Political Science Ch 7-10

Front 1

Primary Election

Back 1

Voters pick which candidate will represent their party in the general election.

Front 2

General Election

Back 2

Voters pick a candidate to hold a political office.

Front 3

Closed Primary

Back 3

Primary in which you can only vote for the party which you are registered for.

Front 4

Open Primary

Back 4

Primary when all registered voters can participate.

Front 5

Blanket Primary

Back 5

Primary in which all registered voters can vote, and everyone gets the same ballot.

Front 6

Caucus

Back 6

Primary in which registered members of a party gather to debate and vote on candidates.

Front 7

Spoils System

Back 7

A system in which government employees are given their jobs because of WHO they know.

Front 8

Specialization

Back 8

The idea that specific tasks should be given to people who are experts at them.

Front 9

Administrative Discretion

Back 9

The authority which an agency or bureaucrat has in interpreting and implementing a law.

Front 10

Welfare State

Back 10

Social system in which the government is responsible for the welfare of its citizens

Front 11

What are the main constraints on bureaucracies?

Back 11

*They do not have control over revenue
*Decisions must be made according to pre-established rules
*Other institutions mandate goals

Front 12

What are the main tools which a president has to control bureaucracies?

Back 12

*Appointment power
*Power to re-assign programs from one agency to another
*The power to promote or demote agencies

Front 13

What are the main tools which congress has to control bureaucracies?

Back 13

*Power of the purse
*Administrative oversight (conducting investigations)
*Advice and consent (senate must confirm nominees)

Front 14

Iron Triangles

Back 14

Informal 3-way relationships between legislative committees, bureaucracies, and interest groups.

Front 15

Whistleblower Protection Act

Back 15

Reform which encourages people to report instances of bureaucratic mismanagment.

Front 16

Realignment

Back 16

A shift in party identification. Usually occurs after a historic event or crisis.

Front 17

What are the main functions of political parties?

Back 17

*Organizing elections/candidates/issues
*Combining and meeting groups interests
*Simplifying political choices by informing people of party opinions on issues.
*Organizing government to allow for policy making that is in-line with the party's views.

Front 18

Machine Politics

Back 18

Party bosses trade jobs, money and favors for votes.

Front 19

National Party Convention

Back 19

National meeting of political parties every 4 years, to choose who will run for the presidency, and to write the party platform.

Front 20

How does a candidate run for presidency?

Back 20

*Party members must vote for them in the primary
*State officials take their votes to the national convention
*Winner of the national convention is sponsored by the party

Front 21

Frontloading

Back 21

When most party primaries are held early in the nomination schedule, so that the candidate must ensure their support early on.

Front 22

Superdelegates

Back 22

Delegates who are expected to remain faithful to party policy, not the public. This ensures that candidates must still remain faithful to the party.

Front 23

PACS

Back 23

Political Action Committees. Parts of interest groups which raise money and distribute it to candidates.

Front 24

Single-Member Districts

Back 24

Electoral college votes which go to the candidate with the most votes.

Front 25

How many people are in the electoral college?

Back 25

538

Front 26

15th Amendment

Back 26

Amendment which gave African American males the right to vote

Front 27

19th Amendment

Back 27

Amendment which gave women the right to vote

Front 28

24th Amendment

Back 28

Amendment which outlawed the poll tax.

Front 29

Voting Rights Act

Back 29

Reform act which provided protection for African Americans wishing to vote.

Front 30

26th Amendment

Back 30

Amendment which made the voting age 18.

Front 31

Voter Turnout

Back 31

The percentage of elligable voters, who actually showed up to vote.

Front 32

Initiative

Back 32

A proposal created by citizens and voted upon during elections

Front 33

Referendum

Back 33

A proposal submitted by a state legislature, often focusing on whether a state should spend money in a certain way.

Front 34

Retrospective Voting

Back 34

Looking back at how well a candidate or party has done over the last term in order to determine who to vote for.

Front 35

Coattails Effect

Back 35

When voters elect representatives or senators of the same party of a successful president's party.

Front 36

How many electoral college votes must a candidate win in order to become president?

Back 36

270

Front 37

Contingency Election

Back 37

Election which is held in the House of Representatives, because no candidate recieved the majority of votes.

Front 38

Maintaining Election

Back 38

Election in which the majority party wins Congress and the White House, thus maintaining control.

Front 39

Deviating Election

Back 39

Election in which the minority party captures the white house.

Front 40

Issue Advocacy

Back 40

Process of campainging to persuade the public to take a certain position on an issue.

Front 41

Federal Matching Funds

Back 41

Presidential candidates who raise money in a recquired way may recieve matching federal funds.

Front 42

Independendt Expenditures

Back 42

Funds disperesed by a group or person who is not associated with a candidate.

Front 43

Soft Money

Back 43

Campaign contributions directed to a party or issue in general, not to a specific candidate. There are no limits on soft money.

Front 44

What is the oldest political party?

Back 44

Democrat

Front 45

What type of primary does California hold?

Back 45

Modified Closed Primary

Front 46

Self Perpetuation

Back 46

Teaching party loyalty