Political Science Exam 2

Front 1

15th Amendment-

Back 1

guarantees that citizens’ right to vote cannot be denied “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude”

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19th Amendment-

Back 2

guarantees that citizens’ right to vote cannot be denied “on account of sex”

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26th Amendment-

Back 3

lowers the voting age to eighteen

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5 functions of parties-

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1. nominating candidates for election to public office
2. structuring the voting choice in elections
3. proposing alternative government programs
4. coordinating the actions of government officials

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527 committees-

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political organizations that are organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code; they enjoy tax-exempt status and may accept unlimited funds from unlimited sources but cannot expressly advocate a candidate’s election or defeat

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age as related to voting-

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young people are more likely to take part in demonstrations or boycotts and less likely to participate in conventional politics

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agenda building-

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the process by which new issues are brought into the political limelight

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agenda setting-

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the stage of the policymaking process during which problems get defined as political issues

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agents of socialization-

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family, school, community, peers, and the media

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basics of Electoral College-

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- each state is entitles to the number of electors equal to the total number of senators and representatives its entitled to in congress
- candidate needs 270/538 electoral votes to win the presidency
- if there’s no majority, vote moves to the House of Representatives where each state gets one vote

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Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act-

Back 11

a law passed in 2002 governing campaign financing; the law took effect with the 2004 election

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Caldwell v. US-

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cant protect anonymous sources

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caucus

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method used to select delegates to attend a party’s national convention. Generally a local meeting selects delegates for a county-level meeting, which in turn selects delegates for a higher-level meeting; the process culminates in a state convention that selects the national convention delegates

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citizen group-

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lobbying organization built around policy concerns unrelated to members’ vocational interests

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class‐action suit-

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a legal action brought by a person or group on behalf of a number of people in similar circumstances

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closed primary-

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a primary election in which voters must declare their party affiliation before they’re given the primary ballot containing that party’s potential nominees

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coalition building-

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the banding together of several interest groups for the purpose of lobbying

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commercial bias-

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the tendency of the media to make coverage and programming decisions based on what will attract a large audience and maximize profits

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congressional campaign committee-

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an organization maintained by a political party to raise funds to support its own candidates in congressional elections

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convention system-

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nothing

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conventional participation-

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relatively routine political behavior that uses institutional channels and is acceptable to the dominant culture

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criteria for newsworthiness-

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1. potential impact on listeners
2. degree of sensationalism
3. treatment of familiar people and life situations
4. close-to-home character
5. timeliness

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critical election-

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an election that produces a sharp change in the existing pattern of party loyalties among groups of voters

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critical realignment-

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a major shift in voting patterns in a single election or two

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direct action-

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unconventional participation that involves assembling crowds to confront businesses and local governments to demand a hearing

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direct lobbying-

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attempts to influence a legislator’s vote through personal contact with the legislator

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direct primary-

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a preliminary election, run by the state government, in which the voters choose each party’s candidates for the general election

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direction of opinion-

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the opinion of the majority of the electorate

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distributions of opinion (3)-

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1. normal distribution- bell-shaped curve
2. skewed distribution- one tail is long, one skinny (abortion)
3. bimodal distribution- two peaks instead of one (gun rights)

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education as related to voting rates-

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those with a college degree are the most likely to vote

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effect of growth in TV news-

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media researchers believe that television is to blame for the low level of citizens’ knowledge about public affairs

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effect of private media-

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gives the news industry more freedom but also makes media more dependent on advertising revenues; to profit, they must appeal to their audience

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effect of registration on rate of voting-

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causes low turnout because it requires more initiative than voting

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election campaign-

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an organized effort to persuade voters to choose one candidate over others competing for the same office

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electoral dealignment-

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a lessening of the importance of party loyalties in voting decisions

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electoral realignment-

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the change in voting patterns that occurs after a critical election

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equal opportunities rule-

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under the Federal Communications Act of 1934, the requirement that if a broadcast station gives or sells time to a candidate for any public office, it must make available and equal amount of time under the same conditions to all the other candidates for that office

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expectations-

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find it

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factors influencing voter behavior-

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education, income, region, ethnicity and race, religion, and gender

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Federal Communications Commission-

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an independent federal agency that regulates interstate and international communication by radio, television, telephone, telegraph, cable, and satellite

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Federal Election Commission-

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a bipartisan federal agency that oversees the financing of national election campaigns

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First‐past‐the‐post elections-

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elections conducted in single-member districts that award victory to the candidate with the most votes

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franchise-

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the right to vote. Also called suffrage.

