Govt 1 Test 2

Front 1

Majority vs plurality voting

Back 1

plurality
winner takes all system is known as “plurality voting system”
less than 50% of the voters voted for person/issue but has the most votes

Front 2

majority vs plurality voting

Back 2

A majority means that more than 50% of the voters voted for the person or issue in question.

Front 3

crossover voting

Back 3

crossover voting- a circumstance in which the members of one political party vote in the others party primary to influence which nominee is selected by the other party; often done to increase the chances that the nominee from the other party will be someone whose philosophy is similar to that of the invaders own party.

Front 4

party column vs office column ballot

Back 4

The party-column ballot is also known as the Indiana ballot, from its early use in that State. It lists each party's candidates in a column under the party's name.

Professional politicians tend to favor the party-column ballot. It encourages straight-ticket voting, especially if the party has a strong candidate at the head of the ticket. Most students of the political process favor the office-group from because it encourages voter judgment and split-ticket voting.

Front 5

party column vs office column ballot

Back 5

"Office Group Ballot": is a ballot that contains the names of all the candidates that are running for a public office that is categorized by what office they are running for.

Front 6

Australian ballot features

Back 6

1. It is paid for by the public through various forms of taxes.

2. It lists all the candidates that are running for office.

3. Each voter receives one ballot at the polls.

4. The voter marks the ballot in secret.

Front 7

party realignment

Back 7

major shift in people switching parties, happened in 1990s in the south- country switched from Demo to Rep.

Front 8

professionally managed campaign

Back 8

?

Front 9

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Back 9

IG and corporations funnel money to political candidates through several devices: Political Action Committees, soft money contributions, and issue advocacy advertising
1. PAC- a committee set up by and representing a corporation, labor union, or special interest group. PAC’s raise and give campaign donations

Front 10

PAC requirements

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1. the funds must be raised from at least 50 volunteer donors
2. must be given to at least 5 candidates in the federal election
3. PAC’s can contribute up to $5,000 to each candidate in each election
*there are now about 4,500 PAC’s ; total spending by PACs grew from $19 mil to more than $1billion in 2005-2006; about 43% of all campaign funds raised by House candidates in 2006 came from PACs

Front 11

electoral college

Back 11

are loyal based on the popular votes of that state
Goal- win the large states, because they have more electorals
There has only been 4 times in history that electoral college and popular vote didnt match (2000)

Front 12

electoral college determined by ?

Back 12

Electors determined by 1. the number of house of representatives for that state 2.number of senators (2)
In TX - 36 HoR + 2 S. = 38 electorals
Total of electorals= 538 ;
(HoR=) 435 + (S.=)100 +( District of Columbia=)3
Total = 538 Electorals
President= 50% of 538 (269) + 1
President= 270 electors

Front 13

interest group IG

Back 13

an organized group of individuals sharing common objectives who actively attempt to influence policy makers
any association of individuals or organizations, usually formally organized, that, on the basis of one or more shared concerns, attempts to influence public policy in its favour. All interest groups share a desire to affect government policy to benefit themselves or their causes. Their goal could be a policy that exclusively benefits group members or one segment of society (e.g., government subsidies for farmers) or a policy that advances a broader public purpose (e.g., improving air quality). They attempt to achieve their goals by lobbying

Front 14

lobbying

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lobbying-engage in private meetings, testifying, assisting legislatures, inviting legislatures to social gatherings, providing political info to legislatures, supplying nominations for federal appt

Front 15

solidary incentives

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a reason or motive having to do with the desire to associate with others and to share with others a particular interest or hobby; for members (social benefits)

Front 16

material incentive

Back 16

- a reason or motive having to do with economic benefits or opportunities; for members

Front 17

purposive incentive

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a reason for supporting or participating in the activities of a group that is based on agreement with the goals of the group. for example, someone with a strong interest in human rights might have a purposive incentive to join the Amnesty International

