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Political Science- Voting and Elections
Test 3- Collens
138
Political Studies
Undergraduate 1
04/07/2013

Additional Political Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What connects the population to the government?
Definition
elections
Term
What did the founders view direct democracy as?
Definition
Impossible and undesireable
Term
What is direct democracy?
Definition
Citizens have a say in the policy process
Term
What did the founders want when it came to elections?
Definition
A certain group voting for policies
Term
What was wrong with the nation that made it hard for elections? (2)
Definition

too big

uneducated masses

Term
What was wrong with uneducated masses?
Definition
They could not be trusted with policy decisions
Term
What does delegating to a smaller group lead to?
Definition
Agency loss
Term
How is agency loss fixed?
Definition
Regular elections
Term
What are three ways that agency loss is fixed with regular elections?
Definition
  • Ordinary citizens have a say in representation (indirect say in policy process)
  • Future elections hold officeholders accountable (If they make a wrong decisions then we can vote them out)
  • Aspiring politicians (people who want to run for office) closely monitor activities of incumbents
Term
Did the constitution say anything about who can vote? If so, what?
Definition
NO
Term
Who determines if you are eligible to vote?
Definition
State government
Term
Who did states typically limit the franchise to?
Definition
White propertied men
Term
Back in the olden days, SOME states restricted people franchisement based on what two things?
Definition

Must pay taxes on land

Religion (ex. Catholics couldn't vote)

 

Term
When did universal white male suffrage come?
Definition
Didn't come until just before the Civil War
Term
When were there a series of constitutional amendments and congressional acts to extend the franchise?
Definition
Civil War-1971
Term
Who was a major president that wanted to extend the franchise?
Definition
Andrew Jackson
Term
What was the start of extending the franchise? What did it do?
Definition
The 15th amendment- Officially extended franchise to black males (in practice, they still couldn't vote in many southern states)
Term
What outlawed any electoral discrimination based on race (allowed federal government to enforce voting rights act for minorities)?
Definition
Voting Rights Act 1965
Term
What was the first state to allow women to vote? When?
Definition
Wyomming, 1890
Term
By 1916 how many other states gave women the right to vote? Where were most of the states/territories located?
Definition

11

West

Term
What did the 23rd Amendment say?
Definition
that DC residents can vote for the president
Term
What did the 24th Amendment do?
Definition
outlawed poll taxes
Term
What did the 26th Amendment do?
Definition
extended franchise to 18-21 year olds
Term
Could felons vote?
Definition
In some states, they were prohibited
Term
How many state prohibit convicted felons from voting for life?
Definition
14
Term
How many states allowed felons to vote? Who are they?
Definition

2

Maine and Vermont

Term
Where do voting rights typically start? What happens after it begins?
Definition
State level. Then it gains steam to where national parties cannot ignore the new voters and pressed for national voting rights laws
Term
In 1916 who tried to win the election by supporting women's suffrage?
Definition
Charles Hughes ( Wilson's opponent)
Term
Why did Charles Hughes support women's suffrage?
Definition
If you were against them, then you lost 50% of the votes in the 12 states
Term
What did Wilson have to do to win the election and counteract Hughes change to women's suffrage?
Definition
He adopted a moderate stance on the issue to defuse the political bomb that could cost him reelection.
Term
When were women given the right to vote?
Definition
1920
Term
As franchise expanded, what declined?
Definition
Turnout
Term
What is the formula for turnout?
Definition

# of actual voters

_______________

# elegible

Term
Explain why turnout declines as franchise expands.
Definition
Increase the denominator a lot, but the numerator only a little (not all the newly eligible voters actually voted)
Term
What is the formula for the answer to: Is it rational to vote?
Definition
V=PB-C
Term
What does V stand for in V=PB-C?
Definition
Whether or not you will vote
Term
What does P stand for in V=PB-C?
Definition
Probability your vote will decide the election (very tiny number)
Term
What does B stand for in V=PB-C?
Definition
Benefit you recieve if your candidate wins
Term
What does C stand for in V=PB-C?
Definition
Cost associated with deciding how to vote and actually casting the ballot
Term
What does the average American citizen get for B?
Definition
really low number, but some get high number
Term
Can C be negative? If so, how?
Definition
NO
Term
If v is less than or equal to zero, what does that mean?
Definition
you will not vote
Term
Is P normally high or low?
Definition
Very very very small, like 1 in 60 million and this causes PB to be near zero
Term
What is the last addition to the formula to why vote?
Definition
V=PB-C+D
Term
What does D stand for in V=PB-C+D?
Definition
Feeling of necessity to perform civic DUTY, sense of satisfaction from voting
Term
Can D be negative?
Definition
NO
Term
In order to induce voting, what has to happen?
Definition
D has to be greater than C
Term
What influences the values of C and D?
Definition
Demographics
Term
What are two demographics that is related to all types of people that is positively correlated with turnout?
Definition
Age and Education
Term
What does education have to do with demographics?
Definition
If you are better educated, you don't have to take as much time figuring out how to vote (probably have more money)
Term
What are two things that are correlated with age and education in demographics?
Definition
  • May have more resources invested in political outcomes (like fmaily)
  • May recognize the importance of election outcomes more (cost goes down)
Term
Another demographics: Who is less likely to vote than white counterparts?
Definition
African Americans and Hispanics
Term
Why are African Americans and Hispanics less likely to vote?
Definition
They feel alienated by the social and political systems
Term
Why do African Americans and Hispanics feel alienated by the social and political systems?
Definition
Mostly because of their income- They are poorer
Term
In demographics, who is more likely to vote: wealthier people or poor people?
Definition
Wealthy duh.....
Term
What does the poor face when they vote?
Definition
Barriers
Term
What are 4 examples of barriers for poor people?
Definition