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free‐rider problem-

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the situation in which people benefit from the activities of an organization (such as an interest group) but do not contribute to those activities

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frontloading-

Back 45

states’ practice of moving delegate selection primaries and caucuses earlier in the calendar year to gain media and candidate attention

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gatekeepers-

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media executives, news editors, and prominent reporters who decide which events to report and which elements in those stories to emphasize

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general election-

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a national election held by law in November of every even-numbered year

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global village-

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the world considered as a single community linked by telecommunications; no matter where we live, we tend to get the same basic news

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going public-

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a strategy whereby a president seeks to influence policy elites and media coverage by appealing directly to the American people

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grassroots lobbying-

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lobbying activities performed by rank-and-file interest group members and would-be members

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horse race journalism-

Back 51

election coverage by the mass media that focuses on which candidate is ahead rather than on national issues

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how interest groups work-

Back 52

- represent people before the government
- act as vehicles for political participation
- try to educate their members, the public, and government officials about their issue
- bring new issues into the political limelight through agenda building
- engage in program monitoring (keeping track of government programs)

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influencing behavior-

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behavior that seeks to modify or reverse government policy to serve political interests

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information campaign-

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an organized effort to gain public backing by bringing a group’s views to public attention

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initiative-

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a procedure by which voters can propose an issue to be decided by the legislature or by the people in a referendum. It requires gathering a specified number of signatures and submitting a petition to a designated agency.

Front 56

inside vs. outside activities (also direct v. indirect)-

Back 56

p.54?

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intensity of opinion-

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how much the electorate cares about the issue

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interest group-

Back 58

an organized group of individuals that seeks to influence public policy. Also called a lobby

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interest group entrepreneur-

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an interest group organizer

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iron triangle-

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a term used by political scientists to describe the policy-making relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy and interest groups

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issues related to interest groups-

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- each group pushes its own selfish interest
- big business is overrepresented

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legislative caucus-

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groups of legislators organized around and united by shared legislative interests

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libel-

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written defamation of character

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Literary Digest poll – troubles-

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predicted the 1936 presidential election incorrectly resulting in a polling group with a higher than average income; surveyed only its own readers, automobile owners, and telephone owners

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lobbyist-

Back 65

a representative of an interest group

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Madison’s cure for factions-

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suggested that the relief from the self-interested advocacy of factions should come only through controlling the effects of that advocacy

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majority representation-

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the system by which one office, contested by two or more candidates, is won by the single candidate who collects the most votes

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mass media-

Back 68

the means employed in mass communication, often divided into print media and broadcast media

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mass public-

Back 69

find it

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McGovern‐Fraser Commission-

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a commission created in response to the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention; authorized to examine current rules and make recommendations designed to broaden participation and enable better representation for minorities and others who were underrepresented

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measures of party strength-

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the simplest measure is a breakdown-by-party totals from its voter registration figures

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media access-

Back 72

find it

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media effect outside of elections-

Back 73

find it

Front 74

modified closed primary-

Back 74

a primary election that allows individual state parties to decide whether they permit independents to vote in their primaries and for which offices

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momentum-

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find it

Front 76

movement of opinion-

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how stable the aggregate view is

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national committee-

Back 77

a committee of a political party composed of party chairpersons and party officials from every state

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national convention-

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a gathering of delegates of a single political party from across the country to choose candidates for president and vice president and to adopt a party platform

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nature of early news on TV-

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find it

Front 80

newsworthiness

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the degree to which a news story is important enough to be covered in the mass media

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nomination

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designation as an official candidate of a political party

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open election-

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an election that lacks an incumbent

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open primary-

Back 83

a primary election in which voters need not declare their party affiliation and can choose either party’s primary ballot to take into the voting booth

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opinion makers-

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find it

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party conference-

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a meeting to select party leaders and decide committee assignments, held at the beginning of a session of Congress by Republicans or Democrats in each chamber

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party identification-

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a voter’s sense of psychological attachment to a party

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party machine-

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a centralized party organization that determines local politics by controlling elections

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party platform-

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the statement of policies of a national political party

