Chapter 10 Test

Question 1

What are two noteworthy characteristics of public opinion?

Answer 1

1) Government does not gauge public opinion simply by determining the opinions of the average American
2) some issues have lasting interests while others are short lived

Question 2

What are the basic modern implications of the words liberal and conservative?

Answer 2

Liberalism usually implies a belief that more government action in society is better while conservatism usually implies reluctance to expand government authority

Question 3

Describe the moderate ideological approach to politics.

Answer 3

Moderates take a pragmatic approach: whatever works should be done

Question 4

What are the two broad categories of public policy?

Answer 4

1) Domestic policy

2) Foreign policy

Question 5

Identify the four stages of public policy development.

Answer 5

1) Identifying the issue
2) setting the agenda
3) formulating a policy
4) implementation & evaluation

Question 6

What three factors usually make an issue a matter of public policy?

Answer 6

1) The issue must affect a large portion of the public
2) must have a significant impact on the public
3) must be a problem the public thinks the government should deal with

Question 7

How are the executive and judicial branches of government involved in public policy?

Answer 7

executive branch- involved in public policy through the state of union, address, executive orders, treaties, & diplomatic agreement
judicial branch- affects public policy through court decisions

Question 8

How does Romans 12:2 apply to the development of one’s opinions?

Answer 8

The renewing of the mind will transform a persons ideas about public policy

Question 9

What are opinion polls?

Answer 9

Surveys of public thought on particular subjects

Question 10

Why is it important to have a representative sample for an opinion poll?

Answer 10

An unrepresentative sample will not yield reliable information about the target group

Question 11

Why is the wording of an opinion poll question significant?

Answer 11

Different wordings may lead people to make different responses, especially if the questions are vague or use terms with strong emotional connotations

Question 12

Why must politicians be wary of public opinion?

Answer 12

Politicians must be careful because public opinion may change quickly & may also be based on incorrect information

Question 13

What is an interest group? Give another name for an interest group.

Answer 13

A group of people who share a similar opinion about a political issue or group of issues & who unite in an organization to further their view (aka pressure groups)

Question 14

List the five major kinds of interest groups and give examples of each.

Answer 14

1) Economic- AFL-CIO
2) Social- AARP
3) Single interest- National Right-to-Life Committee
4) Religious/ideological- Christian Coalition
5) Civic- Common Cause

Question 15

What interest group activities may be used to influence public policy?

Answer 15

Lobbying; public persuasion through the use of media or direct mailings, protests & rallies, campaign involvement & court action

Question 16

What is an amicus curiae?

Answer 16

An individual or group that testifies or files legal briefs as a “friend of the court” to influence the courts decisions

Question 17

What are the major forms of media, and what is the term used to describe them all?

Answer 17

Newspaper, radio, tv, Internet (Mass media)

Question 18

What is the FOIA, and what rights does it give the media?

Answer 18

Freedom of information act, gives media broad powers to investigate files of the federal bureaucracy

Question 19

In what ways can the media manipulate the information they relay to the public?

Answer 19

By giving certain information more extensive or proment covenant, by omitting stories or information, by choosing certain words and pictures in their coverage, by setting arbitrary expectations

Question 20

In what ways do political candidates use the media?

Answer 20

They try to project a good image, gain as much media exposure, try to use media appearances to diminish perceived negative opinions of themselves

Question 21

What is propaganda?

Answer 21

The use of techniques to manipulate information in order to persuade or influence people

Question 22

Define public policy and public opinion.

Answer 22

Public policy- the governments goals & actions made in response to public opinion
Public opinion- the views people hold concerning matters of public interest