No poll near you

no car

have to pay for bus/cab

Maybe working on tuesday and can't vote

Term
Wealthy people typically better  _________ than poor people.
Definition
educated
Term
Wealthy people face less barriers than poor people, so what does this mean for the D value?
Definition
D goes up
Term
In demographics, who is less likely to vote: Northerners or Southerners?
Definition
Southerners
Term
What is one of the reasons why southerners are less likely to vote?
Definition
More rural, so there may be greater travel distance to polling location for some
Term
Are people who have ties to their community more likely or less likely to vote? What does this cause for the D value and why?
Definition

More

Go up because they have a DUTY to their community

Term
What are two efficacies?
Definition

Internal efficacy

External efficacy

Term
What is internal efficacy?
Definition
Confidence in ability to understand and engage in poilitics
Term
What is external efficacy?
Definition
Confidence in ability to influence decisions of government
Term
What goes down in internal efficacy? What happen in External? Why?
Definition

C (Dont have to learn as much)

C and D (Because... they just do...)

Term
What kinds of citizens are more likely to vote?
Definition
Partisan/Ideologically extreme citizens
Term
What value goes up if you are partisan? why?
Definition
The D value because they are invested in their candidate and they feel strongly about their candidate
Term
What kind of factors play a role in voting?
Definition
Institutionalized factors (institutionalized barriers)
Term
What are/were legal barrier to registrations? (2)
Definition

Jim Crow Laws- Prevented blacks from voting

Photo ID requirements- Show ID to show you are legal

Term
How did party/interest groups increase turnouts? What example?
Definition
Mobilization- Party Machines go door to door sometimes
Term
What is the Motor Voter Law of 1993?
Definition
It allowed for registration during driver's license renewal, by mail, or in state welfare offices
Term
Who did the Motor Voter Law benefit, and why was this a complete turn around?
Definition

Republicans

Republicans opposed it because they thought it would help the democrats, but it actually helped them

Term
Who took advantage of the Motor Voter Law?
Definition
Suburban White wives
Term
What is the single best predictor of whether or not you will vote in the upcoming election?
Definition
Whether or not you have previously voted
Term
How is the U.S.'s turnout compared to other industrialized democracies?
Definition
It is low
Term
What does VEP stand for?
Definition
Voting Eligible Population
Term
What is the percent for VEP for presidential elections in the U.S.? midterm elections?
Definition

Presidential- 50-60%

Midterm- 40-45%

Term
In other countries what is voting considered?
Definition
Compulsory (they are taxed or fined if they don't vote)
Term
When is election held for the U.S.? What about for other countries?
Definition

Tuesday

Sunday or other national holidays

Term
What does registration qualify you for?
Definition
Jury duty
Term
In other countries, what is registation?
Definition
automatic
Term
Did the Motor Voter Law work?
Definition
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Term
Since P is so low, what do people not do?
Definition
Spend a lot of time choosing how to vote
Term
Since people don't spend a lot of time choosing how to vote, what do they typically use?
Definition
cognitive shortcuts
Term
What are cognitive shortcuts?
Definition
Things that make it easier for people to decide
Term
What are two types of voting?
Definition

Retrospective Voting

Prospective Voting

Term
What is Retrospective Voting?
Definition

Voting based on previous performance by the party/ candidate (If I liked Obama, then I will vote for him again)

BTW... I didn't like Obama

Term
What is prospective voting?
Definition
Voting based on how you feel the candidate/party will perform in office if elected (do research)
Term
What is higher for perspective voting?
Definition
Information Costs
Term
Which is easier, Retrospective or Prospective voting?
Definition
Retrospective
Term
What do voters typically rely on?
Definition
Information shortcuts
Term
What are single issue voters?
Definition
They vote based on where the Candidate stands on one topic
Term
What are the three most common examples of the Single Issue voters issues?
Definition
Abortion, gun rights, and gay marriage
Term
Single issue voter typically based on what kind of issues?
Definition
Easy (Easy to decide on one side)
Term
What are three examples of hard issues?
Definition

taxation policies

stimulation

health care reform

Term
What is the most widely used shortcut?
Definition
Party Labels
Term
What are party labels?
Definition
Like democratic people vote for democrats and republicans will vote for republicans
Term
What are three things that campaigns need?
Definition

