chapter 8: opinion, voting

Question 0

The distribution of individual preferences for or evaluations of a given issue, candidate, or institution within a specific population

Answer 0

Public opinion

Question 1

Interviews conducted to learn candidate preference and the issue positions of potential voters

Answer 1

Canvass

Question 2

The portion of the population which holds a particular opinion

Answer 2

Distribution

Question 3

How is public opinion collected?

Answer 3

Polls and surveys

Question 4

Every individual has a known chance of being selected for a survey

Answer 4

Random sample

Question 5

What is the general margin of error?

Answer 5

3 percent in any direction

Question 6

Why is writing accurate polls so difficult?

Answer 6

The wording of the questions can influence the answers

Question 7

Questions which permit respondents to answer in their own words

Answer 7

Open ended questions

Question 8

Why are open ended questions the most effective?

Answer 8

Respondents can express their views more clearly and provide deeper insight.

Question 9

What 4 things, in addition to the data, must a scientific poll report?

Answer 9

1) sample size
2) margin of error
3) time questioned
4) place

Question 10

When a substantial percentage agrees, it’s called a _______.

Answer 10

Consensus

Question 11

When opposing sides feel intensely about an issue, it’s called _______.

Answer 11

Polarizing

Question 12

2 examples of polarizing issues

Answer 12

The Vietnam War

Gay marriage

Question 13

3 factors which make public opinion are

Answer 13

Intensity
Latency
Salience

Question 14

Public opinions which exist, but may not have been fully expressed

Answer 14

Latency

Question 15

Why would leaders want to know latent opinions?

Answer 15

They will know how to mobilize people and draw them to the polls

Question 16

Example of latent opinion in US

Answer 16

Desire for security against foreign enemies

Question 17

The extent to which people believe issues are relevant to them

Answer 17

Salience

Question 18

Salient issues in the 70s

Answer 18

Vietnam and watergate

Question 19

Salient issues now

Answer 19

Health care, education, and war in the Middle East

Question 20

The process by which we develop our political attitudes

Answer 20

Political socialization

Question 21

A consciousness of the nation and of belonging to that entity

Answer 21

Nationalism

Question 22

What percent of Americans know the name of their congressional candidates?

Answer 22

15

Question 23

What percent of Americans make up the attentive public?

Answer 23

25

Question 24

Citizens who follow public affairs closely

Answer 24

Attentive public

Question 25

Political know nothings

Answer 25

About 67% of Americans, who are interests in politics only sometimes and who rarely vote

Question 26

Those who participate selectively in elections, usually only presidential elections

Answer 26

Part time citizens, 40% of population

Question 27

How can people in totalitarian governments participate in politics?

Answer 27

Violently via revolution

Question 28

Why was the 2000 election controversial?

Answer 28

The vote count in Florida was too close to call

Question 29

What effect did the 2000 election have on voting technology?

Answer 29

An upgrade in voting technology and a banning of punchcard ballots on Florida

Question 30

Most typical political activity

Answer 30

Voting

Question 31

First state to allow women to vote

Answer 31

New Jersey

Question 32

System designed to reduce voter fraud by limiting voting to those who have established eligibility by submitting the proper form

Answer 32

Voter registration

Question 33

A secret ballot printed by the state

Answer 33

Australian ballot

Question 34

Who prepared ballots in the 1800s? What color were they?

Answer 34

The parties; there was a different color for every party

Question 35

What state does not require voter registration?

Answer 35

North Dakota

Question 36

What is the nickname for the National Voter Registration Act? When was it passed?

Answer 36

Motor Voter; 1993

Question 37

Bill which established voter registration while applying for or renewing driver's license

Answer 37

Motor Voter act

Question 38

How often is voter registration purged? Why?

Answer 38

4 years from registration; to allow for death and change of residence

Question 39

What do primary elections determine?

Answer 39

Party nominees

Question 40

Elections to replace senators who have died or resigned.

Answer 40

Special elections

Question 41

Elections held on off numbered calendar years

Answer 41

Off year elections

Question 42

Proportion of voting aged public who votes

Answer 42

Turnout

Question 43

How does nonvoting create a class bias?

Answer 43

The upperclass tends to vote most, so policies tend to reflect their interests

Question 44

3 main factors of voting choices

Answer 44

Party identification Candidate appeal Issues

Question 45

Party identification

Answer 45

A psychological sense of attachment to one party or another

Question 46

Since 1952, which party has had the most Presidential winners?

Answer 46

Republican

Question 47

Nominally, what is the largest party?

Answer 47

Democrat

Question 48

How voters feel about a candidate's background, personality, and leadership ability

Answer 48

Candidate appeal

Question 49

Why did Eisenhower have so much candidate appeal?

Answer 49

Popular general and war hero, charm, moderate, lack of strong party position

Question 50

Least important factor in the decision process; why?

Answer 50

Issues, candidates often obscure where they stand so they can appeal to more people

Question 51

Most important factor in the decision process

Answer 51

Candidate appeal

Question 52

Voting based in what a candidate pledges to do in the future about an issue if elected

Answer 52

Prospective issue voting

Question 53

Holding the incumbent party responsible for past performances on issues

Answer 53

Retrospective issue voting

Question 54

An example of a stable opinion

Answer 54

Death penalty

Question 55

Opinions that don't change over a person's lifetime

Answer 55

Stable

Question 56

When do fluid opinions change?

Answer 56

With every event and issue

Question 57

An example of a fluid opinion

Answer 57

Approval of the president

Question 58

An example of a latent opinion

Answer 58

Selective service

Question 59

Informal polls

Answer 59

Straw polls

Question 60

Mentality emphasized during campaign based on who is winning, not what they stand for

Answer 60

Horse race

Question 61

What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 eliminate?

Answer 61

Literacy tests to vote

Question 62

What was the record voting turnout? When?

Answer 62

56% in 2008

Question 63

Why is voter turnout over 90% in Western European countries?

Answer 63

Compulsion penalties

Question 64

What day of the week are elections held on?

Answer 64

Tuesday

Question 65

What factor most makes people likely to vote

Answer 65

A high level of education

Question 66

Opinions you aren't aware if until they're aroused.

Answer 66

Latent opinions