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112 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Public opinion –
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the foundation of democracy – we should tell the government what to do a sort of institution – gives politicians an idea of what we want – helps give people power |
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Mass media
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– the group that has the job of informing us about important issues and we couldn’t know about ourselves -Links institutions -Gov uses it to control us - |
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Bias of the mass media
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-more liberal than conservative -conservatives don’t want government to expand -media covers the government, and conservatives doesn’t really like the government -The company itself is looking to make money -there is always hidden bias to organizations in media they cover disasters and scandals because it makes people watch -bias of big corporations -bias of liberal reporters -bias of money and scandal |
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Agenda-setting
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– there is always things that people want- so it is put on the agenda for politicians to deal with – things they need to cover or address -be put on the agenda by politicians -be put on there by mass media – started covering things like homeless people (normal people) The homeless became an agenda The media can influence how we think about something – but not what we think |
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Framing
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– how a question is asked – looking at a problem from a certain point of view -includes what you want – exclude what you don’t -the way the media frames things can be bias- government use framing in the media to convince going to war is the right decision |
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Priming
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– a way of reporting things that is bias of looking at the president negatively – when people kept on reporting Hillary’s emails negatively – makes people not like her The fairness doctrine -stopped priming– rule that said if you have a station and are presenting an issue – so have to present both sides -no more fairness doctrine - first amend |
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“Closed circle” of policy makers
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-war is made by a small group of people -no debating in congress-they decided to go to war, and don’t consult anyone – politicians – president and circle make people enthusiastic -they lied to us about the real reason -the president and his people don’t trust the people – so they manipulate us by propaganda |
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Propaganda –
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aroused support for the war – persuasion through emotion instead of reason-plays on feelings -Relies on us forgetting what has happened in the past happened for every president since WWII -use fear, democracy, peace, killing to help- things might happen – we might be attacked -we fall for it, especially because we don’t think we would get it from our own government |
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Fear based appeals
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– the strongest emotion we have is fear – so they scare us and tell us the enemy is totally evil (compare to Hitler) – say they are a threat to us - type of propaganda -leave details out of what they tell us about them -lied to us |
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Peace as a reason for war
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– say they don’t want anything for themselves – they want freedom for the other country – say they want free election in Vietnam or something – but we were the ones who blocked free election in the first place -we don’t want war – we only want peace – we just want to stop the next Hitler -say we are supporting democracy -bombing other people sounds like a kindness |
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Media Echo Effect
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– the media should giving us all the facts, but they repeat what the government tells them (US officials say) – they don’t give us everything we need to know, only what the government wants us to know White house officials say crazy things, and they can because they are anonymous |
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Taking the military perspective
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– we ask the retired generals – the experts -they use framing – generals know how to win, but they don’t know when to go to war -they focus our attention on how we are going to fight, but not about if we should go to war in the first place - it will be easy |
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Gulf of Tonkin “attack”
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– the official story was a lie- there was no attack – -lied to us to get us to go to war "protect our people other there" -there were no boats that attacked ours -we saw our own boat and didn’t know, so we fired at them – no one got hurt -the made up attack that Johnson sold to congress to make the war in Vietnam happen |
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Weapons of mass destruction
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– the reason invading Iraqi
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Colin Powell’s UN speech
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– we had to convince the UN to let us invade a nation that had no intention of attacking us, and had not attacked us -we signed a treaty that said starting a war and not just protecting ourselves was a war crime -that’s why we had to convince them -they never okayed the invasion – so technically we committed a war crime -Colin Powell didn’t want to give the speech, but he was a solider The UN doesn’t have a military force- so they use nations army by volunteer |
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Worship of technology
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– the mass media focused on the weapons and how we would win – they didn’t want us to think about who we would we be killing- they framed it-they just talked about war technology to make us not think about if we should go to war
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Linking institutions |
– linking the people to the government Mass media, Elections and campaigns, Public opinion as a sort of linking institutions – gives politicians an idea of what we want – helps give people power-links what the people want to what the government does –our way of controlling politicians – it is an institution that controls another institution |
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Linking Institutions (part 2)
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Linking Institutions are organizations or rules that link what the people want with what government does. For example, the mass media give people information about politics that they need to judge whether the government is doing what they want in, for instance, foreign affairs.
