Political Science Voting Concepts

Linkage Institutions

• Linkage institutions connect individuals to their government.
• They translate public input into policy outputs.
• They act as a bridge between the public and policymakers.
• They ensure that public preferences are considered by the government.
• Four examples are political parties, interest groups, media, and elections.

Political Parties

• Political parties are groups of people with similar ideas about how government should function.
• Parties organize individuals to influence government.
• They help citizens express their opinions and influence policies.

Framers' View of Political Parties

• Founding fathers did not favor political parties.
• They feared parties would divide the nation and prioritize self-interest over the country's best interests.
• The Constitution does not mention political parties.
• The Electoral College and actions by leaders like Madison and Washington cautioned against parties.

Functions of Political Parties

• Unite people with shared goals and opinions.
• Recruit and select qualified candidates.
• Assist candidates with fundraising and media.
• Inform the public and motivate participation.
• Simplify election choices.
• Encourage voter registration and participation.
• Develop party platforms and policies to attract support.

Two-Party System

• A two-party system is when only two parties have a realistic chance of winning elections.
• Explanations for the persistent two-party system include:
  • Shared cultural values and beliefs reduce the need for more parties.
  • Historical tradition established a two-party system.
  • Major parties often co-opt ideas from third parties, diminishing their presence.
  • Plurality system, single-member districts, and winner-take-all election laws hinder third parties.

Effects of Third Parties

• Third parties can provide an outlet for those unhappy with the existing system.
• They may influence the major parties by drawing attention to important issues.
• They might increase voter participation.

Realignment and Critical Realigning Elections

• Realignment is a substantial and long-lasting shift in political support.
• Critical realigning elections represent significant shifts in party coalitions.
• The 1932 election is considered a critical realigning election due to the lasting influence it had on the political landscape.

Regional Realignment

• Regional realignment is a major shift in political support within specific regions of a country.
• An example in recent decades, is the change in party loyalty among Southern voters

Unified and Divided Government

• Unified government occurs when the same party controls both the executive and legislative branches.
• Divided government occurs when one party controls the executive and another controls the legislature.

Primary Election

• A primary election chooses candidates for each political party.

Open Primary

• Open primaries allow any registered voter (regardless of party) to vote in any party’s primary.

Closed Primary

• Closed primaries allow only registered party members to vote in their party's primary.

Caucus

• Caucuses are meetings where party members select candidates.

General Election

• A general election is the final election held to determine the winner of the office.

Presidential Nomination Process

• Primaries and caucuses allow voters in each state to choose their preferred candidate.
• Delegates are awarded based on primary and caucus victories.
• Candidates consolidate support through a national convention.
• The candidate with the majority of delegates wins the presidential nomination.

Roles of Interest Groups

• Interest groups are groups sharing common goals influencing public policy.
• They can include economic, public interest, or governmental groups.

Interest Group Activities

• Lobbying involves direct contact with lawmakers.
• Grassroots mobilization encourages citizen action.
• Litigation utilizes the courts to achieve policy goals.
• Public advocacy utilizes media campaigns to sway public opinion.

Free Rider Problem

• The free-rider problem is when individuals benefit from a group's actions without contributing.
• This can discourage group participation.

Forms of Political Participation

• Voting is the most common form of political participation.
• Other forms include contacting officials, campaigning, protesting, joining groups, and running for office.

Constitutional Amendments Related to Voting

• The Fifteenth Amendment extended voting rights to Black men.
• The Nineteenth Amendment extended voting rights to women.
• The Twenty-fourth Amendment prohibited poll taxes.
• The Twenty-sixth Amendment lowered the voting age to 18.

Voting Rights Act (1965)

• Banned discriminatory voting practices.
• Required federal preclearance of voting changes in select areas.

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)

• Requires voting facilities to be accessible.
• Voting materials and devices are adaptable for those with disabilities.

Motor Voter Act (1993)

• Made voter registration easier by allowing it at motor vehicle agencies.

Help America Vote Act (HAVA) 2002

• Ensured voter access to election materials and technology.
• Implemented standards for election administration.

Political Efficacy

• Political efficacy is the belief that one can influence politics.
• Voter turnout is sometimes a reflection of political efficacy.

Voter Turnout

• Voter turnout refers to the percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election.
• Turnout varies by election type and demographic factors.

Voting in Elections (and barriers)

• Voter turnout differs between election types (presidential, midterm, etc.).
• State laws, registration, and voter identification requirements affect voter turnout.
• Access to voting opportunities varies significantly.

Likelihood of Voting

• Voter likelihood varies with factors such as education, income, and ethnicity.
• Women tend to vote slightly higher than men.
• Income level or education level influences voter turnout in a way.
• Voters tend to turnout more in presidential elections, than midterm or local elections.

Party Coalitions

• Coalitions involve groups united under similar political views or groups sharing common interests.
• They often rely on specific groups to support their agenda.
• The composition of political party coalitions can change over time.

Campaign Finance

• Campaign finance involves raising and disbursing funds for election campaigns.
• Issues include money's influence on politics and limitations on contributions and spending.
• Laws are intended to limit corruption and maintain the integrity of elections.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

• PACs are organizations that raise and spend money to influence elections.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

• This Supreme Court decision significantly altered campaign finance laws.
• Corporate and union spending in elections is protected under the First Amendment.

First Amendment

• The First Amendment protects free speech, including political speech.
• This protection has implications for campaign finance and limitations.

Media Roles and Criticisms

• Media performs watchdog, gatekeeper, and scorekeeper functions in American politics.
• Criticisms include bias, oversimplification, emphasizing the trivial, and focusing on entertainment.

Anonymity's Role in Political Discourse

• Anonymity, specifically online anonymity, allows individuals to express different opinions and engage in discussions which might not be possible otherwise.

Madison's Argument on Factions

• Madison identified factions as groups aiming for self-interest, potentially hindering a stable political system.
• He argued that the Constitution's structure and checks and balances would help mitigate the negative effects of factions.