All Flashcards
Cause and effect of incumbency advantage?
Cause: Name recognition, fundraising | Effect: Higher reelection rates
Cause and effect of gerrymandering?
Cause: Redrawing district lines | Effect: Safe seats, less competitive elections
Cause and effect of midterm elections?
Cause: Occur during a president's term | Effect: Referendum on president, shift in Congress
Cause and effect of divided government?
Cause: Different parties control presidency and Congress | Effect: Gridlock, difficulty passing laws
Cause and effect of safe seats?
Cause: Gerrymandering or strong party loyalty | Effect: Less responsive politicians, extreme candidates
Cause and effect of low voter turnout?
Cause: Apathy, lack of information | Effect: Skewed representation, policies not reflecting public will
Cause and effect of PAC contributions?
Cause: Supporting aligned candidates | Effect: Incumbents favored, influence on policy
Cause and effect of strong name recognition?
Cause: Previous office holding, media coverage | Effect: Easier to win elections
Cause and effect of a president's low approval rating?
Cause: Unpopular policies, economic downturn | Effect: Losses in midterm elections
Cause and effect of a president's high approval rating?
Cause: Successful policies, economic boom | Effect: Gains in midterm elections
Role of the House of Representatives in elections?
All seats up for election every two years, representing local districts.
Role of the Senate in elections?
One-third of seats up for election every two years, representing entire states.
Role of Political Action Committees (PACs) in elections?
Raise and spend money to support candidates, often favoring incumbents.
House vs. Senate Elections: Term Lengths?
House: 2 years | Senate: 6 years (1/3 elected every 2 years)
House vs. Senate Elections: Seats up for election?
House: All 435 seats | Senate: One-third of seats
Presidential vs. Congressional Primaries: Scope?
Presidential: National | Congressional: State or district level
Presidential vs. Congressional Primaries: Scale?
Presidential: More candidates and voters | Congressional: Limited to district voters
Presidential vs. Congressional Primaries: Voter Participation?
Presidential: Broader participation | Congressional: Limited to district voters
Presidential vs. Congressional Primaries: Timing?
Presidential: Over months | Congressional: State-by-state on different days
Incumbents vs. Challengers: Fundraising?
Incumbents: More campaign cash | Challengers: Less campaign cash
Incumbents vs. Challengers: Name Recognition?
Incumbents: High name recognition | Challengers: Low name recognition
Incumbents vs. Challengers: PAC support?
Incumbents: More PAC Support | Challengers: Less PAC support
Primary vs. General Elections: Voter Base?
Primary: Registered Party Members | General: All Registered Voters