Unit 5: Political Participation (copy)

What is in the citizen’s individual interest

Whether or not a party/candidate should be reelected based on their past performance

The potential performance of a party/candidate

Voting for candidates from a single political party for all offices

Organizations with similar ideologies that try to influence election outcomes and legislative problems; formed to unite people who have the same political ideals to elect similar-minded representatives and have similar legislative goals

A system of government made of two major political parties

List of goals that outlines party’s issues and priorities

Occur every four years to nominate presidential candidate; organized by national party

Political parties made of multiple groups made of multiple individuals; larger coalition increases candidate’s chance of winning

Third parties formed to promote one principle

Candidates who run without a party affiliation

Trying to influence legislators

Promote and protect members’ economic interests, including business groups and labor groups

Nonprofit groups organized around a set of public policy issues, including consumer, environmental, religious, and single-issue groups

Localities like states and cities have lobbying organizations in DC, including mayors and governors

Direct lobbying, testifying before Congress, socializing, political donations, endorsements, court action, rallying membership, propaganda

Using friendships and inside information to get political advantage

Allowed by FECA (1974); formed by corporations, unions, and trade associations to raise funds

Regulated contributions to candidates

Supreme Court overturned BCRA limits on PAC funding for “corporate independent expenditures”

PACs with no fundraising limits as long as they do not coordinate with specific candidates

Representatives who run for reelection (incumbents) win ~90% of the time House incumbents have a greater advantage than senators

When parties choose candidates for general election, mostly through primary elections

Local meetings of party members select representatives to send to statewide party meetings

Party leaders who are automatically granted delegate status by the Democratic Party who generally support the front-runner

Primary election in which only registered members of a political party can vote

Primary election in which voters can vote in any single party primary which they choose

Primary election in which voters can vote for one candidate per office of either party

Election in which voters decide who will hold office; held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November

Elections when the president is being selected

Elections between presidential elections

Party purpose and goals

Electoral system in which each state is given a number of electors equal to the senators and representatives and the winner of the state wins all of its electors; created by framers to insulate government from whims of less-educated public

How many voters vote in an election

A clear winner of an election

Voting for a presidential candidate of one party and legislators of another

When many pieces of legislation deal with parts of policy problems but never address the problem as a whole

Made of capitalist free-market systems where government and private industry play a role

Funds raised by borrowing, not taxation

Required by law to fund programs such as entitlement programs, Medicare, Social Security, payment on national debt, and veterans’ pensions

not required by law, programs include research grants, education, defense, highways, and all government operations