MIDTERM+2

> > African American vote most consistently for the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party maintains itself as a “big tent” because other demographic groups can also be counted on for votes – these would include women, young people, other minority groups, and public service union workers > > Older more educated citizens tend to vote at higher rates. Men and women turnout at about the same rates. > > Those citizens with higher incomes tend to participate in politics at higher rates. This includes forms of participation other then voting. > > With the 26th Amendment eighteen year olds and up were given the right to vote. This did not increase voter turnout rates. As a sub-group, turnout is the lowest for young voters. > > It can be said that majorities of eligible voters DO NOT VOTE. Presidential elections see the highest turnout but even those rates rarely exceed 55% of eligible voters. Turnout rates for primary elections much lower and turnout rates for local elections even lower. > > Primary elections see base voters turnout. Base voters tend to be the activists, those that participate more often and are loyal ideologues to their respective political parties. These voters tend to be older and more affluent. General election voters tend to be much more moderate. > > This poses a real dilemma for candidates. They must appear much more ideological to receive their party’s nomination but then slide back toward the middle to be electable in the general election. > > As political parties have grown weaker, more and more voters split their ticket. This means that on Election Day more and more Americans will choose one candidate from one party but then in another election choose a candidate from another party. For instance, a voter might choose the Democratic candidate for President but then vote for a Republican for the Senate. > > Rather then vote for a representative to decide an issue, a referendum is when the people vote directly for or against a policy (issue). With the rise of referendums our political process grows increasingly more and more like a direct democracy. > > When citizens believe that their government is trustworthy and responsive to their needs it is said that there are high levels of political efficacy. Internal efficacy speaks to a citizen’s ability to understand the government. External efficacy speaks to a citizen’s belief that the government understands them by acting responsively. Political science suggests that our internal efficacy remains fairly constant while our external efficacy is in decline. > > Political socialization is the means by which we learn to think and act politically. Political science tells us that the most important conduit for political socialization is family. In recent years this is in decline. > > Voting for President. > > In our original Constitution voters could choose directly ONLY their Congressman – the House of Representatives. > > Senators were not chosen directly by the people until the 17th Amendment was passed (1913). > > The president of the United States is still chosen indirectly by the Electoral College. > > The most important influence on voter choices is their PARTISAN ID. If you lean toward the Democratic Party or the Republican Party this will more times then not sway your vote. > > Political Action Committees have been formed to circumvent campaign finance limits on hard money. PACs were formed to raise and distribute money to candidates. > > Increasingly BUSINESS minded interest groups and individuals seeking ways to circumvent campaign finance limits form PACs. > > Public financed campaigns are when the national government subsidizes candidates. The idea behind public monies is that if the government pays for the campaigns then candidates do not need to sell themselves to large donors and other “fat cats.” By accepting public money candidates agree to accept NO MORE additional monies. Because candidates now can raise far more money then given by the national government recent presidential candidates have opted out of receiving public monies. > > There are no public monies available in Congressional campaigns. > > Banned soft money to national parties. Prior to this reform measure fat cats could give unlimited amounts of money to the national political parties for the use of issue advocacy and get out the vote drives. This soft money is no longer allowed. > > Those running for reelection have a distinct advantage to winning again. High incumbency rates can be attributed to name recognition, ability to raise campaign cash more easily and a record of service to their constituents. > > Incumbency rates are NOT as high for members of the Senate, although still high. > > Political parties have one primary goal – WIN ELECTIONS. > Interest groups have one primary goal – to WIN POLICIES [Government advocating for their cause]. > > By rule, national (federal) elections are winner-take-all. When running for a Congressional seat each district sends to Washington only one winner. This rule helps to explain why we have a two-party system. With only two candidates running it almost guarantees that the winner obtains a majority of the votes cast. This sustains voters’ sense of legitimacy, authority and efficacy. > > Front loading is the practice of moving certain state primaries and caucuses as early as possible in the campaign calendar. The New Hampshire primary and the Iowa caucus are almost without fail the first two such contests in the presidential nominating race. > > An open primary, by rule, allows any registered voter to cast a ballot for a party’s nominee. Most states, however, have a closed rule or closed primary. Closed primaries only allow registered party members to participate in that primary election. > > The most significant change in the presidential nominating process has been the democratization of the process. Most states now use primary elections to choose party nominees. This allows for more and more people to have a say in who our candidates are. > > Party machines, typically seen in large urban city governments, built LOYAL