FINAL POLS

VOCAB Negative campaigning - Negative campaigning is when a candidate attacks their opponent's character, record, or policies. It can help voters make more informed decisions but can also lead to a more polarized political environment and reduce public trust in government. Party Identification - Party identification is a person's attachment to a political party, which influences how they vote and their attitudes towards political issues. It can be helpful for simplifying decision-making but can also lead to polarization and limit diversity of perspectives. Single Issue Voting - Single-issue voting is when a voter makes their decision based on a candidate's stance on a specific issue that is important to them. It can influence election outcomes and shape public policy but can also lead to a narrow focus on a single issue at the expense of other important issues. Soft v. hard money- soft money is unregulated donations to political parties, while hard money is regulated donations to individual candidates. The regulation of soft and hard money is important in American politics because it can influence the role of money in elections and the ability of individuals and interest groups to influence the political process. Caucuses - Caucuses are local meetings where political party members discuss and vote on their preferred candidate. Caucuses can be influential in shaping primary elections and energizing party activists but can also be criticized for being exclusionary and time-consuming. Patronage - Patronage is the practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs or other benefits. It played an important role in American politics in the 19th and early 20th centuries but is now largely considered a negative practice that undermines the integrity of the political process. Primary Elections - Primary elections are held by political parties to select their candidates for an upcoming general election. They provide an opportunity for voters to directly participate in the political process and shape the outcome of elections but can also be criticized for being exclusionary and favoring well-funded candidates. Progressive Era - The Progressive Era was a period of social activism and political reform in the United States from the 1890s to the 1920s. It led to significant reforms in areas such as labor, women's suffrage, child labor, and the environment, and helped to create a more equitable and just society. Proportional Representation - Proportional representation is a system of voting in which parties are awarded seats in proportion to the number of votes they receive. It can help to ensure that underrepresented groups have a voice in the political process, promote greater diversity and inclusivity in politics, and reduce the influence of special interests and money in politics. However, it can also be criticized for being more complex and less familiar to voters than other voting systems. Split Ticket - Split ticket voting is when a voter casts their ballot for candidates from different political parties in the same election. It can help to promote greater balance and moderation in government but can also lead to gridlock and political instability. Superdelegates - Superdelegates are unpledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention who are free to support any candidate for the presidential nomination. They can help to ensure that the Democratic Party nominates a candidate who is best positioned to win the general election but can also be criticized for potentially overriding the will of the voters and giving too much power to establishment politicians and insiders. Two-party system - A two-party system is a political system in which two major political parties dominate the political landscape and compete for control of government. The two-party system helps to promote stability, accountability, and moderation in government, but can also be criticized for limiting political diversity and potentially stifling the emergence of new political movements and ideas. Duverger’s Law - Duverger's Law is a political theory that suggests that a two-party system will emerge in any political system that uses a single-member, plurality-based electoral system. It helps to explain why the United States has a two-party system and why third parties and independent candidates have historically struggled to gain a foothold in American politics. Carrying Capacity - Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an ecosystem can support without becoming degraded or depleted. It is important in American politics because it is relevant to debates about environmental policy, immigration policy, and other issues related to population growth and resource consumption. Credibility Gap- The credibility gap is the gap between what the government says and what the public believes to be true. It highlights the importance of transparency, honesty, and accountability in government and can erode public trust in government. Therefore, policymakers should be transparent and honest in their communications with the public and work to build trust and credibility with the people they serve. PACS and Super PACS- PACs and Super PACs raise and spend money to support or oppose political candidates, parties, or issues. They can have a significant impact on political campaigns and public opinion, but there are concerns about their influence on political outcomes and the potential for undue influence by wealthy donors and special interest groups. Equal time rule- The equal time rule requires broadcast stations to provide equal airtime to all candidates for public office. It helps to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to communicate their message to the public, preventing candidates with more money or name recognition from having an unfair advantage. The rule is an important safeguard for ensuring that all candidates have an equal opportunity to participate in the political process. Fairness doctrine- The Fairness Doctrine required broadcasters to present controversial issues in a balanced and fair manner. It helped to ensure that the public was exposed to a wide range of viewpoints and perspectives on important issues, preventing broadcasters from presenting a biased or one-sided perspective. Although it is no longer in effect, it remains an important reminder of the need to maintain transparency and accountability in the political process. Leak/trial balloon- Leaks and trial balloons are the release of information to the media to gauge public opinion or test the waters on a particular issue in American politics. They allow politicians to test public opinion and adjust their approach accordingly. While they can be useful, they can also be controversial and should be used responsibly and ethically. Muckraking- Muckraking is investigative journalism that exposes corruption or scandal in American politics. It promotes transparency and accountability but can also be controversial and seen as biased or sensationalist. It is important to use muckraking responsibly