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When Linking Institutions stops working
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-Politicans say one thing and do another – use negative campaigning -they don’t listen to us We expect politicians to lie -when the politicians stop listening to the people, we lose the republic They use mass media to manipulate us
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interest groups
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More Linking insitutions –– usually special interest groups – they push what their members want -give money to get what they want-they are selfish – but all of them together is kind of the voice of the people They buy access – they give money and the candidate listens to their thing |
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PACs –
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political action committee – donate their money to president fund to get their way PACs are regulated – have to report everything they do – can’t be secret -they are limited how much they can get Interest groups give PACs money to give to the pres fund They would use the money to wins peoples vote
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Super PACs
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– spend things themselves and don’t go through the president campaign fund – they just campaign themselves however they want Pac -> candidate campaigning fund -> people– regulated Super Pac -> people – not regulated (use their own money for ads) |
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527 groups –
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do the same thing as super PAC – but do charitable work – help community – they get tax breaks -get what they want for specific issues
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incentives for members to support your interest group
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-Material – money -they get people to vote certain ways because they are bribed by what they give them _ discounts- vacations- healthcare (AARP) – Expressive incentive – you feel very strongly about something – you join together and have people listen to your voice (Free representation) Solidary incentive – makes you feel like you belong (Parents Sandy hook) they supported each other and worked together |
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Pluralism
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- each interest group is selfish – but there are 40,000, so putting them together is fair -the establishment theory – it is optimistic -people think interest groups are the most important linking institutions – they make sure the members have access to politicians (the idea that no group really dominates and anyone can form a group) -this is when it works -it doesn’t work if one group dominates -but pluralists think all groups have their own resources |
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Power elite theory
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– the theory of normal people trying to figure out why they don’t have more influence -questions pluralism – says there is groups that get their way 95% of the time – they dominate because they have money -they are interested in staying on top – having the most power Big pharma -these people stick together and work behind the scenes to get what they want and stay in power -they are a social group the playing field is tilted against you |
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Demo sclerosis
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-the hardening and stiffening of democracy -there are so many interest groups – instead of getting things done, they block each other – causes gridlock – having too many not strong enough to chance things – but strong enough to keep things from changing (Obama care) (cancel each other) |
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Iron Triangle
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– a combination of three groups trying to get more money in the government budget for something Congressional committees Interest groups Government bururocrats |
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Defence iron triangle Grass Roots Bureaucracy why is there only 2 parties super pac |
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Private v. Public Interest groups
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Private interest groups – only work for their member Public interest groups – work for a large collection of people
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Intergovernmental lobbying
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– people from government go to other or higher government to get things that they want
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Political parties
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– goals are to get control and power – they want to make decisions for government Interest groups – directly influence gov Parties – put their people in the gov – actually do stuff |
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Parts of a political party
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party Bureaucracy – work outside gov to help the party and raise money– carry out what they are told to do – they are hired or appointed -party in government - people directly in the government -Party in the electorate – the voters – the people who elect the government -Party base – the people who they rely on to vote |
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Party platform
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– what the parties stand for or stands on -everything that they believe |
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Split ticket
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– you are still a part of your party base, but if you don’t like your candidate – you vote for something else -this makes it harder for political parties to rely on their base
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The top two primary system
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-a way to stop parties from hating each other and getting nothing done -first there are the primaries winner runs as the party candidate in the general election -Dems and Reps run and the top two go to the general - stops from sepporate exteme candidates – not so extreme so they all hate each other (gets rid of deadlock) |
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Political Parties (California)
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supposed to -gather like minded people, with the same goals. -have candidates that represent those goals- support them with money- and hold them accountable once elected -doesnt really happen in Cali - the progressives weakend them on purpose becasue of the railroads political mashine -intent was to empower the people by using direct democracy - but now people abuse it -It casues gridlock? |
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The progressives shaping political parties