Candidate

Message

Money

Term
What does political science research show for campaigns?
Definition
That campaigns can affect an outcome, but they usually don't
Term
What are three ways of how candidates need to present themselves?
Definition

As: Competent (do something successfully)

Qualified

and trustworthy

Term
T or F Each candidate faces different challenges.
Definition
True
Term
What type of candidates are typically chosen in presidential elections? (2)
Definition

The highest-quality

and the best-known

(already in the publics eyes, years of experience)

Term
What kind of candidates can the Senate and the House attract?
Definition
Weak Candidate
Term
Are the incumbents always challenged?
Definition
no
Term
T or F Since someone is competely loaded, they will do well.
Definition
False
Term
Three questions that are asked when trying to elect: Why should a voter choose that candidate over all others? What does this candidate offer? What does that candidate stand for?
Definition
Just some questions...
Term
The effectiveness of a message is determined by 3 factors, what are they?
Definition

Context

Advertisement

and "Stickiness"

Term
What do I mean when I say context in a message?
Definition
What you are talking about
Term
What do I mean when I say advertising in a message?
Definition
The way you get the message out there
Term
What do I mean when I say "stickiness" in a message?
Definition
Does it resignate with the people, and is it memorable?
Term
What do advertisements sometimes only focus on?
Definition

The opponents negative sides.

(It then says your name at the end saying I abrove this message)

Term
What is required when you are trying to get the message out there and you are trying to get to know who the candidate is and what he/she stands for?
Definition
MONEY
Term
Campaign donations are overwhelmingly _________.
Definition
Private
Term
The history of campaign finance reform demonstrates the struggle between what two things?
Definition
Maintaining free speech and reducing corruption
Term
What did the 1972 Federal Election Campaign Act do?
Definition
  • Partial public funding for presidential campaigns
  • Full reporting of all donations and sources (put name on donation and it can be looked up)
  • Contribution limits
  • Expenditure limits
Term
What are contribution limits?
Definition
How much money can be donated
Term
What are expenditure limits?
Definition
How much money candidates can spend
Term
What case rule expenditure limits as unconstitutional and said that the president accepting public funding can be limited?
Definition
Buckley v. Valeo in 1976
Term
In 1979, what did the Federal Election Campaign (FECA) do?
Definition
Liberalized (remove or loosen restrictions) to allow unlimited contributions and spending for local- and state-party building and GOTV (Get Out The Vote) efforts. (As long as they aren't going for one candidate, they can donate however much they want
Term
Under money in campaigns, what happened in 1996?
Definition
It allowed unlimited contributions to and spending by party organizations for independent activities. (Extends the categories that they can use with the money)
Term
What is soft money?
Definition
Unlimited money. No subject to the Federal Election Campaign's (FECA) regulations
Term
What became a target for reformers in the early 2000's?
Definition
Soft money
Term
What did the Bipartisan Reform Act of 2002 do? What is another name for this act?
Definition

Limited soft money

McCain-Feingold

Term
In 2007, what does the Supreme Court do to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act?
Definition
They strike down it's attempts to limit independent campaigning by various groups
Term
In 2007,  the Supreme Court strikes down the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Actfor it's attempts to limit independent campaigning by various groups. It said that tax-exempt groups can organize for issue advocacy, voter mobilization (getting the word out), etc. as long as what?
Definition

As long as they don't expressly advocate the election or defeat of a specific candidate (I support the right to guns so I can say "Vote for John Doe because he supports the right for guns... etc)

 

Term
Attempts to regulate campaign finance is motivated by the desire for ___________, not by attempts to _______ ______ _________ ________.
Definition

transparency

level the playing field

Term
Where is the bulk of the money made spent?
Definition
advertising
Term
What are three other examples of where the money is spent?
Definition
Speeches, canvassing (Door to door), staffers
Term
What are staffers?
Definition
People who run your campaign
Term
Where do presidential candidates normally spend the money? (2)
Definition
They divert their resources to states with more electoral college votes, and where the election is close
Term
Where do candidates try to get "free" advertising?
Definition
By posting it on a controversial ad online and getting news coverage of it
Term
What new group has arisen since 2010?
Definition
Super PACs
Term
What do Super PACs derive their existence from?
Definition
The Supreme Courts decision in Citizens United v. FEC, and the DC Circuit's decision in SpeechNow.org v. FEC
Term
What is Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
Definition
Independent political expenditures by corporations, and unions cannot be prohibited
Term
What are Independent political expenditures?
Definition
non-coordinated with the candidate
Term
What is SpeechNow.org v. FEC (2010)?
Definition
Allowed creation of "independent expenditure-only" groups that may accept unlimited contributions from individuals
Term
What are "independent expenditure-only" groups?
Definition
They are only tasked with raising/spending money independently with candidates
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