POLITICAL SCIENCE 102 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
Democratic Theory - Answer -Describes Democracy as a form of self-government
(people agree to govern themselves as an act of self-restraint or self-control).
Civics education - Answer -Refers to a movement to increase public information about
the Constitution, the way the political system works, the way government works, and
civil discourse.
Civic engagement - Answer -Refers to a public that is actively engaged in politics and
government.
National Council for the Social Studies - Answer --Organization whose mission is
"preparing students for college, career, and civic life".
-Issued a 2007 report to perpetuate "An Idea Called America" by promoting civic
competence, active citizenry, and participatory democracy through public education.
Voting - Answer -Form of political participation that is an act of self-government.
Non-voting - Answer -The intentional refusal to participate in an election as a protest
against the political system or the candidate or party choices available.
-Can be a form of political participation.
Leading Federalists, Alexander Hamilton - Answer -Advocated a system of
representative government that resembled "a natural aristocracy" that was run by
"gentlemen of fortune and ability".
The Federal Farmer - Answer -Anti-federalist author name he wrote in.
What did anti-federalists advocate for? - Answer -Broader participation.
How did the Federal Farmer define democratic participation? - Answer -Defined as full
and equal representation.
What did the anti-federalist Republicus advocate? - Answer -Advocated an American
democracy that provided for "fair and equal representation," which he defined as a
condition where "every member of the union have a freedom of suffrage and that every
equal number of people have an equal number of representatives."
How did Abraham Lincoln define democracy? - Answer -Defined as government of the
people, government by the people, and government for the people.
-Defined in Gettysburg Address.
,14th Amendment (1868) - Answer -Prohibited states from denying to any person within
their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
15th Amendment (1870) - Answer -Prohibited states from denying the right to vote on
the basis of race.
17th Amendment (1913) - Answer -Provided for direct election of Senators.
19th Amendment (1920) - Answer -Gave women the right to vote.
24th Amendment (1964) - Answer -Ended the Poll Tax.
26th Amendment (1971) - Answer -Lowered the voting age to 18.
Voting Rights Act of 1965 - Answer -Made racial discrimination in voting a violation of
federal law. Ex: Outlawed the use of literacy tests to qualify to register to vote and
provided for federal registration of voters in areas that had X<50% of eligible minority
voters registered.
Civil Rights Act of 1964 - Answer -Outlawed discrimination based on race, color,
religion, sex, or national origin.
What does The Economist rank the U.S. based on how democratic of a country it is? -
Answer -U.S. ranked 17th democratic country in the world.
Reasons why U.S. has low ranking on democracy: - Answer -1. U.S. has a lower rates
of voter turnout than others such as European countries.
2. U.S. now has a presidential system so the executive power is dominant rather than
the more democratic legislative.
3. U.S. has extensive provisions for secrecy and national security and emergency
powers which contrasts our democratic values.
Voter turnout - Answer -The proportion of the voting-age public that participates in an
election.
Rational choice model - Answer --A model of voting that argues that individuals are
self-interested actors who use a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether it's in their
self-interest to vote.
-Developed by Anthony Downs.
-Based on assumptions in economic models of human behavior.
According to the rational choice model, a person's decision to vote is based on... -
Answer -1. Whether the vote will affect the outcome of the election.
2. The expected benefit of voting and not voting.
3. The sense of civic duty.
,Civic duty model - Answer --Described non-material, non-rational incentives for voting.
-A person votes out of a sense of responsibility to the political unit, or a commitment to
democratic government and the obligations and duties as well as the rights of citizens to
maintain self-government.
Political efficacy - Answer -The belief that one's political participation makes a
difference and matters.
Demographic factors that are related to voter turnout: - Answer -Income, education,
race, gender, age, and ethnicity.
-wealthy vote more
-whites vote more than minorities
-women used to vote less and vote more now
-older people vote more
National Conference of State Legislatures - Answer -Reports on felon voting rights in
the states.
Sentencing Project - Answer -Reports that 5.8 million Americans are
disenfranchised/denied the right to vote because of a felony conviction.
System explanations for voter turnout: - Answer -1. Eligibility (felony convictions make
one ineligible to vote so lower voter turnout)
2. Voter registration (registration laws lower voter turnout)
3. Voter fatigue (having so many elections so frequently can lower voter turnout)
4. 2 party system (increases ppl's feeling that their vote doesn't matter so lower voter
turnout)
5. Elections on Tuesday in US (middle of the week=hard to vote=lower voter turnout)
Rational political party - Answer -One whose primary goal is advancing ideas, issues,
or ideology. Winning an election is secondary.
