NEED TO KNOW: Unit 2 - Political Behavior
Political Culture
 American Political Culture
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Liberty, Equality, Democracy, Civic Duty, Individual Responsibility
ADVERSARIAL
US vs. Other Nations
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Stronger sense of Civic Duty and Civic Competence
Less voting, but MORE participation
The Culture War – Orthodox vs. Progressive
Political Efficacy - Internal vs. External
Political Tolerance?
Polling
 Polls can MEASURE or SHAPE political opinions
 5 steps of process
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Universe, Sample, Valid Questions, Interview, Analyze Data
Flaws or errors can invalidate poll data
Random Sampling is most accurate
Political Socialization
 Sources of Socialization
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Family #1
Work, school, friends, church, groups, etc
Trends
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Gender Gap: Women more liberal
Race: white more conservative, most minorities liberal (not most Asians or Cubans)
Social Class: Poor more liberal
Religion: Protestant Conservative, Catholic & Jew Liberal
Region: South & Midwest Conservative, West & NE Liberal
Political Ideology
 Political Spectrum
Voting
 VAP (Voting Age Population) vs. VEP (Voting Eligible Population) vs. Registered Voters
 Extending Suffrage in US
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Stage 1: No Property Requirements
Stage 2: 15th Amendment (African-Americans)
Stage 3: 19th Amendment (Women)
Stage 4: Voting Rights Act of 1965 (No Literacy Tests) & 24th Amendment (No Poll Taxes)
Stage 5: 26th Amendment (18 year olds)
Voter Turnout
 US v. World: Very low compared to other nations
 Causes of the Problem?
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Registration
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Low Political Efficacy, Apathy, difficult registration process
Motor Voter Law (effects have not been great)
PARTICIPATION
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Voting not only way to participate
US low in Voter turnout but HIGH in other participation (campaigning, petitions, contacting govt officials, etc)
Campaigns
 Issues - Position vs. Valence
 Retrospective vs. Prospective Voting
 Coalition-Building - Combining different groups to support a candidate
 Base v. Swing Voters
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Base: Traditional supporters of Party (More Extreme Right or Left)
Swing: Undecided (More Moderate)
Campaign Finance
 Going up each election
 Sources of Funds
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Individual Contributions, PAC money, Fed Govt
Independent Expenditures & SuperPACs
Reforms
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Federal Campaign Act of 1974 – Created FEC
McCain-Feingold Act (BCRA) – Limits on Contributions
Buckley v. Valeo & Citizens United v. FEC undermine laws
Elections
 Presidential vs. Congressional
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More people vote in Prez elections
Prez elections more competitive
Incumbency Advantage & Sophomore Surge
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Much greater in HoR
Why?
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Pork-Barrel Legislation
Franking Privilege
Name-Recognition
PAC Money
Gerrymandering
Gerrymandering
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Drawing district lines for political advantage
Baker v. Carr, Wesberry v. Sanders, Reynolds v. Sims
Presidential Elections
 Primary: Intra-Party Election to get nomination
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Open, Closed, Blanket
Delegates selected in Primaries, Nomination officially given at Convention
Election Day - 1st Tuesday after 1st Monday in November
Electoral College
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# of electors = # of HoR + # of SEN
270 (majority) to win
Election is by state (winner take all)
4 times, winner of popular vote doesn’t become Prez
If no majority, HoR picks Prez
Court Cases to Know
 Baker v. Carr
 Wesberry v. Sanders
 Reynolds v. Sims
 Buckley v. Valeo
 McConnell v. FEC
 Citizens United v. FEC