Final

Question 1

Delli Carpini and Keeter Political Knowledge Index

Answer 1

• Scott Keeter and Michael X. Delli Carpini studied political knowledge more than anyone else
• A measure used to assess individuals levels of political knowledge. Consisted of questions covering a range of topics like structure of government, key political figures, and basic political processes
• This is important because it shows the political knowledge of a person based on foundational questions of the government itself. This is helpful to know if constituents know basic concepts which can aid in the contextualization of their answers to other polls.

Question 2

Heuristics

Answer 2

• Heuristics are mental shortcuts that are based on the knowledge that a person has readily available to them. They are menat to organize and simplify political choices using accessible infromation to make inferences or judgements.
• This is important because people may use heuristics to answer their polls. For isntance, when voting for political candidates, people might choose to vote for a party they know of/associate with (i.e., republicans or democrats) as a mental shortcut to make their choice rather than voting for candidates based on their policies.
• This is also important because it tells us that certain media is powerful and can shape our mental shortcuts. This also means that other things shape our subjectivity such as family, friends, or religion that aid in forming heuristics.

Question 3

Attitude

Answer 3

• attitudes are certain positive, negative, or mixed emotions towards a certain person, object, or issue.
• the ABCs of attitudes are Affect, Behavior, and Cognitions
• this is important because it shapes hwo we understand the world, how we understand political issues, and shapes the policies that are created or endorsed.
• an example of this is if a person has a negative attitude towards Black people, then they will engage in racist attitudes or even create racist policies if they are in a position of policymakers.

Question 4

Cross Sectional Data

Answer 4

• cross sectional data is data taken over time from different people
• this is important because it shows us what the public opinion is over time of a particular political issue.
• an example of this is presidential approval ratings
• most of polling data is cross sectional

Question 5

Panel Data

Answer 5

• panel data is data taken over time from the same people. this is in contrast to cross sectional data, which is taken from different people.
• panel data is important because it can tell us how people change their attitudes, considerations, beliefs, and opinions over time and can be used to measure how specific political issues change based on a certain person. this can help determine if there are stable attitudes
• panel data is more expensive and mroe difficult, thus making it less common

Question 6

Non-Attitudes

Answer 6

• non-attitudes are when people does not have an attitude towards a particular political issue, person, or object.
• this idea was developed by converse in the 1950s after doing panel research
• this is important because it indicates that people may not have attitudes but instead have different considerations or are primed to make certain decisions or choices in polling
• this also shows that people may not have certain political beliefs or may not be answering the polls accurately

Question 7

Consideration

Answer 7

• considerations are reasons for favoring one side over the other, as per the definiton from zaller and feldman
• this is important because zaller says that people have attitudes, but polls capture considerations, which changes because people would answer the questions differently

Question 8

Group Identification

Answer 8

• group identification is the process that individuals associate themselves with certain social groups
• examples are political parties, ideological movements like BLM, or social identities such as queerness or the LGBTQ+ community
• this is important because it shapes peoples politcal beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours
• for example, identifying with the lgbt community would most likely mean you are more likely to support gay marriage
• a psychological attachment

Question 9

Interest Group

Answer 9

• interest refers to individuals’ level of attention and concern regarding specific political, social, or policy issues.
  -this is important because it reflects how engaged people are with certain topics and often influences their attitudes and behaviors. People tend to focus more on issues that directly affect them or align with their beliefs, leading to skewed perceptions of public opinion.
• this is also importatnt because powerful actors may manipulate public opinion by controlling the flow of information or framing issues to serve their interests, hich means it may not accurately represent public opinion

Question 10

Social Deseireability Bias

Answer 10

• social desireabilty bias is the phenomenon in which a person will feel pressured to choose what the socially correct answer is to a question
• for example, a person might feel pressured to answer “no” to a qusetion that asks “do you lie to your parents” because that is more socially acceptable
• this is important because it shows that people may answer untruthfully in order to be percieved as more socially desireable, which could skew results of polling