and ethically, and to be transparent about its motivations. Yellow Journalism - Yellow journalism is sensationalist and often exaggerated reporting that prioritizes profit over accuracy and truth in American politics. It played a negative role in the political process by distorting or sensationalizing the news and undermining public trust in the media. While it played an important role in the history of American politics, it is not viewed as a legitimate form of journalism. Bureaucracy- Bureaucracy is the administrative system that implements and enforces government policies and programs in American politics. It is important for ensuring that policies are carried out effectively and fairly but can be criticized for being slow and unresponsive to citizens. It is important to ensure that bureaucracy is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of citizens. Federal register- The Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations. It is important for providing transparency and accountability in the regulatory process, and ensuring that the public has a voice in the rulemaking process in American politics. Australian Ballot- The Australian ballot is a system of voting in which a voter's choices are kept secret. It is used in American politics to ensure that voters can cast their ballots freely and without fear of intimidation or coercion, and to prevent election fraud. FECA- The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) is a federal law that regulates the financing of federal elections. It is important for ensuring that elections are fair, that candidates have equal access to financing, and to prevent corruption and undue influence in the political process. McCain Feingold- The McCain-Feingold Act is a federal law that regulates the financing of political campaigns. It is important for reducing the influence of money in politics, ensuring that elections are fair, and preventing corruption and undue influence in the political process. McGovern Fraser- The McGovern-Fraser Commission was created by the Democratic Party in 1969 to reform the party's presidential nominating process. It is important because it helped to democratize the party's nominating process and increase the participation of ordinary citizens in the political process. Citizens United v. FEC- Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) is a landmark Supreme Court case that held that corporations and unions have the same First Amendment rights as individuals to spend money on political campaigns. It has led to an increase in the amount of money spent on political campaigns and has given wealthy individuals and corporations a greater ability to influence the political process. FCC v. Fox 2009 and 2012- FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc. is a pair of Supreme Court cases that clarified the standard that the FCC must use when regulating indecent speech on broadcast television. The cases helped to protect the First Amendment rights of broadcasters by holding that the FCC's indecency policy was too vague and arbitrary. Aggregate partisanship- Aggregate partisanship refers to the degree to which individuals identify with one of the two major political parties in the United States. It is important because it helps to shape the political landscape by influencing voting behavior, political mobilization, and party competition. Aggregate public opinion- Aggregate public opinion refers to the collective attitudes, beliefs, and preferences of a group of people on a particular issue or set of issues. It is important in American politics because it helps to shape public policy by influencing the decisions of elected officials and political leaders. Ambivalence- Ambivalence refers to feeling conflicted or uncertain about a particular issue or decision. It is important in American politics because it can impact the way that people engage with political issues and the decisions that they make as voters. Cognitive dissonance- Cognitive dissonance refers to the psychological discomfort that arises when a person holds two or more conflicting beliefs, values, or ideas. It is important in American politics because it can impact the way that people process and respond to political information. Attitude- An attitude is a psychological tendency to evaluate a particular object, person, or idea in a positive or negative way. In American politics, attitudes are important because they can influence the way that people engage with political issues and the decisions that they make as voters. Heuristic- A heuristic is a mental shortcut or rule of thumb that people use to make decisions or solve problems. In American politics, heuristics are important because they can influence the way that people process and respond to political information. Framing vs. priming - Framing refers to the way that information is presented to influence how people interpret it. Priming refers to how exposure to one stimulus can influence a person's response to a subsequent stimulus. In American politics, framing and priming are important because they can influence how people process and respond to political information. Issue publics- Issue publics are groups of people who are knowledgeable about a particular issue or set of issues. In American politics, issue publics are important because they can influence the way that political issues are framed and debated and can impact the decisions that politicians make. Scientific polling- Scientific polling is a method of survey research that uses random sampling and statistical analysis to measure public opinion. In American politics, scientific polling is important because it provides a way to measure public opinion and track changes over time. Political socialization- Political socialization is the process by which individuals learn about and adopt the political beliefs and values of their culture or society. In American politics, political socialization is important because it shapes the way that people understand and participate in the political process. Important Processes- 1. How has the nomination process for party candidates changed over time? The nomination process for party candidates in the United States has changed significantly over time. Prior to the early 20th century, party leaders and insiders had a great deal of influence over the nomination process, often selecting candidates in backroom deals. The first presidential primary was held in 1912, but it wasn't until the 1960s and 1970s that primaries became the dominant method for selecting party nominees. Today, most states hold primaries or caucuses to determine the preferences of voters, and the nominee is typically the candidate who wins a majority of delegates at the party's national convention. The rise of social media and other forms of digital communication has also changed the way that candidate’s campaign and communicate with voters. 