POLS 207 Exam 2 Smith exam questions with 100% correct answers

Rational Voter Someone who will only vote if the personal benefits (preferred candidate wins) outweigh the costs (time & energy to vote) Who does not vote Young, unemployed, uneducated, low income Who votes Older, employed, educated, high income, white Why do some states have higher voter turnout Swing states- receive more candidate visits/ads. Media predicting turnout early-discourages people from voting Differences in registration procedures Federally mandated voter registration law "motor voter" Differences in voting experience- time, place, equipment, ballots, and poll workers Socioeconomic factors-population with higher education & income is more likely to vote Who/what determines voter qualifications? State determines voter qualifications. Voter eligibility and verification (IDs), voting locations and ease of voting, online Internet registration, ballot requests and voting. Lobbying Any communication by someone acting on behalf of a group, directed at a government decision maker with the hope of influencing that person. Lobbyists Individuals or groups that actively seek to influence government policy to represent corporations or groups. Professional lobbyists Are former legislators hired bc they "know their way around". Only professional lobbyists officially register. Interests groups Do not "buy votes" they "buy access". Seek to influence specific policies rather than achieve total control of the government. Influence from the outside. Benefits of lobbyists Provide research and analysis, not funded by the public, represent small and big interests, engage public involvement. Grassroots lobbying Interest groups influencing legislators by getting constituents (voters) to call or write their legislator on behalf of the groups position on pending legislation. Typical Tactics of interest groups Testifying, contacting lawmakers, drafting legislation Functions of interest groups Bill monitoring- a lot of time keeping tabs on bills affecting client. Lobbying- Involves persuasion but also provides technical info. PACs Interest groups operating through political action committees that are formed to raise and distribute campaign funds to candidates for public office. Interest group systems between states Dominant, complementary, or subordinate systems. Due to the economic diversity explanation, the party explanation, the professionalism explanation, and governmental fragmentation explanation. The economic diversity explanation The influence of interest groups is greater when one industry dominates political life The party explanation Strong parties make for weak interest groups The professionalism explanation Interest groups are more influential when legislature is less professsional The governmental fragmentation explanation States with weak governors often face strong interest group systems The Responsible Party Model A party system in which each party offers clear policy alternatives and holds their elected officials responsible for enacting these policies in office. Protests Common at state & national level. Direct, collective activity to obtain concessions. The news media response is often key to success & success is high when the goal is clear. Official responses to protests may be genuine, symbolic (not actually granting anything), or token. Civil disobedience Peaceful, nonviolent breaking of "unjust" laws and suffer the punishment (often arrest) Violence criminal, generally irrational and self defeating Party An organization that seeks to achieve power by winning public office in elections. Policy influence from the inside vs interest group influence from outside. Why is participation important to democracy? It is the definition and essence of democracy. What are ways to increase voter turnout? -Post registration laws: require each registrant to be mailed a sample ballot and info about polling place location, provide a longer voting day, and give employees time off to vote. -Making is easier to vote before election day by mail with absentee ballot -Making it easier to vote on election day with provisional ballots -Election by mail or voting by internet -More accesible polling places -Better ballot layouts What are things states have to pay attention to when making voter qualification laws? -15th amendment: right to all citizens despite race can vote. -19th amendment: women can vote -No "white primaries" Different ways southern states disenfranchise (take away voting) minority voters? -Requiring photo ID to vote -strict on ID -white primary What is most politically powerful age group in our country? Least powerful? Most politically powerful- 65 and up Least- 18-24 What do lobbyists do? (What do they get with their money?) What can't they do? Lobbyists seek to gain access to influence policy. They sell access, connections, information in turn for money.