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POSI FINAL
review
69
Political Studies
Undergraduate 1
05/02/2010

Additional Political Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term

The roles of interest groups:

Definition
1. Representation 2. Participation 3. Education 4. Agenda building 5. Program monitoring
Term

Where do most Americans fall in an ideological spectrum b/w conservative and liberal?

Definition

 

 

 

 

Somewhere in the middle

Term

Common goal of interest groups:

Definition

 

Influence policy to influence government

Term

Why interest groups are formed:

Definition

 

To address a disturbance in the political, social, or economic environment that threatens the members of a group

Term

What's a PAC?

Definition

 

Political Action Committee: The fund-raising arm of an interest group

 

Term

The move of southern conservative Democrats to the Republican Party, why and what effect has this had on parties?

Definition

 

 

- Democratic Party has become MORE liberal

- Republican Party has become MORE conservative

 

Term

The different types of interest groups (4):

Definition

1.      Public

2.      Economic

3.      Government

4.      Equal Opportunity

 

Term

 

What are the two major roles of political parties?

 

Definition

1.      Governing- controlling/setting agenda for government

2.      Electioneering- process of nominating candidates/getting them elected

 

 

Term

Which one is the largest group, what

problems do others face?

Definition

 

 

-Economic interest group is the largest group

-FRP-most commonly faced by public interest groups

 

Term

 

Retrospective voting

Definition

 

basing voting decisions on reactions to past performance; approving the status quo or signaling a desire for change

 

Term

 

What is it and why does the ‘revolving door’ between representatives and lobbyists exist?

 

Definition

-        the tendency of public officials, journalists, and lobbyists to move between public and private sector (media, lobbying) jobs

-        Representatives make the best lobbyists

 

Term

 

 

Valence issue

Definition

 

issues on which most voters and candidates share the same position (ex. : education)

 

Term

 

What is the difference between indirect

and direct lobbying?

 

Definition

-Indirect lobbying: attempts to influence government policymakers by encouraging the general public to put pressure on them
direct lobbying

 

-direct lobbying: direct interaction with public officials for the purpose of influencing policy decisions

 

Term

 

 

Cooperative federalism

Definition

national and state governments share responsibilities for most domestic policy areas

“Marble cake” model of federalism

 

Term

 What is Astroturf lobbying?

Definition

-Indirect lobbying efforts that manipulate or create public sentiment, “Astroturf” being artificial grassroots; indicates that it’s not really genuine

 

Term

 

Categorical grants

Definition

 

   federal funds provided for a specific purpose, restricted by detailed instructions, regulations and compliance standards.

Term

 

Block grants

Definition

 

 

 

federal funds provided for a broad purpose, unrestricted by detailed requirements and regulations.

Term

 

Unfunded mandates

Definition

 

a federal order mandating that states operate and pay for a program created at the national level.  

Term

The spoils-system (patronage) vs. merit-based system reforms:

Definition

 

 

Spoils-system- where a party candidate comes out and rewards their voters with jobs and favors

Term

 

 

 

Professional legislature versus a citizen (part-time) legislature

Definition

The Texas legislature is citizen/part time (meets once or twice a year), they have other jobs. Professional legislatures meet every week/day/year.

 

 

Term

What is partisanship?

Definition

 

 

 

a strong supporter of a single party

Term

 

 

What is super legislation?

Definition

 

interest groups that get state constitutions amended

 

Term

What is bipartisanship?

Definition

of or involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other’s policies

 

Term

 

Do local governments have constitutional rights? Who creates them and directs them?

Definition

- Local governments enjoy no special status. They are created by the State governments to serve them and they can be changed, destroyed, expanded by State governments.

 

Term

Why people identify with a political party

and how that effects their voting:

Definition

 

Because of their parents and they vote according to their party. 

 

Term

 

What is a plural executive? Does Texas have one?

Definition

 

Power is shared, YES

 

Term

What problem created by the US constitution have parties helped overcome?

Definition

 

Fragmented government (they act as glue)

 

Term

 

How many years was Texas independent and what was it called?

Definition

-9 years, Republic of Texas

 

Term

The difference between American parties and parties in other countries (ideological, disciple, structure, etc.)

Definition

-    American parties have recently increased their party discipline and ideological stance
-    American party organizations are less organized and more decentralized than other countries

 

Term

 

 

Is the Texas legislature professional or citizen?  What are the two houses of the bicameral legislature called? How many members do they have?

Definition

Citizen, 150-HOUSE, 31-SENATE

 

Term

What is a two-party system? Why do third parties not do so well in US elections?

Definition

 

-    Where two major political parties dominated voting in nearly all elections, at every level (we have a 2 party system)
-    3rd parties don’t do well because the 2 parties in control write the election laws

 

Term

 

How long and how often does the legislature meet for?

Definition