George C. Wallace - Answer --Former Governor of Alabama.
-1968 presidential candidate of the American Independent Party.
-"not a dime's worth of difference between them"-said about the Democratic and
Republican candidates for presiden.
What are two of the main reasons why elections are a measure of whether a political
system is democratic and how democratic it is? - Answer -Participation and
accountability.
Three main purposes elections serve: - Answer -1. Selecting government officials.
2. Informing government officials.
3. Holding government accountable.
, Forward looking theory of elections - Answer -An election provides government officials
with information about which direction the public wants the government to go on major
issues.
Backward looking theory of elections - Answer -An election provides government
officials with feedback about what has been done. An election=referendum on
government officials or political party in power.
Who do voters directly elect? - Answer -They directly elect all congressmen, members
of the house and the senate.
Who do voters indirectly elect? - Answer -They indirectly elect the president (through
Electoral College).
Referendum - Answer -An election where the voters approve or reject a law that has
been passed by the state legislature or a local government body.
Ballot initiative - Answer -An election where the voters decide whether to support or
reject a proposed law.
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center - Answer -The Center acts as a "nerve center" for
"progressive" or liberal ballot initiatives in the states.
Initiative and Referendum Institute (IRI) - Answer -At USC studies ballot initiatives and
referendums in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world.
Ways elections are regulated: - Answer --Article 1, Section 4
-13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
-Regulated by state and federal laws.
State laws provide for - Answer -1. Primary elections-nominating election held to
choose party candidates who will run in the general election.
2. Eligibility of voters
3. Running of each state's Electoral College
4. Running of state and local elections
Election campaigns - Answer -Organized efforts to persuade voters to choose one
candidate over the other candidates who are competing for the same office.
Effective campaigns harness resources such as... - Answer -1. Volunteers
2. Money
3. Support of other candidates
4. Endorsements of other government officials, interest groups, and party organizations
General election - Answer -An election held to choose which candidate will hold office.
-inter-party election while primary=intra-party election.
Democratic Theory - Answer -Describes Democracy as a form of self-government
(people agree to govern themselves as an act of self-restraint or self-control).
Civics education - Answer -Refers to a movement to increase public information about
the Constitution, the way the political system works, the way government works, and
civil discourse.
Civic engagement - Answer -Refers to a public that is actively engaged in politics and
government.
National Council for the Social Studies - Answer --Organization whose mission is
"preparing students for college, career, and civic life".
-Issued a 2007 report to perpetuate "An Idea Called America" by promoting civic
competence, active citizenry, and participatory democracy through public education.
Voting - Answer -Form of political participation that is an act of self-government.
Non-voting - Answer -The intentional refusal to participate in an election as a protest
against the political system or the candidate or party choices available.
-Can be a form of political participation.
Leading Federalists, Alexander Hamilton - Answer -Advocated a system of
representative government that resembled "a natural aristocracy" that was run by
"gentlemen of fortune and ability".
The Federal Farmer - Answer -Anti-federalist author name he wrote in.
What did anti-federalists advocate for? - Answer -Broader participation.
How did the Federal Farmer define democratic participation? - Answer -Defined as full
and equal representation.
What did the anti-federalist Republicus advocate? - Answer -Advocated an American
democracy that provided for "fair and equal representation," which he defined as a
condition where "every member of the union have a freedom of suffrage and that every
equal number of people have an equal number of representatives."
How did Abraham Lincoln define democracy? - Answer -Defined as government of the
people, government by the people, and government for the people.
-Defined in Gettysburg Address.
,14th Amendment (1868) - Answer -Prohibited states from denying to any person within
their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
15th Amendment (1870) - Answer -Prohibited states from denying the right to vote on
the basis of race.
17th Amendment (1913) - Answer -Provided for direct election of Senators.
19th Amendment (1920) - Answer -Gave women the right to vote.
24th Amendment (1964) - Answer -Ended the Poll Tax.
26th Amendment (1971) - Answer -Lowered the voting age to 18.
Voting Rights Act of 1965 - Answer -Made racial discrimination in voting a violation of
federal law. Ex: Outlawed the use of literacy tests to qualify to register to vote and
provided for federal registration of voters in areas that had X<50% of eligible minority
voters registered.
