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38 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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winner take all election system |
locks out third parties voters for polled for the loser get nothing no proprtional representation, which would permit "losers" to get something whoever wins the specific region gains everything |
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proportional super district |
3rd party gets more representation bigger pot of people |
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Liberal-conservative continuum |
uneven in how americans are distributed along it Center has highest concentration. so is best position to focus a party's appeal during general elections--garners most votes Center is also hard to locate |
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legislative elections |
not competitive party victor already determined by partisan drawing of district boundaries primary election for party in power really determines which candidate will win absence of election competition leads directly to representatives who have no rational reason to compromise |
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How to win elections at state and federal levels |
to get into office, candidates must win two different elections: primary and general both differ in number of voters and composition of who votes -- use of different strategies
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general elections |
for representative offices have declined greatly in importance during my life time can no longer assume that these general elections will be competitive or even have two candidates unopposed candidates for tx legislature ran in most of the districts in 2012 general election |
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primary election vs general turnout |
primary is a lot less tx election for governor texas gubernatorial candidates are chosen by only 4% of electorate those 4% are the most extremely faithful of that party - which also means they have the most extreme views/positions candidates will show their true colors to gain the 4% |
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Primary election system vocabulary |
Closed Primary - voters must declare party; may vote only in that primary Open Primary - Voters may mix-and-match candidates from either party Semi-Open Primary (TX) - Voters may participate in either party primary, but cannot place votes in both Mixed Primary - Voters who registered and declared a party must vote in that party's primary independents may vote in either primary Top Two - Regardless of party affiliation, top 2 candidates go to general election |
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2012 Primary election systems geography in US |
southern states mostly semi-open |
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Texas Primaries - VEP Turnout |
Presidential Election Years had a higher percentage with Republicans dominating the polls except in 2008 Non-Presidential Years, Republicans had a consistent 4% while democrats were mostly smaller |
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Why do Republicans prefer a low turnout |
because there are more potential Democrat voters than Republicans in TX Voter turnout does not reflect the makeup of the majority of Texans who could vote |
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Parties in Power tend to seek about how much electorate |
They tend to seek low turnout in elections for state-wide offices when they have a minority in the electorate want to avoid any controversy that would stimulate high turnout |
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What strategy did Perry do to win elections |
the amount of registered voters peaked in 2000 and has been declining |
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Democratic Control trend |
as democrats have more control of the legislature, they tended to spend more money on stuff like k-12 education and TANF Benefits However, stuff like tax burdens increase as the democratic party gained more control. still the party in power does not affect policy predictably |
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Pary-in-power policy predictability |
Party in power does not affect the policy predictably political rhetoric can make anything sound possible, however stuff like funding could limit it. every state policy is not reconsidered during every legislature legislators will find any excuse to not deal with tax changes this reflects the decreasing power of the party in charge over politics |
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What are interest groups |
Organizations of people who share one or more interest no need to balance or find middle ground work to influence political system & policy outcomes |
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When are interest groups most active? |
between election seasons, but are busy all the time in 3 ways |
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Constituent function |
limited; do not select candidates but do support candidates. can and do support both contestants for same office. |
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Information function |
Beliefs usually not comprehensive in scope -- limited policy preferences. Primary target is group members rather than entire public. Not broad. limited in what theyre advocating |
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Government function |
Do not organize government Do provide information and organize for specific policy goals. |
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Do interest groups want large numbers of people? |
No. Large numbers of people would create more difficulty to organize which will stimulate problems. Free rider problems will arise. |
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Other assets of interest groups |
Wealth useful, but not always sufficient Status "Track record" of visible successes recognized/renowned expertise EX: ADA approved toothpaste ingredients AARP supports proposed changes in Social Security benefits |
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Free rider problems |
people will choose individual preferences over the parties beliefs |
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different types of interest groups |
Business types (Doctors, petroleum councils) occupational types (Barbers, hair dressers, etc. ethnic & racial |
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Order of interest groups in TX |
Business types taller, richer, better organized than any other type Occupational Types Weaker than Business IG Also weak compared to other states Ethnic & Racial IGs weakest |
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Most organized IGs |
Economic Producing (Business) IGs is the most organized more organized = more power |
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Who joins well-organized groups? |
people with more education and income are more likely to join groups than are ppl with less education and income wealthy white males business people |
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Interest Groups in the political process |
IGs primary objective is to have a personal access to legislators can better seek favorable laws, rules, and policies contributing money is the best way to ensure that access |
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How do IGs contribute money to gain access to the legislators? |
they entertain them and executive officials at parties, lunches, award ceremonies, and other events give limited amounts of money to politicians in the form of direct campaign contributions corporations cannot make campaign contributions directly in TX |
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IGs in the political process: Lobbying |
Lobbying- to attempt to influence policy makers face-to-face ex. phone calling, emailing, but making direct personal contact with legislator is best lobbying technique everyone has a right to influence government officials, but not everyone has the means to do so |
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who employs the most lobbyists |
corporations and trade organizations TX has over 2200 lobbyists from all sources |
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Where does TX rank in the number of lobbysit |
top 3 representing energy, insurance, banking, real estate, health care, and agriculture industries |
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PACs |
Political Action Committees Formed by an IG, industry, or individual for the purpose of collecting money and then contributing that money to selected political candidates and causes It concentrates financial clout of large numbers of individuals It influences public policy more effectively than can a single, ordinary individual |
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How do corporations contribute to campaigns? |
via employee PACs Only a couple states limit the amount of money PACs can contribute to campaigns TX is unlimited however |
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What creates the strongest correlation with number of lobbyists |
total state and local employees (.65) total state revenues (.66) total state expenditures (.66) |
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IGs lower what |
tax burden and TANF benefits |
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Advantages of Interest Groups |
Communicates with govt continue year round, not just during election seasons information source high intensity of preferences - stays focused on its issues independent of geography -- cut across "boundaries" of government exert rapidly increasing greater influence than parties |
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Disadvantages of IGs |
over-represent narrow segments of our political society provide biased information to both govt and public biased towards business and wealth can feed gridlock in legislatures |
