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American Government
POL 195
43
History
Undergraduate 1
11/09/2010

Additional History Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Why does public opinion matter?
Definition

Expression of our attitudes about gov't/politics.

Influence political behaviors.

Matters what people think.

Term
Why parties go extreme.
Definition
Creates loyal supporters, making them happy.
Term
Electoral college.
Definition
270
Term
Patronage
Definition
System where successful party candidates reward supporters with jobs or favors.
Term
How are presidential nominees picked?
Definition

Background: social, religion, economic, geographic, gender, race

Personality: honesty, decisiveness, vigor

Term
Caucus
Definition
gathering of party members to choose convention delegates
Term
Primaries
Definition
Elections, basically.
Term
Political Parties
Definition

1. Linkage between voters and elected officials

2. Overcome some of the fragmentation in gov't that comes from seperation of powers. Linking branches of gov't.

3. Provide articulate opposition to ideas/policies of elected officials

Term
Voter Decisions
Definition

Family

Friends

Schools

Coworkers

Churches

Neighborhood

Term
Prospective Voting
Definition
based on well-informed opinions (thinking of the future)
Term
Retrospective Voting
Definition
voting based on past actions (re-elections)
Term
Party base
Definition
members of a political party who ALWAYS vot for that party (majority of votes)
Term
Madison's thoughts on parties
Definition

Founders didn't want parties

Thought they were more powerful that factions. BAD?

Term
Random sample
Definition
Samples chosen where any member of the polled population has an equal chance of being selected.
Term
Tracking polls
Definition
ongoing series of surveys that follow changes in public opinion over time.
Term
Push Polls
Definition
ask for reactions to hypothetical, false information (manipulates public opinion)
Term
Exit Polls
Definition
Election related questions asked of voters right after they vote.
Term
Benchmark Polls
Definition
initial poll on a candidate/issures on which campaign strategy is based and against which later polls are changed.
Term
Sampling of error
Definition
a number that indicates within what range the results of a poll are accurate (-3%, 3%, etc.)
Term
Realignment elections
Definition
Substantial/longterm shift in party allegiance by individuals/groups, resulting in a change in policy direction.
Term
Parties. Conservative or liberal?
Definition
CONSERVATIVE. :(
Term
Party Organization
Definition
official structure that conducts the political business of parties
Term
Functions of interest groups
Definition
material/purposive/solidarity benefits
Term
Direct Lobbying
Definition
direct interaction with public officials for the purpose of influencing policy decisions.
Term
PAC money
Definition
Serve as fundrasiers for interest groups (Political Action Committee)
Term
Why are VP Candidates picked?
Definition

to make the president look good

back up the president

Term
Swing voters
Definition
the undecided voters before the election.
Term
Oppo research
Definition
investigation of an opponents background for the purpose of exploiting weaknesses or undermining credibility.
Term
Wedge issues
Definition
controversial issue that one party uses to split the voters in the other party
Term
How do elections limit citizen expression?
Definition
limits frequency, limits scope, limits intensity
Term
Stages of Election
Definition

1. Early Maneuvering: build image, obtain visibility, raise money

2. primaries/caucus

3. general election: 270 electoral college votes needed.

Term
Political socialization
Definition
process where we learn our political orientations and allegiances
Term
Gender Gap
Definition
tendency for married people to hold political opinions that differ from non married.
Term
Open primaries
Definition
no registered voters
Term
closed primaries
Definition
needs to be registered
Term
convention bump
Definition
candidates usually (not always) experience a noticeable rise in the polls immediately following the conventions (if you attended).
Term
1870-15th amendment
Definition
males, regardless of race, color, or previous servitude can VOTE.
Term
1920-19th amendment
Definition
women can VOTE.
Term
1964-24th amendment
Definition
right to vote with out payment of poll tax
Term
1965-voting rights act
Definition
sanctions against states that used poll tax, moral character tests
Term
1971-26th amendment
Definition
18 yrs. old can VOTE.
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