Question 11

Overt prejudice

Answer 11

• also known as “old fashion racism”
• overt prejudice is the over negative feelings towards Black people and the belief that they are inherently inferior to white people, according to Huddy and Feldman in 2009
• this is important because it is difficult to define what racism is when measuring what public opinion is, but this is one definition that might bring us closer to defining the term
• this is also important becasue this is in contrast to new racism, which is more subtle in the ways it manifests, which means that over racism may be one way to measure, but might not capture the resentment of people towards people of color

Question 12

New Racism

Answer 12

• new racism is the subtle racial prejudice conveyed throguh white opposition to black demands and resentment at their special treatment
• an example of this is the resentment towards Black people in regards to affirmative action
• this is important because it reveals a new way in which racism can manifest and complicates the definitions of racism because its now harder to measure subtle racisms

Question 13

Value

Answer 13

• value is the importance or significance people place on certain political issues, beliefs, or policies.
• this is important because values shape people’s attitudes and opinions on various topics and guide their behavior, including voting deciisons and political participation

Question 14

Ideaology

Answer 14

• political ideology is a set of interrelated attitudes that fit together into a coherent and consisten view or orientation to the political world
• any set beliefs about the proper order of society and how it can be achieved
• this is important because it distinguished from partisanship or political polarization
• this is also important because it can be shaped by a multitude of factors including the media
• this is also important because it can determine their attitude towards specific political issues and what they would support/not support

Question 15

Liberal Ideology

Answer 15

• liberal ideology is an ideology that prioritizes individual rights, social justice, and goverment intervention to address social and economic inequalities
• examples include promoting equality, diversity, and opportunity for all members of society
• this is important because it is important to know the differences between liberal and conservative ideologies and how they relate to how people will make decisions in voting, public policy, etc.

Question 16

Conservative Ideology

Answer 16

• conservative ideology is the ideology that is characterized by limited governent, traditional social values, and free-market principles
• examples include individual freedom, personal responsibility, and traditional institutions
• this is important because it is key to distinguish liberal and conservative politicis, espcially as the political atmosphere gets more and more polarized and this is the ideology that will affect public policy and voting decisions

Question 17

Marketplace of Ideas

Answer 17

• the marketplace of ideas is the belief that the test of truth or acceptance of ideas depends on theri competition with one another in a free, transparent public discourse
• this is important because i have no idea why its important and you should skip this question on the test

Question 18

First Amendment (forms of speech protected/not protected)

Answer 18

• the first amendment protects the right to assembly, speech, press, and petition
• examples include: political speech, religious speech, public concern, artistic expression, commercial speech, and symbolic speech
• it does NOT protect obscenity, defamation, incitement to imminent lawless action, true threats, child p., fighting words
• this is important because it dictates what public opinion looks like and what is constitutional or not
• this is also important because the right to assembly proves there is a plurality or group that wants to engage politics and that there is an aggregate

Question 19

National Socialist Party of America v. Village of Skokie

Answer 19

• 1977
• Neo-nazis who sought a permit to hold a demonstration, couldn’t post a bond so they held a march in one of the suburbs. Skokie was heavily populated with Jewish people. Supreme Court handed Skokie victory with immediate appelate review.
• this is important because If a state wanted to impose a restraint on 1st amendment rights they must provide strict proecdural safeguards.

Question 20

Snyder v. Phelps

Answer 20

• 2011
• Westboro Baptist Church and Fred Phelps protested outside the funeral of Marine Lance Corporal Matthew A. Snyder. His father sued for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Federal jury ruled in his father’s favor, but WBC won the appeal.
• no idea why this is important

Question 21

Political polarization

Answer 21

• a gap in political opinions whereby americans are divided in their preferences—this gap is not narrow, but a chasm with the public divided into camps on opposing sides
• this is important because it shapes our electorate, i.e., an electorate dominated by moderates would impact how public policy is formed or impact how politicians campaign. similarly, if it is true that the current political climate is polarized, then it is a question of how people campaign.