Front 18

access

Back 18

Indirect- electioneering, educating the public, socializing, and access
socializing- and trying to gain “access” (trying to gain some time with policy makers)
access- the ability to contact an official either in person or by phone. Campaign contributions are often given in hopes of gaining access to elected officials

Front 19

direct techniques of lobbying

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lobbying the legislative and executive branches, advising and serving on state boards and commission, filing suit in court, public demonstrations

Front 20

indirect techniques of lobbying

Back 20

Indirect- electioneering, educating the public, socializing, and access
socializing- and trying to gain “access” (trying to gain some time with policy makers)
access- the ability to contact an official either in person or by phone. Campaign contributions are often given in hopes of gaining access to elected officials

Front 21

conservative democrats

Back 21

semi independent relationship of national, state, and local party organizations. Tx conservatives voted Demo in state and local races but refused to support natl demo candidates for president.

Front 22

the impact of governor Shivers

Back 22

1948- did more than any individual to establish the dominance of the conservative faction of the demo party. the shivers (shivercrats) announced its support for the 1952 Republ presidential nominee, Eisenhower urged tx demo to vote republican for president and demo for state offices.
Shivers received dual nominations (super rare)

Front 23

political party

Back 23

political party- a group of political activists who organize to win elections, operate the government, and determine public policy
2. difference between IG and political party
1.IG do not want to operate the governent, and they do not put forth political candidates, another important distinction is that interests groups tend to sharpen issues, whereas American political parties tend to blur their issues positions to attract voters. Factions are subgroups within parties that may try to capture a nomination or get a postition adopted by the party. A key difference between factions and parties is that factions do not have a permanent organization, whereas political parties do. Factions generally preceded the formation of political parties do.

Front 24

party platform

Back 24

(goals for the president))
a document stating the aims and principles of a political party

Front 25

unit rule

Back 25

a rule by which all of a states electoral votes are cast for the presidential candidate receiving a plurality of the popular vote in that state

Front 26

primary

Back 26

allows voters to vote directly on the partys presidential nominee
is an election that narrows the field of candidates before an election for office. Primary elections are one means by which a political party or a political alliance nominates candidates for an upcoming general election or by-election.

Front 27

runoff primary

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a second primary election that pits the two top vote getters from the first primary against each other. such an election is held in states like tx when the winner of the first primary did not receive a majority of the votes

Front 28

special elections

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are help to meet special or emergency needs, such as to ratify a constitutional amendment or to fill a vacant office. are held to fill vacancies only in those legislative bodies having general lawmaking power.

Front 29

closed primary

Back 29

only declared members of a party can vote in that party’s primary. Tries to make sure that registered voters cannot cross over into the other partys primary

Front 30

open primary

Back 30

voters can vote in either party primary without disclosing their party affiliation. the voter makes the choice in the privacy of the booth

Front 31

soft money

Back 31

soft money- campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund generl party activities

between 1993 and 2002 when soft money was banned the amount raised for election activites quadrupled to more than $400 million! parties spent this on their conventions, for registering voters, and for advertising to promote the general party position

Front 32

sectional politics

Back 32

?

Front 33

winner takes all system of voting

Back 33

winner takes all system is known as “plurality voting system”. in the s unlike some european countries there are no rewards for a candidate who comes in 2nd.
because of this, the campaign organization must plan a strategy that maximises the candidates chances of winning.

Front 34

grassroots

Back 34

the bottom level of the party structure (precinct chair)
-the ordinary people as distinct from the active leadership of a party or organization: used esp of the rank-and-file members of a political party, or of the voters themselves

Front 35

liberal vs conservative ideology

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Liberals believe in government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all. It is the duty of the government to alleviate social ills and to protect civil liberties and individual and human rights. Believe the role of the government should be to guarantee that no one is in need. Liberal policies generally emphasize the need for the government to solve problems.

Front 36

liberal vs conservative ideology

Back 36

Conservatives believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. Believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems.