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Questions and Answers
What characterizes a rational voter?
Which of the following groups is least likely to vote?
Which factor contributes to higher voter turnout in certain states?
What can be done to increase voter turnout?
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Who determines voter qualifications?
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What is the term for drawing district lines to gain political advantage?
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What characterizes annual legislative sessions in Texas?
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Which factor is NOT typically associated with candidates for the Texas State Legislature?
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Who is responsible for determining the membership of legislative committees?
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What does the principle-agent model describe in the context of the legislature?
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What does the 24th Amendment address?
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What is a defining characteristic of the responsible party model?
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Which type of primary requires voters to register with a specific party?
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What is the main purpose of a recall election?
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Why do incumbents generally have an advantage in elections?
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What must be evaluated in state redistricting according to Baker v. Carr?
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Which function is NOT typically performed by a legislature?
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What characterizes open primaries?
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Study Notes
Voter Participation
- Most citizens participate by voting, running for office, donating money, volunteering time, writing letters, and attending events
- Rational voters are individuals who only cast a ballot when the rewards outweigh the costs
- Older, employed, high-income, and White citizens tend to vote more frequently, while younger, unemployed, low-income, Hispanic/Black, and individuals with mental incapacities are less likely to participate.
Voter Turnout
- Swing states often have higher voter turnout due to increased attention from candidates and media.
- States with more straightforward registration procedures tend to have greater participation.
- Higher turnout can be attributed to federal mandates like the "motor voter law", which promotes registration at DMV locations, and to socioeconomic factors, with more educated and affluent populations demonstrating stronger voting behavior.
- To increase voter turnout, states could simplify the voting process, implement mail-in elections, reform felon disenfranchisement, and provide better education for young voters.
Constitutional Amendments
- The 24th Amendment prohibited poll taxes, and the 19th Amendment granted women suffrage.
Responsible Party Model
- This model encourages political parties to clearly outline policy positions, hold elected officials accountable for their performance, educate the public on issues, and streamline choices for voters. It also emphasizes the importance of organizing and strategizing to win elections.
Primary Elections
- Closed primaries require voter registration with a specific party.
- Open primaries allow registered voters to declare their preferred party on election day.
- Run-off primaries occur when no candidate secures a majority in the initial primary, prompting a second round of voting.
Election Types
- General elections are the standard elections for positions.
- Primary elections determine which candidates will compete in the general election.
- Initiative elections grant citizens the power to propose laws and amendments directly on the ballot, bypassing the legislature.
- Recall elections allow voters to remove elected officials from office before their term ends.
National Party Committees
- They plan presidential nominating conventions, provide financial support for nominees, and maintain party operations between elections.
Negative Campaigning
- Negative campaigning can be effective when it focuses on policy differences rather than personal attacks.
Supreme Court Cases
- Baker v. Carr established the federal courts' authority to review state redistricting plans for compliance with the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. This ensures that district lines aren't manipulated to weaken voting power.
- Reynolds v. Sims determined that state legislative districts must have roughly equal populations for every elected chamber.
Functions of Legislatures
- Their primary role is law-making, including considering constitutional amendments, handling gubernatorial appointments and state courts, approving budgets, serving constituents, and overseeing state agencies.
Incumbent Advantages
- Incumbents often win due to their visibility, resources from office, and financial support from interest groups who appreciate their influence.
Apportionment and Gerrymandering
- Apportionment refers to dividing the population into districts for elections and representation.
- Gerrymandering involves drawing district lines for political gain, often benefiting one party or group over another.
Legislative Sessions
- Annual legislative sessions are held every two years for a predetermined duration.
- Special sessions are called by the governor to address specific issues not covered in regular sessions.
Committees
- Committees play a crucial role in scrutinizing bills, overseeing law implementation, and drafting legislation.
Committee Membership
- State legislatures determine the membership of legislative committees.
Pigeonholing
- This refers to the deliberate ignoring of bills by committees, effectively preventing them from being considered further.
Texas State Legislature: Requirements for Election
- Legislators are typically upper middle class, college educated, aged 56 on average, financially well-off, and often have legal backgrounds.
Legislative Leadership
- Legislative leadership positions are chosen by members of the House, not through direct elections.
Texas Legislative Session
- The Texas legislative session lasts 140 days.
Principle-Agent Model
- This model describes the relationship between the legislature, which proposes laws (the principal), and the executive branch, which implements those laws (the agent). This model acknowledges that the agent may not always act in accordance with the principal's intentions.
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Description
Test your knowledge on voter participation and the factors affecting voter turnout. Explore how demographics and policies influence who votes and the overall election process in different states. A great way to understand the dynamics of civic engagement and electoral participation.