Question 22

Mass Polarization

Answer 22

• mass polarization is the phenomenon in which there is division of public opinion along ideological linees that occurs when the public holds strongly partisan views
• this affects the general public, in constrast to elite polarization
• this is important becuase it shapes public opinion

Question 23

Partisan Identification

Answer 23

Partisan identification refers to an individual’s psychological attachment or loyalty to a particular political party. It is a key aspect of political identity and influences how individuals perceive themselves and others in the political sphere. Partisan identification often shapes people’s political beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.

Question 24

Partisan Sorting

Answer 24

Partisan sorting refers to the process by which individuals and groups align themselves more closely with one of the two major political parties in the United States based on their ideological or policy preferences. This phenomenon has led to greater ideological homogeneity within each party and increased polarization between them.

Question 25

Evidence suggesting mass polarization is occurring.

Answer 25

The evidence indicates that mass polarization is a significant phenomenon in the United States. Over the past few decades, Americans have become more ideologically consistent and polarized, with increasing divisions between Democrats and Republicans on key issues. Negative perceptions of the opposing party have intensified, and there is a growing geographic and media-driven polarization. People are more likely to live, socialize, and consume news in ideologically homogeneous environments, reinforcing their existing beliefs and exacerbating partisan divides. These trends have implications for political discourse, voting behavior, and governance, posing challenges for achieving consensus and compromise in a deeply polarized political environment.

Question 26

Evidence suggesting mass polarization is not occurring

Answer 26

Despite some indications of increasing political polarization in the United States, there is also evidence to suggest that mass polarization may not be occurring to the extent often portrayed. Studies have shown that while partisan elites and activists have become more polarized, the general public remains relatively moderate in their political views. Surveys reveal that most Americans hold a mix of conservative and liberal positions on various issues, indicating ideological flexibility rather than strict adherence to partisan lines. Furthermore, there is evidence of cross-cutting cleavages, where individuals may identify with one party but hold views that align with the other party on certain issues.

Question 27

Negative partisanship

Answer 27

Negative partisanship refers to the phenomenon where individuals are more motivated by their dislike or opposition to the opposing party than by their support for their own party. It involves strong feelings of animosity, distrust, or antipathy towards the opposing political party rather than a positive attachment to one’s own party. Negative partisanship can lead to increased polarization as individuals become more focused on defeating the opposing party than on finding common ground or compromise.

Question 28

Going public “bully pulpit”

Answer 28

is a strategy employed by political leaders to communicate directly with the public, bypassing traditional channels such as the legislature or the press. The term “bully pulpit” was coined by President Theodore Roosevelt, who used his position as president to advocate for his policies and influence public opinion. Going public allows leaders to shape public opinion, build support for their initiatives, and pressure opponents into action by appealing directly to the electorate. This strategy involves making speeches, holding rallies, using social media, and engaging in other forms of public communication to convey their message

Question 29

Factors know to affect presidential approval ratings

Answer 29

Presidential approval ratings are influenced by a multitude of factors, including economic conditions, policy successes and failures, leadership style, major events and crises, partisan and ideological divides, media coverage, specific policies, and international relations. Positive economic indicators, successful policy initiatives, effective leadership, and adept crisis management tend to boost approval, while economic downturns, policy failures, perceived weaknesses in leadership, and negative media coverage can lead to declines.

Question 30

Public mood

Answer 30

Public mood refers to the general sentiment or emotional state of the population at a particular time. It encompasses a wide range of feelings, such as optimism, pessimism, confidence, anxiety, and discontent, among others. The public mood can be influenced by various factors, including economic conditions, social and political events, media coverage, and cultural trends. For example, during periods of economic prosperity, the public mood may be more positive, characterized by optimism about the future and confidence in the government’s ability to address challenges.

Question 31

Delegate and trustee models of representation

Answer 31

Representatives act as messengers of the public will, prioritizing fulfilling the specific desires and interests of their constituents, even if it means going against their own beliefs or the broader national interests.

Representatives act as trustees making decisions in the best interests of the nation as a whole, using their judgment and expertise to prioritize broader societal interests over immediate desires of the electorate.