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to stop the SP railroads political machine- they stoped their control of party conventions - party leaders nominated candidates - so they changed it to primary election, where the party voters picked the nominees. -then went to general elections - allowing people to get into gov who were against the railroad -Also introduced direct democracy |
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Progressives Part 2
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-banned bloc voting or Pary comumn ballot (voting for all one party by one mark) -introduced cross filing - let candidates from a party seek the other party votes introduced nonpartisan elections (no party labels for local gov) -introduced split ticket voting - voting for different parties depending on the candidate -banned primary endorsements (when party leaders helped their favorite candidate) (later Dems banned cross filing and brought back closed primary- candidates can only run for their own party) |
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Third parties
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Minor parties (not dem or rep) -only get like 5% of votes |
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Registering to vote
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-done 15 days before election - but now up to the day of -cali is mostly democrat (43%) -Independent (no party preference) -once registered- you pick your party- you can vote in the primaries for your party only |
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Top two primary (Book)
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-no party affiliation- just chose the candidate you like in the primaries from any party -the top two run in the general election in november- even if from same party -stopped extreme dems or reps- generated more moderate people to stop gridlock -also kinda gets rid of 3rd parties (they need 1% of registered voters to be a candidate) |
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Central committee
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-highest ranking body members there are party candidates, officeholders, and appointed members each party's committee elects a state chair (and spokesperson) -the highest is the state CC -then county CC |
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Party Supporters
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-there are other things supporting the offical party besides the officals and the voters -there are clubs that support them (Dems usually have minority voters) (reps get whites from rural areas) -reps in cali are shrinking |
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Direct democracy
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introduced by the progressives to counter the railroads power. garenteed recall, referendumm and initiative Referenda + initiatives are propositions we can vote on |
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Recall
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-remore people from office before their term is over. advocates get signatures on a ballot -must have reason and a certain number of signatures to be voted on. -have 160 days to make happen -the person being recalled cant be a candidate for the replacement -could be any reason why recalling in Cali -Gary Davis 1st recalled in cali - replaced with Schwarzenegger |
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referendum
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allows voters to nulify acts of the state gov -advocates have 90 days to collect signatures to stop a state legislation (5% of votes from the last election) |
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initiative
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recalls and referenda are reactions to what elected officals do initiatives let peopole make policy themselves -they draw up a new law, and get signatures to let it be voted on (5%) - 150 days - (8% for amendments) |
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Legislative initiatives
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props from state gov- on either primary or general ballots (unlike citizen initiatives) -laws they want voted on instead of doing themselves -or constitutional amendments -voter approval is needed for a bond (borrowed money) |
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Why Direst democracy sometimes doesn't work
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-the big companies with a lot of money can propose and prosuade a proposition - the more money they have - the easier it is to win or fund a prop -they result in laws that are self-interested |
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type of democracy in Cali
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hybrid - split power between people and representatives
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The media (Book)
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-brings people into political debates -the internet is our main source of news (18-29) -Newpapers decine - propblem is the internet dfoesnt cover only important like the newspaper, so the hot topics get lost in chaos -people only see what they want - where the papers had everything important -The internet, we dont all have the same source- spreads rumors |
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Mass Media (Book)
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Information for a lot of people - news paper, radio, TV -often reports scandals and crime to make people watch -CBS + NBC monopolized TV |
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Infotainment
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the blurred line between news and entertainment
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Bias Media
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reporters are liberal (they like the gov) -call themselves moderates to please everyone -ususally dont report with bias though -goal is to make people listen and make money -drama drives an audience (Crime, scandal) |
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Three ways media is run
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Public ownership (funded by gov) - not in USA regulated- run in publics interest market guiding the media (private companies give people and advertisers what they want) (In USA, government cannot interfere with media -1st amendment) |
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fairness doctrine
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regulation that required media outlets to devote equal time to opposite perspectives of a public issue
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Media shaping politics
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-influence what we talk about -sets agenda -frames politics |
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Priming (Book)
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when a voters perception of a candidate is affected by raising issues that are percived to enhance or diminish candidates
