Chap. 5/8/9 Flashcards
political socialization
the process by which people gain their political attitudes and beliefs
public opinion
those attitudes held by a significant number of people on matters of government and politics
factors that shape beliefs and opinions
family, schools, mass media, opinion leaders, friends/peers
other measures of public opinion
elections, interest groups, media
political party
a group who seeks to control gov through winning elections and holding public office
nominating function
parties recruit and choose candidates
inform and activate supporters
parties take stands on issues and criticize the stands taken by their opponent
the bonding agent
parties try to ensure that the people they nominate are qualified and of good character
the governmental function
parties run the legislative and executive branches
watchdog function
forces public officials to be more responsive to popular concerns
what is ideology
a set of beliefs or ideas of a group or individual
reasons for the two party system
originally against party systems, ratification resulted in formation of party system
multi party system
multiple parties that represent varying problems
single party system
nearly all dictatorships use this system
single issue parties
focus on one public policy
economic protest parties
emerge during times of econ crisis
splinter parties
break off from major parties, bull moose
TV
principal source of info for about 80%
Newspapers
more in depth than tv, important news source
Radio
played major role in informing since 20s
Magazines
major publishers are an important source
Internet
on the rise, will become principal media sourcle
public agenda
the agenda of the public
electoral politics
concerned more about image than party orgs
