Term
American Standard for Democracy
(3 elements) |
|
Definition
- Indirect democracy/representative democracy/ republic
- Majority Rule/Mandate
- Retrospective voting
|
|
|
Term
| What does it mean to achieve gov't of, by, and for the people? |
|
Definition
Of the people: Elect representatives who make policy on behalf of the people
By the people: The people endorse the policies that govt makes
For the people: We have the power to hold lousy govt officials accountable |
|
|
Term
| What are the four obligations the public must meet according to the Majoritarian Ideal? |
|
Definition
- Be informed
- Be active/ participate in self govt
- forge a consensus/ majority agreement
- have stable opinions
|
|
|
Term
| what does it mean to "be informed"? |
|
Definition
- to know governing principles processes and goals
- know current issues and policy debates
|
|
|
Term
What are the five functions political parties are expected to perform according to the responsible party model?
* of the people, for the people, by the people |
|
Definition
- Stimulate interest among the electorate
- Provide an organizational transmission network
- Provide the candidates that appear on our ballots, become our reps and make policy on our behalf (govt of the people)
- provide the people a coherent ideologically consistent set of policy proposals to support
- Discipline candidates (by the people) and elected representatives (for the people)
|
|
|
Term
| What does it mean to "be active/participate in self govt"? |
|
Definition
| Vote, volunteer, donate money for a cause or candidate. |
|
|
Term
| What does it mean to "forge a consensus/ majority agreement"? |
|
Definition
| regarding policies to be pursued by gov't. |
|
|
Term
| What does it mean to "have stable opinions"? |
|
Definition
- Have consistency over time
- have compatible goals
- recognition of policy trade-offs
|
|
|
Term
| What does it mean to "stimulate interest"? |
|
Definition
| to encourage the people to become more informed and active as citizens in our democracy |
|
|
Term
| What is the purpose of an organizational transmission network? |
|
Definition
| to facilitate communication btwn the people and their party leaders |
|
|
Term
| What does it mean to "discipline candidates"? |
|
Definition
influence them to support their platform party and remain loyal/ consistent (govt by the people)
|
|
|
Term
| What does it mean to discipline elected representatives? |
|
Definition
| to pressure them to vote on bills that are consistent with the party platform, keep promises and implement mandate |
|
|
Term
| What do public opinion polls tell us about the public's knowledge of policy issues? |
|
Definition
Give us a representative sample of what people know/feel
|
|
|
Term
| What is the rate of voter turn out in America? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What do public opinion polls tell us about why some americans don't vote? |
|
Definition
- According to skeptics: were ignorant, apathetic, inconsistent, intolerant
- According to defendants: The gov't itself is skewed
- According to Elites: our system is perfectly fine and were better off if we don't vote.
|
|
|
Term
| Why are there only two major parties in America? |
|
Definition
- ideological centrism of the American people
- our history of having only two parties has influenced us
- the rules of the electoral system make it difficult for third parties
|
|
|
Term
| What are the consequences of the two-party system? (5) |
|
Definition
- Political stability- Don't experience dramatic policy shifts
- Representation is limited to those who are ideologically moderate
- The major party platforms are on the extremes of the ideological spectrum
- Party loyalty is in decline
- Loss of party discipline
|
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| they can make a difference if they try |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The people follow cues from elites who closely match their ideological profile |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| polls that question voters as they leave the voting booth to predict the outcome of an election |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| in public opinion, a measure of depth of feeling associated with a given opinion |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| question wording problems have an effect on influencing responses given and create a bias in results |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a characteristic of a scientific poll |
|
|
Term
| representative sample (of people) |
|
Definition
| a characteristic of a scientific poll |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| in public opinion, the extent of which people see an issue as having a clear impact on their own lives |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a tool to measure and assess public opinion |
|
|
Term
| spirals of silence/ intolerance |
|
Definition
intolerance: people who demand for themselves rights and liberties and deny other people of those
Silence: People will be unwilling to publicly express their opinion if they believe they are in the minority |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| "Riding the presidents coattails into office" occurs in an election when voters also elect representatives or senators belonging to a successful presidential candidate's party. |
|
|
Term
| maintaining/ deviating/ realigning election |
|
Definition
- Maintaining: winning majority party in congress and white house mainting control of govt
- Deviating:minority party captures white house and deviation will remain in the hands of the dominant party
- Realigning: characterized by massive shifts in partisan identification
|
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a difference in the political opinions of men and women |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| different views between the parties and the people |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an organizational style of local politics in which party bosses traded jobs, money, and favors for votes and campaign support. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a psychological orientation, or long-term propensity to think positively of and vote regularly for, a particular political party |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the statement of principles and policies; the goals that a party pledges to carry out if voters give it control of the gov't |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| limited to registered party members who have declared their party affiliation, in order to vote in the election |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| election that does not require voters to be affiliated with a political party in order to vote for partisan candidates |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| voters may pick one candidate for each office without regard to party lines |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a shift in fundamental party identification and loyalty caused by significant historical events or national crises |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
- electoral system used to elect House members and many state and local officials
- each district=elect 1 person
|
|
|
Term
|
Definition
- individual casts votes for different party's cadidates for different offices
- (creates a more moderate policy)
|
|
|
Term
|
Definition
- take away votes from potential winners
- (third party)
|
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| any political party other than R or D |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
- person with most votes wins all
- (does not have to win absolute majority)
|
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| set of principles of a group that explains how society should work, and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
- Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others
- (Democratic and likes change)
|
|
|
Term
|
Definition
- promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports minimal and gradual change in society
- (Republican and doesn't like too much change)
|
|
|