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framing
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the way an issue is defined or worded - only looking at one side of the story |
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Sound bite
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a short clip of a longer audio recording 40 seconds of [a president] talking -now 8 seconds -used in the media -the anchor talks about the clip (usually saying why they are winning or losing) |
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Candidate profiles
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-an exagerated peace of their personality to label them -used in headlines -woman are usually gender stereotyped |
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Elections (Book)
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-there is never a year without a statewide election -to hold politians accountable, we hold elections more often than most democracies national people cant be recalled - special elections are for people who die or quit in USA there are 520,000 elected officials (1 for every 420) |
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Bundling
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a form of fundraising in whoch an individual ppersuades others to donate large amounts that are then delivered together to a candidate or campaign (convice a lot of rich people to give you money) |
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Political action committees (Book) (PAC)
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an organization of at least 50 people -asosiated with an interest group - permited to donate to candidates for federal office (Limited how much can give) (5,000) |
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Super PAC
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allowed to rause unlimited money from any source - and spend as much as they want to openly support or oppose a candidate (cant directly donate to candidates) |
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527 group
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ogranization run by a federal tax code -allowed to raise and spend unlimited money for "issue advocacy" - cant share with a campaign -ads cant mention a candidate |
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Who gets elected for president? |
-senators usually dont win -vice presidents win -govoners win |
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Presidential campaign 3 phases
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nominating process - party choses person party convention - general election |
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Winner take all
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the candidate who wins the simple majority gets all the votes (from electoral or primary delegates) -used in general election and republican primary |
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proportional representation
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evenly distributing votes based on the percentage of votes recived (used by democrats in primaries) |
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election outcome influenced by
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economic outlook demographics war and foreign policy domestic issues the campaign organization |
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incumbency advantage
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the tendency for members of congress to win re-election in overwhelming numbers (they do this by saying they are fighting corruption in congress) |
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Gerrymandering
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redrawing an election district in a way that gives the advantage to one party
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caucus
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a local meeting at which registered members of a political pary meet to select delegates representing presidential candidates
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How to run for congress
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Money (for ads) Organization (volunteers with a plan) strategy (no mistakes- know people) message (meet voters - give reason to vote) (25 or 30 - 7 or 9 years citizen - resident of where they are representing) |
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negative campaigning
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running for office by attacking the opponent -an unpopular tactic - but effective |
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special interests (Book)
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-term used to designate an interest group whose aims or issue preference one does not support
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interest group (Book)
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an organization whose goals incllude influencing government
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Lobbyist (book)
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a person who contacts government officals on behalf of a particular cause or issue (hired to do this on a regular basis) |
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Private interest group (Book)
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-inform memebers about political developments -communicates members views to government officials -mobilize the public (get people to act) -push their own agenda |
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Public Interest groups (Book)
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push for americas collective interest - or the interest of a large group of people (safe food)
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Reasons to join an interest group (Book)
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Material benefits (incentives) Expressive benefits (values/ beliefs that inspire you to join) Solidary benefits (feeling of a shared purpose) |
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Pluralism (Book)
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an open, participatory style of government in which many different interests are represented (a lot of different groups) (no single interest dominates) |
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Demosclerosis (Book)
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the collective effect of the sheer number of washington lobbyists in slowing he process of american democratic policy making
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power elite theory (Book)
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the view that a small handful of wealthy, influential americans exercises extensive control over government desisions
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Iron Triange (Book)
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the cozy relationship in one issue area among interest groups (+lobbyists), congressional staffers (committee chairs), and executive branch agencies
