at the grass-roots level or for genric party advertising. For a time, such contributions were unlimited util they were banned by the McCain-Feingold Act
|
|
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES
|
Funding vehicles created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms. A corporation, union, or some other interest group can create a PAC and register it with the FEC, which will maticulously monitor the PAC's expenditures
|
|
SELECTIVE PERCEPTION
|
The phenomenon that people often pay the most attention to things they already agree with and interpret them accordig to their owns predispositions
|
|
SUFFRAGE
|
The legal right to vote, extended to African Americans by the 15th AMD, to women by the 19th,and to people over the age of 18 by the 20th AMD
|
|
POLITICAL EFFICACY
|
The belief that one's political participation really matters - that one's vote can actually make a difference
|
|
CIVIC DUTY
|
The belief that in order to support democratic government, a citizen should always vote
|
|
VOTER REGISTRATION
|
A system adopted by the staes that requires voters to register well in advance of Election Day. Although a few states permit Election Day registration for presidential elections, advance registration dampens voter timeout
|
|
MOTOR VOTER ACT
|
Passed in 1993, this act went into effect for the 1996 election. It requires states to permit people to register to vote at the same time they apply for a driver's license
|
|
MANDATE THEORY OF ELECTIONS
|
The idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his or her platforms and polotics. Politiciians like the theory better than political scientists do
|
|
POLICY VOTING
|
Electoral choices that are made onthe bias of the voters' policy preferences and on the basis of where the andidates stand on policy issues.
|
|
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
|
A unique American institution created by the Constitution, providin for the selection of th epresident by electors chosen by the state parties. Although the electoral college vote usually reflects a popular majority, the winner-take-all rule gives clout to big states
|
|
INTEREST GROUPS
|
An organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals. Interest groups pursue their goals in many arenas.
|
|
PLUARLIST THEORY
|
A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own prefered policies
|
|
ELTITE THEORY
|
A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of govermental organization
|
|
HYPERPLUARALIST THEORY
|
A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakend. Hyperpluralism is an extremem, exaggerated, or preverted form of pluralism
|
|
SUBGOVERNMENTS
|
A network of groups within the American political sytem that exrvise a great deal of control over specific policy areas. Also known as iron triangles, subgovernments are composed of interest group leaders interested in a particular policy, the government agency in charge of administering that policy, and the members of congressional committees and subcommittees handling that policy
|
|
POTENTIAL GROUP
|
All the people who might be interest group members because they share some commin interest. A potential group is amos always larger than an actual group
|
|
ACTUAL GROUP
|
That part of the potental group consisting of members who actually join
|
|
COLLECTIVE GOOD
|
Something of value (money, a tax writeoff, prestige, clean air, and so on) that cannot be withheld from a group member
|
|
FREE-RIDER PROBLEM
|
The problem faced by unions and other groups when people do not join because they can benefit from the group's activities without officially joining
|
|
OLSON'S LAW OF LARGE GROUPS
|
Advanced by Mancur Olson, a principle stating that "the larger the grou, the further it will fall short of providing an optimal amount of a collective good."
|
|
SELECTIVE BENEFITS
|
Goods (such as information publications, travel dicounts, and group insurance rates) that a group can restrict to those who pay their annual dues
|
|
SINGLE-ISSUE GROUPS
|
Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics. These features distinguish them from traditional interest groups
|
|
LOBBYING
|
According to Lester Milbrath, a "communication, by someone other than a citizen acting on his own behalf, direct to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his decision"
|
|
ELECTIONEERING
|
Direct group involvement in the electoral process. Groups can help fund campaigns provide testimony, and get members to work for candidates, and some form of PAC
|
|
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
|
Political funding vehicles created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms. A corporation, union, or some other interest group can create a PAC and register it with the FEC which will meticulously moniter the PACs expenditures
|
|
AMICUS CURIAE BRIEFS
|
Legal brifes submitted by a "friend of the court" for the purpose of rasing additional points of view and presenting information not contained in the beifs of the formal parties. These briefs attempt to influence a court's decison
|
|
CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS
|
Lawsuits permitting a small number of people to sue on behalf of all other people similarly situated
|
|
UNION SHOP
|
A provision found in some collective bargaining agreements requiring all employess of a business to join the union within a short period, usually 30 days, and to remain members as a condition of employment
|
|
RIGHT-TO-WORK LAW
|
A state law forbidding requirements that workers must join a union to hold their jobs. State right-to-work laws were specifically permitted by the Taft-Harley Act of 1947
|
|
PUBLIC INTEREST LOBBIES
|
According to Jeffrey Berry, organizations that seek "a collective god, the achievement of which will not selectively and materially benefit the membership or activites of the organization
|
|
INCUMBENTS
|
Those already holding office. In congressional elections incumbents usually win
|
|
CASEWORK
|
Activites of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals, cutting through ureaucratic red tape to get people what tey think they have a right to get
|
|
PORK BARREL
|
The mighty list of federal projects, grants, and contracts available to cities, business, colleges, and institutions available in a congressional district
|
|
BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE
|
A legislature divided into two houses. the U.S. congress and every American state legislature except Nebraska's are bicameral
|
|
HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE
|
An institution unique to the HoR that reviews all bills (except revenue, budget, and appropriations bills) coming from a House committee before they go to the full House
|
|
FILLIBUSTER
|
A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation to to talk it to death, based on the tradition of unlimited debates. Today, 60 members present and voting can halt a filibuster
|
|
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
|
An office mandated by the constitution. the speaker is chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant
|
|
MAJORITY LEADER
|
The principal partisan ally of the the Speaker of the House or the party's manager in the senate. The majority leader is responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes i behalf of the party's legistlative positions
|
|
MINORITY LEADER
|
The principal leader of the minority party in the HoR or Senate
|
|
STANDING COMITTEES
|
Separate subject matter committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas
|
|
CONFERENCE CoMMITTEES
|
Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particualr bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints membrs from each house to iron out the differecnes and bring back a single bill
|
|
JOINT COMMITTEES
|
Congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from both homes
|
|
SELECT COMMITTEES
|
Congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose, such as the Watergate investigation
|
|
LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT
|
Congress' monitoring of the buearucracy and it administration of policy, performed mainly though hearings.
|