followings through the distribution of patronage jobs and favors. More recently party machines have lost favor as due to their corrupting influence. > > Elections are labeled CRITICAL when REALIGNMENT occurs. Most political scientists would agree that we have not had a true critical election since 1932. Realignment occurs when a large bloc of voters, due to a new pressing issue, change their allegiance and loyalty from one political party to another. > > A reason for not seeing more realignment could easily be explained by the fact that more and more Americans no longer hold strong allegiance and/or loyalty to one political party. > > In national elections there is NO benefit to finishing second. Only winners of the plurality, those receiving the most votes, gain the office. This winner-take-all system helps to foster a two party system. With only two leading candidates a plurality election almost always assures the winner a majority. > > This sustains voters’ sense of legitimacy, authority and efficacy. > > More and more Americans claim to be independent. By moderating their political views neither party looks attractive to most Americans. > > Plurality elections, by rule, are elections where whoever receives the MOST VOTES WINS. > > Federal judges who engage in activism are affected by their own personal bias when deciding case outcomes. They argue that the U.S. Constitution is a “living document” and must evolve with the times. > > Both the original wording and intent of the U.S. Constitution when deciding case outcomes limit federal judges who engage in restraint. They argue that the U.S. Constitution is a sacred and authoritative document. Deviating from its letter only creates judiciary acting like legislatures. > > The doctrine of original intent is another way of describing conservative judges who practice restraint. Originalism is a jurisprudence of strict-constructionalism. Difficult cases, it is argued, should be decided by looking at the original intent of the Founders who wrote the words contained in the Constitution. > > Judicial power is checked by the threat of impeachment; written law; lack of enforcement; lifetime appointments and constitutional amendments. > > All federal judges, currently around 875, have been directly appointed by a president of the United States and confirmed by the SENATE. > > The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest appellate court. This means that the most important source of its caseload comes from the lower appellate courts. The Supreme Court DOES NOT determine guilt or innocence but rather whether or not the lower court applied justice correctly. > > Elite members of the legal community write these “friend of the court” legal arguments. They may be law school professors or leading attorneys. Amicus briefs are an attempt to influence court outcomes. They are an attempt, in a way, to “lobby” federal judges. > > Although we say “we are a nation of law not men,” the Supreme Court is reluctant to deviate too far from public opinion. Without adequate powers to enforce their decisions the Court relies heavily upon voluntary compliance. With public opinion support the authority of the Court wanes. > > The Supreme Court tried hard to stay out of political disputes between Congress and the President. > > Before a case is granted a Writ of Certiorari, hearing before the Supreme Court, four of the nine justices must agree to hear the appeal. Note that this is less then a majority. The rule of four is another example of how our republic values the voice of the minority. In a pure democracy the government is ruled strictly by majority rule.
 * 1) Identify which demographic groups vote consistently for the Democratic Party? Which demographic group votes most consistently for democrats.
 * 1) Identify which demographic groups have the highest voter turnout.
 * 1) Explain the relationship between socioeconomic status and participation in politics?
 * 1) Explain the relationship between increasing suffrage rights since 1970 and voter turnout.
 * 1) Discuss voter turnout patterns in American today.
 * 1) Discuss the type of voters that vote in primaries compared to those that vote in general elections.
 * 1) Explain the significance of ‘split-ticket’ voting.
 * 1) Define referendum.
 * 1) Define political efficacy.
 * 1) Explain the significance of political socialization.
 * 1) Identify the most common form of political activity.
 * 1) Identify which positions (i.e. President, Supreme Court) registered voters directly elect.
 * 1) Identify the most important influence on the choice made by voters in presidential elections.
 * 1) Identify the primary function of PACs.
 * 1) PACs representing which groups have grown most substantially since the 1970s.
 * 1) Define public monies.
 * 1) Explain the significance of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.
 * 1) Explain the significance of the incumbency advantage.
 * 1) Discuss the main difference between political parties and interest groups.
 * 1) Define single member district.
 * 1) Explain the significance of front loading.
 * 1) Define open and closed primary.
 * 1) Discuss the changes that have occurred in the presidential nominating process over the past three decades.
 * 1) Define party machine.
 * 1) Explain the significance of critical elections and party realignment.
 * 1) Explain how the winner take all system fosters a two party system.
 * 1) Discuss the causes of weakened political parties.
 * 1) Define plurality election.
 * 1) Explain the significance of judicial activism.
 * 1) Explain the significance of judicial restraint.
 * 1) Define the doctrine of original intent.
 * 1) Discuss checks and balances on judicial power.
 * 1) Discuss the process for appointing federal judges.
 * 1) Identify the most important source of the Supreme Court’s caseload.
 * 1) Explain the significance of amicus briefs.
 * 1) Discuss the relationship between the Supreme Court and public opinion.
 * 1) Discuss the Supreme Court’s actions with respect to disputes between Congress and the President.
 * 1) Define the rule of four.