Civil Rights Act of 1964 - Answer -Outlawed discrimination based on race, color,
religion, sex, or national origin.
What does The Economist rank the U.S. based on how democratic of a country it is? -
Answer -U.S. ranked 17th democratic country in the world.
Reasons why U.S. has low ranking on democracy: - Answer -1. U.S. has a lower rates
of voter turnout than others such as European countries.
2. U.S. now has a presidential system so the executive power is dominant rather than
the more democratic legislative.
3. U.S. has extensive provisions for secrecy and national security and emergency
powers which contrasts our democratic values.
Voter turnout - Answer -The proportion of the voting-age public that participates in an
election.
Rational choice model - Answer --A model of voting that argues that individuals are
self-interested actors who use a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether it's in their
self-interest to vote.
-Developed by Anthony Downs.
-Based on assumptions in economic models of human behavior.
According to the rational choice model, a person's decision to vote is based on... -
Answer -1. Whether the vote will affect the outcome of the election.
2. The expected benefit of voting and not voting.
3. The sense of civic duty.
,Civic duty model - Answer --Described non-material, non-rational incentives for voting.
-A person votes out of a sense of responsibility to the political unit, or a commitment to
democratic government and the obligations and duties as well as the rights of citizens to
maintain self-government.
Political efficacy - Answer -The belief that one's political participation makes a
difference and matters.
Demographic factors that are related to voter turnout: - Answer -Income, education,
race, gender, age, and ethnicity.
-wealthy vote more
-whites vote more than minorities
-women used to vote less and vote more now
-older people vote more
National Conference of State Legislatures - Answer -Reports on felon voting rights in
the states.
Sentencing Project - Answer -Reports that 5.8 million Americans are
disenfranchised/denied the right to vote because of a felony conviction.
System explanations for voter turnout: - Answer -1. Eligibility (felony convictions make
one ineligible to vote so lower voter turnout)
2. Voter registration (registration laws lower voter turnout)
3. Voter fatigue (having so many elections so frequently can lower voter turnout)
4. 2 party system (increases ppl's feeling that their vote doesn't matter so lower voter
turnout)
5. Elections on Tuesday in US (middle of the week=hard to vote=lower voter turnout)
Rational political party - Answer -One whose primary goal is advancing ideas, issues,
or ideology. Winning an election is secondary.
George C. Wallace - Answer --Former Governor of Alabama.
-1968 presidential candidate of the American Independent Party.
-"not a dime's worth of difference between them"-said about the Democratic and
Republican candidates for presiden.
What are two of the main reasons why elections are a measure of whether a political
system is democratic and how democratic it is? - Answer -Participation and
accountability.
Three main purposes elections serve: - Answer -1. Selecting government officials.
2. Informing government officials.
3. Holding government accountable.
, Forward looking theory of elections - Answer -An election provides government officials
with information about which direction the public wants the government to go on major
issues.
Backward looking theory of elections - Answer -An election provides government
officials with feedback about what has been done. An election=referendum on
government officials or political party in power.
Who do voters directly elect? - Answer -They directly elect all congressmen, members
of the house and the senate.
Who do voters indirectly elect? - Answer -They indirectly elect the president (through
Electoral College).
Referendum - Answer -An election where the voters approve or reject a law that has
been passed by the state legislature or a local government body.
Ballot initiative - Answer -An election where the voters decide whether to support or
reject a proposed law.
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center - Answer -The Center acts as a "nerve center" for
"progressive" or liberal ballot initiatives in the states.
Initiative and Referendum Institute (IRI) - Answer -At USC studies ballot initiatives and
referendums in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world.
Ways elections are regulated: - Answer --Article 1, Section 4
-13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
-Regulated by state and federal laws.
State laws provide for - Answer -1. Primary elections-nominating election held to
choose party candidates who will run in the general election.
2. Eligibility of voters
3. Running of each state's Electoral College
4. Running of state and local elections
Election campaigns - Answer -Organized efforts to persuade voters to choose one
candidate over the other candidates who are competing for the same office.
Effective campaigns harness resources such as... - Answer -1. Volunteers
2. Money
3. Support of other candidates
4. Endorsements of other government officials, interest groups, and party organizations
General election - Answer -An election held to choose which candidate will hold office.
-inter-party election while primary=intra-party election.
