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POLS 1333 Exam 3 Study Guide – Political Science Concepts and Essay Preparation

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Q1. What is a Political Action Committee (PAC)?

Background

Topic: Campaign Finance

This question tests your understanding of PACs and their role in US elections and campaign finance.

Key Terms:

  • PAC: An organization that collects and distributes campaign contributions to candidates, parties, or other political causes.

  • Campaign Finance: The funding of political campaigns, including regulations and sources of money.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Start by defining what a PAC is and its main purpose in US politics.

  2. Explain how PACs raise money and the legal limits on their contributions.

  3. Discuss the influence PACs have on elections and policy.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q2. What is the Federal Elections Commission (FEC)?

Background

Topic: Campaign Finance Regulation

This question is about the federal agency responsible for enforcing campaign finance laws.

Key Terms:

  • FEC: The independent regulatory agency that oversees federal election campaign finance.

  • Regulation: Rules governing campaign contributions and spending.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Describe the FEC's role and responsibilities.

  2. Explain how the FEC enforces campaign finance laws.

  3. Discuss the importance of the FEC in maintaining transparency and fairness in elections.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q3. What is the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)?

Background

Topic: Campaign Finance Legislation

This question tests your knowledge of a major law regulating campaign finance in the US.

Key Terms:

  • FECA: A law passed in 1971 to regulate campaign contributions and spending.

  • Disclosure: Requirement for candidates to report contributions and expenditures.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Summarize the main provisions of FECA.

  2. Explain how FECA changed campaign finance practices.

  3. Discuss the impact of FECA on transparency and accountability.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q4. What is the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)/McCain-Feingold?

Background

Topic: Campaign Finance Reform

This question is about a significant update to campaign finance law, focusing on soft money and issue ads.

Key Terms:

  • BCRA: A 2002 law that banned soft money contributions to national parties and regulated issue ads.

  • Soft Money: Contributions not regulated by federal law, often given to parties rather than candidates.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Describe the main goals and provisions of BCRA.

  2. Explain how BCRA addressed loopholes in previous campaign finance laws.

  3. Discuss the effects of BCRA on political advertising and party funding.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q5. What was the significance of Buckley v. Valeo?

Background

Topic: Campaign Finance in Courts

This question tests your understanding of a landmark Supreme Court case on campaign finance.

Key Terms:

  • Buckley v. Valeo: 1976 Supreme Court case that addressed limits on campaign spending and contributions.

  • First Amendment: Constitutional protection of free speech, central to the case.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Summarize the main issues addressed in Buckley v. Valeo.

  2. Explain the Court's reasoning regarding campaign spending as free speech.

  3. Discuss the impact of the decision on campaign finance laws.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q6. What was the significance of Citizens United v. FEC?

Background

Topic: Campaign Finance in Courts

This question is about a Supreme Court decision that changed campaign finance rules for corporations and unions.

Key Terms:

  • Citizens United v. FEC: 2010 Supreme Court case allowing unlimited independent political spending by corporations and unions.

  • Independent Expenditures: Spending on political communication not coordinated with a candidate.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Describe the main issue in Citizens United v. FEC.

  2. Explain the Court's reasoning about corporate and union spending as free speech.

  3. Discuss the effects of the decision on campaign finance and elections.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q7. What is the incumbency advantage?

Background

Topic: Elections and Political Behavior

This question tests your understanding of why incumbents are more likely to win re-election.

Key Terms:

  • Incumbency Advantage: The benefits sitting officeholders have in elections, such as name recognition and fundraising.

  • Electoral Success: The likelihood of winning re-election.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. List the main factors contributing to incumbency advantage.

  2. Explain how these factors help incumbents win elections.

  3. Discuss examples of incumbency advantage in recent elections.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q8. What is the median-voter theorem?

Background

Topic: Political Theory and Elections

This question is about a theory explaining how political parties position themselves to win elections.

Key Terms:

  • Median-Voter Theorem: The idea that parties will move toward the preferences of the median voter to maximize votes.