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Revolving door
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the tendency of seasoned lobbyists to move from government work (Advisor) to lobbying and back again -helped the rise of the iron triangle |
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Elections In Cali (Book)
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-parties help give insite into what to choose for a proposition -can vote if over 18 - not a felon - mentally stable -register up to election day -whites are the majority voting -cali voting electorate - not represting population -over 55- likely voter |
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Candidates in Cali
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-encouraged my party -recruited -start from the bottem and work up -they have term limits -aisans are the most underrepresented -minorities are underrepresented - and hardly voted for outside their own group -usually lose if you fund your own campaign |
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Political reform act of 1974
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required public disclosure of all donors through the fair political practices commission-voters approved prop 34 (an initiatie setting contribution limits for people and committees)(also set voluntary spending limits for candidates) -Money given to political parties instead of candidate |
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Candidates advertising
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-use TV a lot - but it costs a ton for statewide airing -direct mail works better - everyone will see it -send it to people who are certain characteristiscs (likey voters) (specific audience) TV is good for undicided voters (use emotion) -people respond to negitivity (TV is what people rely on to get their information though) |
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Interest group (Gerston)
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organiazations formed to protect and promote the shared political objectives of their members (student union, labor union, etc.) (special for the special attention they seek) (Private are small- lots of money Public - lots of people- little money) |
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Economic groups
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seek money gain or hope to prevent losses dominate the states interest group environment
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Demographic groups
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groups that depend more on memebership numbers than on money -certain characteristics (race, age, gender) |
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Professional associations and unions
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most active -largest compaign contributer Unions represent the work force broad bases - deal with lots of issues |
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Single issue groups
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- push for specific things (Pro-choice)
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Public Interest groups (Gerston)
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-seek no private gain -goals that benifit society |
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Lobbying (Gerston) ________ professional lobbyist |
-can propose bills -influence legislators buy access - not votes -can sponsor bill + first time legislators _____________ People who have been legislators |
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Contract lobbyist __________ Nonprofessional Lobbyists |
-advocates who work for several clients at the same time ________ members of their group |
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Litigation
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an option when a group questions the legality of legislation
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Reverse lobbying
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government officials trying to influence interest groups to their preferred policies
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Lobbying the courts
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-interest groups have little access to supreme justices (But can still inflence desisions) -influence who gets appointed -can go to court to "Brief" - tell their case -finance a case |
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Lobbying Spending
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only about 1/4 of the lobbysits are registered 12,000 are registered in DC -dont have to file if they spend less than 20% of their work time lobbying -registered spend 3.5 billion |
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Why we need political parties
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championing ideas- easy to find people who you agree with selectiong candidates mobilizing voters organizing postelection gov activity - what they work towards integrating new voters |
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Nonpartisan elections
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election where candidates run as individuals - no party affiliation (towns and cities) |
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Party system
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the broad organization of US politics, comprising the two main parties the coalition of supporters backing each, the positions they take on major issues, and each party's electoral achievements |
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Whig Party
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opposition to tyranny -turned into the republican party (Lincoln was a part of it) |
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Party identification
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strong attachment to one political party, often from an early age -stems from family - could be college - demographics -filters (choose what signals in the media to accept or reject) |
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Organizing the parties (Book)
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the party bureaucracy (national committee) -prepare party platform the party in government - the party officals in gov - elected or appointed Party in the electorate - the voters who regularly support |
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Divided government
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periods where at least one house of congress is controlled by a party different from the one at the white house |
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Federal regulaion of lobbying act
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-spells out requirements on lobbyists active in congress-must say who they are working with + how much money is being thrown around -can get around - say gift -there was a gift ban to stop this (only up to 50$
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