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45 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What are tendencies of Republicans?
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any raise in the federal minimum wage is unnecessary because it would hurt small businesses
they favor tax cuts and lower federal spending |
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What are tendencies of Democrats?
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want a universal right to health care, government should guarantee it for all citizens
favor high tax rates for well-to-do & federal spending for the poor |
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Independents
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about 1/3 of Americans
dont' face same requirements as Republicans and Democrats to get on a ballot |
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Define political party.
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a broadly-based coalition that attempts to win elections, operate the government and determine public policy
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Why are American political parties weak and what are the consequences of this?
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1) weak because they do not control who is nominated
2) consequences: have little control over elected officials |
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Responsible party system
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ex. Prime Minister in Great Britain
party members generally support party positions on issues which leads to more attention or focus on national party or policy goals |
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What are some limits that are in campaign contributions according to the Federal Elections Campaign Act and the 2002 BCRA?
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1) individual contributions limited to $2300 in primary & $2300 in general election
2) PACS limited to $5000 in general election 3) limits do not apply to state elections 4) presidential candidates who receive public funds in general election may NOT accept direct private contributions |
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What are direct primaries?
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1) party elections to nominate party candidates
2) held in Spring |
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How are the Democratic and Republican Party nominees for president officially selected?
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by delegates at the national party conventions
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How are the National Convention delegates selected?
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1) Presidential preference primaries
2) caucuses 3) superdelegates |
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What are regular activities of a lobbyist?
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1) meet privately with public officials
2) host entertainment events with public officials 3) testify in congressional committee hearings |
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What are party eras in American politics?
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long periods of time when on party dominates or competition is stable
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What characterizes the organization of American political parties?
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each level of political parties are semi-independent
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What characterizes the Electoral College?
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1) each state has as many electors as senators and representatives
2) winner of popular vote in a state receives all of that states' electoral votes 3) if no candidate wins a majority of electoral votes, the election is decided in the House of Representatives 4) candidate must receive at least 270 electoral votes to win |
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What are some trends in campaigning in recent years?
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1) use of polls and focus groups to monitor public opinion
2) the rise of candidate-centered campaigns 3) reliance on professional campaign specialists to guide campaigns |
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What is party realignment?
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groups of voters switch party alliance (ex. 1968-white southerners switched to Republican)
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What is party dealignment?
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decline in party loyalties that reduces long-term party commitment
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What are Jim Crow laws and what are they used for?
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1) laws that segregate whites and blacks
2) used to deprive African-Americans in the south of voting rights before the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 |
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What is the most important reason the American party system has always been a two-party system?
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winner-takes-all
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What are some direct techniques of interest groups?
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1) personal encounters between lobbyists and public officials
2) collection of voluntary contributions from corporations, labor unions and other interest groups to give to campaigns through PACS (Political Action Committees) 3) litigation (go to court) |
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What are indirect (grassroots) lobbying techniques?
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go through the public to mobilize and educate constituents to change public opinion and gain popular support
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Shotgun Approach to Grassroots Lobbying
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interest groups mobilize groups of people to phone or write to their legislators or to the president
ex. the interest group might ask a manager of a local plant in Utah to contact the senator from Utah |
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Climate Control
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ex. Dow chemical running TV ad to improve image
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What are interest groups, pressure groups or lobbyists?
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an organized group of people sharing common objectives that try to enter the policy process at several pressure points to influence policymakers
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Advantages to interest group participation
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education leaders of important issues allows opportunities for democratic expression, participation and provides for some degree of stability
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Disadvantages of interest group participation
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tend to immobilize causing gridlock
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What is a caucus?
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a small local meeting of party regulars
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How does the Electoral College work?
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1) each state has as many electors as senators and representatives
2) electors chosen by state parties 3)winner takes all |
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What are some criticisms of the Electoral College?
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1) faithless electors
2) smaller states overrepresented 3)possible to elect a president who is not the winner of the popular vote |
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Example of single issue group
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National Rifle Association (NRA)
MADD |
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Example of a professional association
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National Education Association (NEA)
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Who joins interest groups?
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wealthier, more highly educated individuals
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What makes an interest group powerful?
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size, resources, leadership and cohesiveness
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The power of organized interests of "factions" can be checked by what?
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1) a large and diverse country with many competing interests
2) dividing powers among several institutions so that an interest cannot easily control all of government |
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What takes place at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions?
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1) nominees are officially selected by delegates
2) keynote speeches 3) attempt to unify the party 4) the approval of the party platform |
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15th Amendment
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gave African-Americans the right to vote
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19th Amendment
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women's suffrage
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24th Amendment
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eliminated the poll tax
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26th Amendment
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gave 18 year olds the right to vote
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What are some reasons for the decline in voter turnout?
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1) registration requirements
2) voters believe vote does not affect outcome of election 3) some voters just satisfied with the status quo |
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What is the most important reason we have a two party system?
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single member district elector system
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Divided Government
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executive controlled by one party while legislative branch controlled by the other
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Nation, State and Local Party Organizations are ___ of one another.
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semi-independent
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1st Amendment
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1) the right to peaceful assembly
2) the right to redress the government for grievances |
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Top 10 Interest Groups
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1. NRA
2. AARP 3. National Federation of Independent Business 4. American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) 5. Association of Trial Lawyers of America 6. AFL-CIO 7. Chamber of Commerce 8. National Beer Wholesalers Association 9. National Association of Realtors 10. National Association of Manufacturors |
