Pol S 215
American Politics: Quiz #3 Answer Range (27 Oct. 2005)
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The first ten questions can be answered with a phrase or a few sentences. You should be able to answer them in the space below each. Each question is worth 6 points.
1). How does Page & Shapiro’s view of the “rational public” differ from the “myth of the volatile public”?
-
P&S say the public collectively has stable, structured views and responds
to information rather
than being moody or having “non-attitudes”
2) What is meant by political socialization? What are two groups that affect one’s socialization?
-
text def. p.103
3) What effect does the Condorcet or Voter’s Paradox have on collective opinion?
- collective p.o, is irrational
4)
According to the Persuaders video,
what role did “narrow-casting” play in the 2004
-
Kerry’s campaign was able to target voters likely to vote
Kerry and direct messages to them
-
It enabled Kerry to win the primary (alternative answer)
5) Why is it costly and difficult to organize collective action according Mancur Olson’s collective action theory?
-
people will free-ride rather than contribute
-
benefits are diffuse rather than concentrated (alternative
answer)
6) How are interest groups like labor unions, consumer advocates, and business associations different from groups like environmental, civil rights, and scientific groups?
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the former are economic interests the latter are
principled or purposive interests
7) What are two reasons Tocqueville gives for why democracy is strengthened by civic associations?
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citizens organize without dependency on the state or
aristocrats
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citizens learn to bargain and compromise; to act politically
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“Feelings and opinions are recruited, the heart is enlarged, and
the human mind is developed only by the reciprocal influence of men upon one
another.”
8) What is “social capital,” and what are some of the effects of its decline?
features of social organization such as networks, norms, and social trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit.”
-
Less local voluntary & cooperative activity in US
·
Greater reliance on state
· Less cooperation outside state control
9) According to lecture, what are two reasons to believe that politics could be the cause of the decline in associational life?
-
personalization of presidential campaigns v. party control
- centralization of party activities v. local activism
- less competition due to gerrymandering
- parties no longer ‘free schools’ for association
10) Is voter turn-out as a portion of the voting-eligible population since 1945 in decline? Is it by a large amount (e.g., over 10 percent, or by less than 10%?)
Yes, but not by a large amount
The next two questions should be answered in one or two paragraphs, using complete sentences. Each is worth 20 points.
9) Why did the Supreme Court strike down some provisions of the 1974 Federal Election Campaign Act? What are some key provisions that it kept? How has the Supreme Court ruled in challenges to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002?
FECA
violated freedom of speech by limiting how much of their own money individuals
and candidates could spend because effective speech requires spending money
(e.g., advertising).
It
allowed the federal matching fund program and limits on spending and
contributions for those taking part in that program to remain. It also
established the FEC to monitor campaign finance.
So
far, the SCOTUS has upheld the provisions of the McCain-Feingold legislation.
10) According to the lecture, there are many impediments to the emergence of a third party. Describe two of them in detail.
Some
combination of these:
Restrictive
Ballot Access Rules
- states
determine rules for appearing on ballot
- some states
have high "barriers to entry"
o states with higher
number of electoral votes, dominance of one party, or less organized parties
have stricter ballot access laws (Lewis-Beck & Squire, 1995)
o e.g., in CA, House candidate
must submit 150 signatures from eligible voters in district in 54 days to avoid
$1,621.00 filing fee;
o Senate candidates
must collect 10,000 signature to avoid 3,242.00 fee, and collect 165,573
nominating signatures from registered voters in 60 days; submit signatures to
county officials of voter's county
Campaign
Finance Provisions
- major
parties get full matching up to $20 million inflation adjusted dollars ($74.692
million in 2004)
- major party
is a party's whose candidate in the prior election received 25% or more of the
popular vote
- minor parties get share of major
party funds up to the ratio of their percentage of the vote to the average of
the major party candidates’ percentage of the vote in the last election
- minor party
candidate must have received at least 5% of the popular vote.
- A new minor party candidate must gain
5% of vote to be eligible for funding after election
- - get less than 5%....
"Lock-In"
by Major Parties & Media
- Congressional committee system has no
place for independents
- Media covers most popular candidates
- Debates restricted to candidates
likely to receive at least 5% of vote