  • Electoral Strategy: How parties choose their policies to appeal to voters.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define the median-voter theorem and its assumptions.

  2. Explain how the theorem predicts party behavior in two-party systems.

  3. Discuss real-world examples of parties moving toward the center.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q9. What is agenda-setting?

Background

Topic: Media and Public Opinion

This question tests your understanding of how the media influences what issues are considered important.

Key Terms:

  • Agenda-Setting: The process by which the media determines which issues are prioritized in public discourse.

  • Public Opinion: The collective attitudes of citizens about political issues.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define agenda-setting and its role in shaping public opinion.

  2. Explain how media coverage influences the importance of issues.

  3. Discuss examples of agenda-setting in recent news cycles.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q10. What is framing?

Background

Topic: Media and Public Opinion

This question is about how the media presents issues and influences public perception.

Key Terms:

  • Framing: The way media and politicians present issues to shape interpretation and response.

  • Priming: Related concept where media influences the criteria people use to evaluate issues.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define framing and its significance in media coverage.

  2. Explain how framing can affect public opinion and policy debates.

  3. Discuss examples of framing in political news.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q11. What is majority rule?

Background

Topic: Democratic Theory

This question tests your understanding of a fundamental principle in democratic decision-making.

Key Terms:

  • Majority Rule: The principle that the option with more than half the votes wins.

  • Democracy: A system of government where decisions are made by the people.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define majority rule and its importance in democratic systems.

  2. Explain how majority rule is applied in elections and legislation.

  3. Discuss potential drawbacks or challenges of majority rule.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q12. What is the 26th Amendment?

Background

Topic: Constitutional Law

This question is about a constitutional amendment related to voting rights.

Key Terms:

  • 26th Amendment: The amendment that lowered the voting age in the US to 18.

  • Voting Rights: Legal rights guaranteeing participation in elections.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Describe the main provision of the 26th Amendment.

  2. Explain the historical context for its adoption.

  3. Discuss its impact on voter participation.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q13. What is Duverger’s Law?

Background

Topic: Political Parties and Electoral Systems

This question is about a theory explaining why two-party systems are common in certain electoral systems.

Key Terms:

  • Duverger’s Law: The principle that single-member, plurality electoral systems tend to favor two major parties.

  • Electoral System: The method by which votes are translated into seats.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define Duverger’s Law and its assumptions.

  2. Explain how electoral systems influence party competition.

  3. Discuss examples of two-party dominance in US politics.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q14. What is adverse selection?

Background

Topic: Political Science and Economics

This question is about a concept from economics applied to politics, especially in elections and representation.

Key Terms:

  • Adverse Selection: A situation where voters or parties make choices with incomplete or asymmetric information.

  • Information Asymmetry: When one party has more or better information than another.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define adverse selection and its relevance to politics.

  2. Explain how adverse selection can affect elections and policy decisions.

  3. Discuss ways to reduce adverse selection in political processes.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q15. What is probability sampling?

Background

Topic: Public Opinion and Survey Methods

This question is about a method used to create representative samples in polling.

Key Terms:

  • Probability Sampling: A sampling method where every member of the population has a known, nonzero chance of being selected.

  • Random Sampling: Selecting individuals randomly to ensure representativeness.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define probability sampling and its purpose in surveys.

  2. Explain how probability sampling ensures representativeness.

  3. Discuss examples of probability sampling in political polling.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q16. What is gerrymandering?

Background

Topic: Elections and Representation

This question is about the manipulation of electoral district boundaries for political advantage.

Key Terms:

  • Gerrymandering: Drawing electoral district boundaries to favor one party or group.

  • Redistricting: The process of redrawing district lines after a census.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define gerrymandering and its purpose.

  2. Explain how gerrymandering affects elections and representation.

  3. Discuss examples and consequences of gerrymandering.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q17. What is the Australian Ballot?

Background

Topic: Voting Systems

This question is about a type of ballot used to ensure voter privacy and reduce fraud.