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political action committee-

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an organization that pools campaign contributions from group members and donates those funds to candidates for political office

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political agenda-

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a list of issues that need government attention

Front 91

political participation-

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actions of private citizens by which they seek to influence or support government and politics

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political party-

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organization that sponsors candidates for political office under the organization’s name

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political socialization-

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the complex process by which people acquire their political values

Front 94

political system-

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a set of interrelated institutions that links people with government

Front 95

presidential primary-

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a special primary election used to select delegates to attend the party’s national convention, which in turn nominates the presidential candidate

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primacy theory-

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first theory learned is the strongest because it doesn’t have to compete

Front 97

primary election-

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a preliminary election conducted within a political party to select candidates who will run for public office in a subsequent election

Front 98

private vs. public groups-

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find it

Front 99

program monitoring-

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keeping track of government programs, usually by interest groups

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progressivism-

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philosophy of political reform based on the goodness and wisdom of the individual citizen as opposed to special interests and political institutions

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proportional representation-

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the system by which legislative seats are awarded to a party in proportion to the vote that party wins in an election

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protection of media sources-

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anonymous sources are not protected in court (Caldwell vs US)

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public opinion-

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the collected attitudes of citizens concerning a given issue or question

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race as related to voting-

Back 104

find it

Front 105

Radio Act of 1927-

Back 105

transferred most of the responsibility for radio to a newly created Federal Radio Commission; the five-person commission was given power to grant and deny licenses, but wasn’t given any official power of censorship

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reasonable access rule-

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an FCC rule that requires broadcast stations to make their facilities available for the expression of conflicting views or issues by all responsible elements in the community

Front 107

reasons the US has two parties-

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because of our electoral system and our historical pattern of political socialization

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recall-

Back 108

the process for removing an elected official from office

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referendum-

Back 109

an election on a policy issue

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responsible party government-

Back 110

a set of principles formalizing the ideal role of parties in a majoritarian democracy

Front 111

right to privacy vs. media-

Back 111

find it

Front 112

role of time in nominations-

Back 112

find it

Front 113

scientific methods of selection-

Back 113

find it

Front 114

secular realignment-

Back 114

process of voters shifting from one party to another over a gradual period of time

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self‐interest principle-

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the implication that people choose what benefits them personally

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socioeconomic status-

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position in society, based on a combination of education, occupational status, and income

Front 117

split ticket-

Back 117

in voting, candidates from different parties for different offices

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standard socioeconomic model-

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a relationship between socioeconomic status and conventional political involvement: people with higher status and more education are more likely to participate than those with lower status.

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straight ticket-

Back 119

in voting, a single party’s candidates for all the offices

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structuring theory-

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the first theory learned makes sense of things learned later on

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suffrage-

Back 121

the right to vote. Also called the franchise.

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supportive behavior-

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actions that express allegiance to government and country

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television hypothesis-

Back 123

the belief that television is to blame for the low level of citizens’ knowledge about public affairs

Front 124

terms of office-

Back 124

find it

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terrorism

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premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents

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trade association-

Back 126

an organization that represents firms within a particular industry

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tripartite definition of party-

Back 127

composed of or split into three parts, or refers to three parties

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trust and efficacy as related to participation-

Back 128

find it

Front 129

two‐party system

Back 129

political system in which two major political parties compete for control of the government. Candidates from a third party have little chance of winning office.

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types of broadcast regulation-

Back 130

-FCC requires any broadcast station that gives or sells time to a candidate for public office to make an equal amount of time available under the same conditions to all other candidates for that office
-reasonable access rule requires that commercial stations make their facilities available for the expression of conflicting views or issues from all responsible elements in the community

Front 131

types of media in campaigns-

Back 131

find it

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unconventional participation-

Back 132

relatively uncommon political behavior that challenges or defies established institutions and dominant norms

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voter turnout-

Back 133

the percentage of eligible citizens who actually vote in a given election

Front 134

watchdog journalism-

Back 134

journalism that scrutinizes public and business institutions and publicizes perceived misconduct

Front 135

why a mass media emerged-

Back 135

find it

Front 136

yellow journalism-

Back 136

presents little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye- catching headlines to sell more newspapers

Front 137

Zemel v. Rusk-

Back 137

court ruled that if it was illegal for citizens to visit Cuba, it was also illegal for reporters