Polisci

Front 1

Define 'Free Elections'

(3)

Back 1

1. Cornerstone of the American political system

2. Voter choose one candidate over another for political office by casting ballots

3. Voters entitled to vote at all levels of government

Front 2

What are the critiques of the U.S. electoral system?

(3)

Back 2

1. Tend to favor wealthier candidates

2. Further aims of special interest groups

3. Dominated by older voters with more education and higher income

Front 3

What do candidates need to run for office?

Back 3

Money, touring, advertising, etc.

Front 4

Is it easier to find a candidate for lower or higher prestige offices?

Back 4

Higher

Front 5

What are the two groups of people who run?

Back 5

Self-starters and recruited candidates

Front 6

Define 'self-starters'

Back 6

Volunteers who get active to further their own careers, status, income, and to respond to certain issues or events

Front 7

Define recruited candidate

Back 7

Candidates recruited by party organization to run for office

Front 8

Who is eligible to run for President?

Back 8

Any natural-born citizen over the age of 35

Front 9

Who is eligible to run for Vice President?

Back 9

Any natural-born citizen who is over the age of 35 and from a different state as the president

Front 10

Who is eligible to run for Senator?

Back 10

Must be an American citizen for at least 9 years and a resident of the state they are elected to represent

Front 11

Who is eligible to run for Representative?

Back 11

Must be an American citizen for over 7 years and a resident of the state they are elected to represent

Front 12

Who is eligible to run as a state official?

Back 12

Varies: State official qualifications are set by the state's constitution

Front 13

The majority of the population that participate in political offices are what?

Back 13

White males

Front 14

What lead to the rise of African American political participation?

Back 14

Post-Civil Rights legisilations

Front 15

Until recently, women were considered most appropriate for what?

Back 15

Lower-level posts (school board member, health boards, city council, etc.)

Front 16

In the last 20 years, women have rose at what level of politics?

Back 16

National

Front 17

A successful and persuasive campaign must be able to what? (6)

Back 17

1. Raise funds

2. Obtain media coverage

3. Produce/pay for commercials/advertising

4. Convey positions on issues to voters

5. Conduct research on opposing candidates

6. Get voters to go to the polls

Front 18

Today's national campaigns are mostly handled by who?

Back 18

Paid professionals (Political Consultants)

Front 19

What do Political Consultants do?

Back 19

Devise campaign strategy/theme, oversees advertising, chooses campaign colors, etc.

Front 20

What are 'opinion polls'?

Back 20

Source of information for both media and candidates.

Front 21

What are 'tracking polls'?

Back 21

Polls taken everyday to help fine-tune advertising and speeches in the last days of campaigning.

Front 22

What are focus groups used for and who is selected for them? What are the benefits or focus groups over telephone interviews?

Back 22

10-15 ordinary citizens organized to discuss candidates/issues.

Citizens are selected to represent specific target groups (blue collar workers, seniors, 'soccer moms', etc.)

Citizens reveal more emotion during focus group than they would over the phone.

Front 23

Except for presidential campaigns, all money must come from who?

Back 23

Candidate, candidate's family, borrowed, raised by individual or PAC.

Front 24

When and where was the first primary election held?

Back 24

1903, Wisconsin

Front 25

What is the purpose of the primaries?

Back 25

To open the nomination process to ordinary party members and to weaken the influence of party bosses.

Front 26

Until 1968, the selection of candidates were limited to who?

Back 26

Party elites

Front 27

What are the 3 types of primaries?

Back 27

1. Closed

2. Open

3. Blanket

Front 28

Define 'closed primary'

Back 28

Only declared members of a party can vote in that party's primary, which prevents voters from other parties from sabotaging that party's nomination.

Front 29

Define 'open primary'

Back 29

Voters can vote in either party's primary regardless of party affiliation, but only on one party's ballot

Front 30

Define 'blanket primary'

Back 30

Allowed voters to vote for candidates of more than one party. (Declared unconstitutional in 2000)

Front 31

What is 'front-loading the primaries?

(3)

Back 31

1. Candidates realized winning as many primary elections as possible guaranteed them the party's nomination.

2. Candidates concentrated on building organizations that had early primary elections

3. Winning the early contests receives the media's label as a 'front runner', thus receiving more media exposure and more contributions

Front 32

Primary season is over in what month?

Back 32

March

Front 33

What are 3 consequences of early primaries?

Back 33

1. Shortened primary period might not allow voters time to evaluate the candidate's character, issues, etc.

2. Iowa and New Hampshire (earliest on calendar) don't necessarily represent most of U.S.'s preference

3. Gives advantage to candidate with the most money at start of campaign season

Front 34

How many days does the National Convention usually last?

Back 34

4

Front 35

What is done each day of the National Convention?

Back 35

1st Day: Speech making, attacking opposing party

2nd: Committee reports presented

3rd: Presidential candidate balloting

4th: VP candidate nominated, presidential candidate gives acceptance speech

Front 36

Voters actually vote for who?

Back 36

The electoral college

Front 37

Where does the electoral college come from?

Back 37

The Constitution

Front 38

What is the total number of electors today? How many does California have?

Back 38

538

55

Front 39

After national convention electors are what?

Back 39

Pledged to vote for candidates chosen

Front 40

When do electors cast their votes?

Back 40

The first Monday after the second Wednesday in December

Front 41

Is it possible to become president without receiving the popular vote?

Back 41

Yes

Front 42

How many people have won the presidency without winning the popular vote?

Back 42

4

Front 43

What are the criticisms of the electoral college?(3)

Back 43

1. Electors no longer serve function envisioned by founders

2. Electors no longer select president; votes already bound

3. Campaigning limited to states with the most electoral votes

Front 44

What is the only way to change/eliminate the electoral college?

Back 44

Constitutional amendment

Front 45

What are 4 factors that influence who votes?

Back 45

1. Age (older people more likely to vote)

2. Education (more education, more likely to vote)

3. Minority status (White people most likely to vote)

4. Income level (Wealthier people more likely to vote)

Front 46

Define 'Political Parties'

Back 46

Organizations that want to control government by electing people to public office

Front 47

What is the purpose of political parties? (3)

Back 47

1. Party labels serve as a general guideline as to where candidates stand on issues

2. Parties play a role in organizing/operating governments

3. Help mediate conflicts and contribute to political and social stability

Front 48

The American Party System is a what system?

Back 48

Two-party

Front 49

Define two-party system

Back 49

Only two parties compete effectively for seats in congress and the presidency