2. Using examples from reading and lecture, discuss the factors that motivate turnout. How have these factors changed over time? What explains these changes? (BIGGEST) more educated = bigger turnout more confidence = bigger turnout women and men are the same. Class, religion, gender, age, education, race/martial status, voter restriction laws. People who are financially stable, politically aware/active, and involved in organizations that engage in mobilization are most likely to vote. 3. Why did early newspaper editors accepted party subsidies? What motivated these same editors to give up the subsidies later? It was expensive to keep the newspaper companies afloat, they needed subscribers to stay in business. High-unit cost: Each newspaper required high amount of labor which is expensive. They gave them up because political party is poor foundation for business. When that party loses the newspaper loses funding 4. How do differences in factors such as carrying capacity and target audiences lead to differences in the substance and style of news in different media? Social media platforms like twitter have a character limit which can lead to more concise and simplified news headlines, while print newspapers have more space for in-depth reporting. Additionally, different target audiences may prefer different types of news stories, such as more sensational or celebrity-focused stories versus more serious or policy-orientated stories. 5. BRIEFLY describe and explain the changes we have seen in campaign finance from 2004-2012? There were several changes in campaign finance, including the rise of Super PACS and the increased role of outside spending in elections. Additionally, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (also known as McCain-Feingold) was challenged in the Supreme Court in Citizens United v. FEC, leading to the removal of certain restrictions on independent political spending by corporations and unions. This led to a significant increase in outside spending in elections. 6. Identify and describe the differences between ideology and partisanship. Why are these differences important? Ideology refers to a set of beliefs about the proper role of government and the values that should guide public policy. Ideology is often associated with political parties, but individuals can hold ideological beliefs that don't perfectly align with any particular party. Partisanship, on the other hand, refers to a strong identification with a particular political party, regardless of the specific policy positions that party takes. The differences between ideology and partisanship are important because they can affect how people vote and what policies they support. For example, someone who is strongly partisan might support a policy that they wouldn't necessarily agree with ideologically, simply because their party supports it. Conversely, someone who is ideologically committed to a particular set of beliefs might be less likely to support a policy that their party supports if it conflicts with their ideological beliefs. 7. In what way are broadcast communications an example of a tragedy of the commons? Broadcast communications can be an example of a tragedy of the commons because the airwaves used for broadcasting are a finite resource that are shared by many different broadcasters. This can lead to a situation where each broadcaster tries to maximize their own use of the airwaves, leading to congestion and interference that can negatively impact all broadcasters. This is similar to the tragedy of the commons, where individuals acting in their own self-interest can lead to the depletion of a shared resource. 8. Who are opinion leaders? Why do we rely on them? Is their influence limited? Opinion leaders are individuals who have a disproportionate influence on the opinions and behaviors of others. They are often seen as experts or authorities in a particular field, and their opinions and recommendations are trusted and valued by others. We rely on opinion leaders because they can provide us with information and guidance that we might not be able to obtain on our own. Additionally, they can help us make sense of complex issues and provide us with a sense of direction and purpose. However, the influence of opinion leaders is not unlimited. While they can be influential in shaping opinions and behaviors, they are not always successful in persuading others to adopt their views. Additionally, the influence of opinion leaders can be limited by factors such as the credibility of the source, the receptiveness of the audience, and the complexity of the issue at hand. 9. If individual voters are not too bright, how can we make reliable political decisions? While individual voters may not always be well-informed or knowledgeable about political issues, there are several ways that we can make more reliable political decisions. One way is to rely on trusted sources of information, such as reputable news outlets or non-partisan organizations that provide unbiased information about candidates and issues. Additionally, we can seek out information from a variety of sources and perspectives, to get a more well-rounded view of the issues at hand. It can also be helpful to engage in discussions with others who hold different viewpoints, to challenge our own assumptions and beliefs. Ultimately, making reliable political decisions requires a willingness to engage with the issues, seek out information, and critically evaluate the claims and arguments made by candidates and other sources. 10. Emergence of scientific polling – what we used before, how scientific polling is different, etc. Before scientific polling, public opinion was measured through less rigorous methods, such as straw polls, which were unreliable. Scientific polling involves randomly selecting a sample of individuals from the population and asking them carefully designed questions, which allows for a high degree of accuracy and precision in estimating the opinions of the larger population. 11. Illustrate your favorite political process in an interesting and educational way! This means you need to identify a political process and then draw or diagram it. 1. A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House of Representatives or the Senate 2. The bill is referred to a committee, where it is debated and revised 3. If the committee approves the bill, it is sent to the full House or Senate for debate and a vote 4. If the bill is passed by one chamber, it is then sent to the other chamber for consideration 5. If the bill is passed by both chambers, it is sent to the president, who can either sign it into law or veto it 6. If the president vetoes the bill, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers 7. Once the bill is signed into law, it becomes part of the United States Code, which is the official compilation of federal laws. 12. Identify the key conclusion from the article you read for your second reflection paper. The previous discussion assumes a relationship exists between voter ID rules and turnout. It further assumes that this effect varies by race. The belief is strongly suggested in political discourse but lacks a strong empirical basis