Chapter Eight
1. What are the three factors that define a realigning election? Disruption of existing political order due to the emergence of powerful and divisive issues, a shift in voter support strongly in favor of one party, and an enduring change in party policies and coalitions

2. What was the evidence that initially made many political scientists believe that the election of 1968 was a dealigning election? There was increased ticket splitting, and a rise in true independents.

3. What are four key factors discussed in class that have contributed to the weakening of U.S. political parties? Primary elections, the evolution of television as a direct link with voters, the decline of the patronage system, and parties have lost control over party platforms and conventions.

4. What does the median voter theorem explain about a two party system? The median voter is a voter who chooses a party to vote for after reviewing the party’s views and objectives they set out to accomplish.

5. Briefly define Gerrymandering: It is intended to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating district boundaries for voting purposes.
Chapter Nine
6. Briefly define Free Rider and explain why overfishing is a Collective Action problem: Free Riding is when the people who benefit from resources, goods, or services do not pay for them. The Collective Action problem occurs when property rights are not clearly defined and imposed.

7. Briefly explain the main differences between pluralist and elite theories of the U.S. interest group system. The pluralist theories suggest liberal pluralism v. biased pluralism, there are many flaws in pluralist theory, and there is no gurantee that what interest groups want is what the majority wants. Elite theorists consist of active-working members of the upper class and high-level employees in profit and nonprofit institutions controlled by members of the upper class through stock ownership, financial support, or involvement on the board of directors
8. Briefly explain agency capture theory: When individuals use their resources and energy to attempt to gain the policy outcomes they prefer while members of the public will not pay it any attention.
Chapter Ten
9. List and briefly explain the three major historical phases of U.S. journalism discussed by Patterson: The political battle between Hamilton and Jefferson, which led to the formation of political parties, the invention of telegraph and power driven press which was a long distance way of communicating through a text on paper or electronic operator, and the press was starting to cover more events happening regionally. The increase in circulation and increase in advertising revenue created more jobs, people made more money and also had more sources of knowledge being displayed.

10. Briefly explain the requirements of the FCC’s “equal time” rule. It required the holders of broadcast licenses both to present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was-in the Commission's view—honest, equitable, and balanced.

11. What is the main reason that Patterson gives for the demise of the Fairness Doctrine and what does he say was the main consequence of its demise? The number of cable subscribers rose to over 50%, and the main consequence was the creation of Fox News by Rupert Murdoch.
Chapter Eleven
12. What is the primary requirement of the 1946 Legislative Reorganization Act require? Each bill introduced in Congress has to be referred to the proper committee. This is a source of each committee’s power.

13. Which type of Congressional committee resolves differences between House and Senate bills when there are differences between bills dealing with the same issue passed by the two chambers? A conference committee.

Briefly explain what a filibuster and a vote of cloture are. A filibuster is talking a bill to death and cloture is when 3/5-majority vote limits the debate of a bill to 30 hours
Chapter Twelve
1. Briefly explain the Whig and Stewardship theories of the presidency: The Whig theory holds that the presidency is a limited office and that the President is an administrator to the will of Congress. The stewardship theory calls for a "strong president" who does whatever he wants as long as he doesn't break the law.

2. Briefly explain what is required to impeach the president: There has to be a majority vote to brig articles of impeachment, then a trial and there must be a 2/3 majority senate vote in order to convict

3. Briefly explain the three major requirements of the War Powers Act and why it is widely regarded as a failure: The President has to consult Congress when feasible before or within 48 hours of a military action. It requires hostilities to end within 60 days unless Congress extends the period. It gives the President an additional 30 days to withdraw troops which can Congress can shorten. It is regarded as a failure because it is believed to be against the President's rights

4. List the five major factors discussed by Patterson and in class that determine the success of Presidents in getting their policies enacted: Force of circumstance; stage of the President's term (most powerful at the beginning of his term); more power on foreign policy issues; relations with Congress; Public Support.
Chapter Fourteen
5. Briefly explain the process by which justices of the Supreme Court are chosen: The President and the Senate choose Supreme Court justices. The President chooses the nominees and the Senate confirms or rejects them.

6. Briefly explain the process by which the Supreme Court chooses which cases it will hear: The losing party in a lower court case asks the Court to hear its case and if at least four of the justices agree to do so the Court issues a write of certiorari which is a request to the lower court to submit the case. If a case is a substantial legal issue or comes through the solicitor general, they are more likely to hear it. There must be compelling reasons for accepting the case.