Key Terms:

  • Australian Ballot: A secret ballot printed by the government, listing all candidates and issues.

  • Voter Privacy: Ensuring that individual votes are confidential.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define the Australian Ballot and its features.

  2. Explain how the Australian Ballot improved election integrity.

  3. Discuss its adoption and impact in US elections.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q18. What is the gender gap?

Background

Topic: Political Behavior

This question is about differences in political attitudes and voting patterns between men and women.

Key Terms:

  • Gender Gap: The difference in voting behavior or political attitudes between men and women.

  • Political Participation: Involvement in elections and political activities.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define the gender gap and its significance in politics.

  2. Explain how the gender gap affects election outcomes.

  3. Discuss trends in the gender gap over time.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q19. What is priming?

Background

Topic: Media and Public Opinion

This question is about how the media influences the criteria people use to evaluate issues and candidates.

Key Terms:

  • Priming: The process by which media coverage influences the importance of certain issues in people's minds.

  • Public Opinion: The collective attitudes of citizens about political issues.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define priming and its role in shaping public opinion.

  2. Explain how priming differs from agenda-setting and framing.

  3. Discuss examples of priming in political news coverage.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q20. What is the normal vote?

Background

Topic: Elections and Voting Behavior

This question is about the expected voting pattern based on party identification and demographics.

Key Terms:

  • Normal Vote: The expected vote based on party identification, absent short-term influences.

  • Party Identification: A voter's psychological attachment to a political party.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define the normal vote and its calculation.

  2. Explain how the normal vote is used to analyze election outcomes.

  3. Discuss factors that can cause deviations from the normal vote.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q21. What is probability sampling and how does it differ from random-digit dialing?

Background

Topic: Survey Methods

This question is about two methods used to create samples for polling and surveys.

Key Terms:

  • Probability Sampling: Every member of the population has a known chance of being selected.

  • Random-Digit Dialing: A method for selecting survey participants by randomly generating phone numbers.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define probability sampling and random-digit dialing.

  2. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

  3. Discuss circumstances where each method is appropriate.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q22. How does the media influence public opinion through agenda-setting, priming, and framing?

Background

Topic: Media Effects on Public Opinion

This question is about the three main ways media shapes public opinion.

Key Terms:

  • Agenda-Setting: Media determines which issues are important.

  • Priming: Media influences the criteria for evaluating issues.

  • Framing: Media shapes how issues are interpreted.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Define each concept: agenda-setting, priming, and framing.

  2. Explain how each process works in media coverage.

  3. Discuss examples of media influence on public opinion.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q23. How does US voter turnout compare to other countries? Explain 2 issues that help explain this.

Background

Topic: Voter Participation

This question is about differences in voter turnout and factors affecting participation in the US.

Key Terms:

  • Voter Turnout: The percentage of eligible voters who cast ballots.

  • Barriers to Voting: Factors that make voting more difficult.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Compare US voter turnout to other democracies.

  2. Identify two major issues that affect turnout in the US.

  3. Discuss how these issues impact participation rates.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q24. How do gerrymandering, the normal vote, and polarization impact elections?

Background

Topic: Elections and Political Behavior

This question is about the combined effects of district manipulation, party identification, and ideological division.

Key Terms:

  • Gerrymandering: Manipulating district boundaries for political gain.

  • Normal Vote: Expected voting pattern based on party ID.

  • Polarization: Increasing ideological distance between parties.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Explain how gerrymandering affects electoral outcomes.

  2. Discuss the role of the normal vote in predicting results.

  3. Describe how polarization changes campaign strategies and voter behavior.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q25. How do age and socioeconomic status affect voter participation in the US?

Background

Topic: Voter Participation and Demographics

This question is about how demographic factors influence who votes.

Key Terms:

  • Socioeconomic Status: A person's economic and social position, often measured by income, education, and occupation.

  • Voter Participation: The act of voting in elections.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Describe how age affects likelihood of voting.

  2. Explain how socioeconomic status influences voter participation.

  3. Discuss reasons for differences in turnout among demographic groups.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

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