Central Ideas

Question 1

Many factors influence public opinion…

Answer 1

political knowledge and political values.

Question 2

Political values are shaped by the process of…

Answer 2

political socialization

Question 3

Properly conducted polls can effectively communicate…

Answer 3

public opinion to lawmakers

Question 4

Debate continues as to whether elected leaders should heed …. when making decisions.

Answer 4

public opinion

Question 5

How did the Federal Government respond to Three-Mile Island?

Answer 5

After the Three Mile Island accident, the federal government established new regulatory standards that made it prohibitively expensive to build new nuclear power plants, which effectively stalled the development of nuclear energy in the U.S. between 1978 and 2007, no new plants were ordered.

Question 6

After the Three Mile Island accident no new nuclear power plants were ordered in the U.S. between 1978 and 2007. Then, in the mid-2000s the price of oil increased and so did public support for nuclear energy. In 2005, Congress responded to the change in public opinion by passing what Act?

Answer 6

The Energy Policy Act

Question 7

Congress passed this Act in 2005 which included provisions favorable to the nuclear power industry.

Answer 7

The Energy Policy Act

Question 8

Since the implementation of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (this public law), the …. has received applications for review. If approved, the new nuclear power plants would join the ranks of 104 reactors in operation in our country.

Answer 8

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Question 9

The population’s collective attitudes and beliefs about politics and government.

Answer 9

public opinion

Question 10

Public (political) opinion can influence…

Answer 10

government policy

Question 11

Political (public) opinions affect forms of participation, like

Answer 11

vote choices, one’s inclination to contact an elected official, attend a political demonstration, or join an interest group.