Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

American Government > Final > Flashcards

Final Flashcards

1
Q

Media bias

A

Liberal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Policy agenda

A

Issues the media covers, the public considers important, and the politicians address. Setting the agenda is the first step in political action.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Groupthink

A

Tendency among small group of decision makers to converge on a shared set of views; can limit creative thinking or solutions to policy problems

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Gender gap

A

Women prefer democratic candidates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

First mass media

A

Newspapers. Cost a penny.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Motor voter law

A

Passed in 1993, enables prospective voters to register when they receive their drivers license

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Voter turnout

A

A measure of what proportion of eligible voters actually vast a legitimate ballot in a given election.
Ours is low as hell.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Paradox of voting

A

Cost of voting (informing yourself, travel, waiting in line) outweighs the apparent benefits.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Mandate

A

Political authority claimed by an election winner as reflecting the approval of the people.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Push poll

A

Form of negative campaigning that masquerades as a regular opinion survey. Usually conducted by a campaign or allied group; features strongly critical or unflattering information about an opponent.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Sampling frame

A

A designated group of people from whom a set of poll respondents is randomly selected.

Types of people they plan to poll

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Random sample

A

Ea. Member has an equal chance of being selected.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

New media

A

On demand access to info and entertainment through digital devices that feature interactive participation with content

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Midterm election

A

National elections held between presidential elections involving all seats of the house of reps, one third of those in the senate, 36 governorships and other positions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Incumbency advantage

A

People in office tend to stay in office.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Party id

A

Strong attachment to one party usually established by parents and friends.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

New deal

A

Broad series of economic programs and reforms by FDR

Social security, unemployment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Partisanship

A

Quality of taking the side of a party or espousing a viewpoint that reflects a political party principles or position on an issue. Often decided by people who wish the parties would work together.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Party system

A

Broad organization of us politics comprising of two major parties, the coalition of supporters backing each, the positions they take on major issues and each party’s electoral achievement.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Interest groups

A

A group who tries to influence gov

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Pluralism

A

Open participatory style of gov in which many different interests are represented.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Lobbyist

A

A person who contacts government officials on behalf of a particular cause or issue.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Budget deficit

A

Amount we will be in the hole

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Public policy

A

Policy related to things the public is concerned with.

25
Q

Isolationism

A

Belief that a nation should not interfere in other nations affairs.

26
Q

Soft power

A

Influence a nation exerts by attracting others through culture and commerce, a contrast to persuasion through force of arms or money.

27
Q

Single member district

A

Minorities have a chance to get a representative.

28
Q

Sample error

A

Error gets bigger with less sample size but only so good up to a certain point.

29
Q

Critical election

A

Election where there are dramatic shifts.

30
Q

17th amendment

A

Two senators from each state, six year term, ea. 1 vote.

31
Q

19th amendment

A

Right to vote regardless of sex

32
Q

Education & economic influences

A

More education more liberal
More income more conservative

More matters more generally

33
Q

Differences and similarities of political parties and interest groups

A

Both advocate for issues

One wants to control the other wants to influence.

Interest group aren’t trying to elect its members.

34
Q

Negative incentives

A

Ostracizing, remind those things you get for free.

35
Q

Elite centered model of political parties.

A

Parties serve a function. Elites want then. Useful for people running to get elected. Helps citizens get involved.

36
Q

Federalist paper 10

A

Factions are “a number of citizens who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion.” –Madison
Concern if one group has advantage in gov they will wield significant influence.
Eliminate or control?
Control.

37
Q

Moral incentive

A

Pull heart strings to get work done.

38
Q

Positive incentive

A

Benefits for support

Joining aarp gets discounts.

39
Q

Progressive reforms

A

New deal, social security, welfare, unemployment.

40
Q

Functional party model

A 
More realistic
Have elections
Should have different positions on policies
Converge in center
Run on differences
41
Q

Responsible party model

A

Normative model
Social norms, how they should act
Clear policy choices
Deliver on these choices and be held responsible

42
Q

Broadcast and cable tv

A

Those who pay get different information

Undermines regulation

43
Q

Liberal

A

Favor gov involvement in economy

Oppose gov in social issues

44
Q

Libertarian

A

Oppose gov in social issues and economic ones

Collective security – a little

45
Q

Conservative

A

Oppose gov economic involvement

Support gov social involvement

46
Q

Medicare and Medicaid

A

Medicare - contributory, everyone gets

Medicaid - non contributory, help for needy

47
Q

Contributory programs

A

Everyone gets

Medicare and social security

48
Q

Non contributory programs

A

means-tested (based on wealth)
AFDC – replaced by TANF – aids to families with dependent children.
Food stamps
Medicaid

49
Q

Populist

A

Classical liberalism

Genuine constitutional government

50
Q

Realignment of 1860

A

Slavery.

Dems and Whigs. Isolate slavery. Whigs in contention with each other. Reps emerge.

51
Q

Realignment of 1896

A

No new party

Industrial revolution. East west divide. West is unhappy railroads cost too much to ship goods.
Advocate for elimination of gold standard. Grover Cleveland (Dem) says no. Populace movement, reps win office, strengthens rep party.

52
Q

Realignment of 1932

A

Great Depression. FDR if states won’t act the Feds will. Fundamental shift in our relationship with the Feds and president. Elected 4 times. Strengthens dems.

53
Q

Food stamps

A

Changed to SNAP - supplemental nutritionist assistance program

Non contributory

54
Q

History of social security

A

Exclude large sectors of society

No women - secretary jobs excluded
No Africans - no agricultural jobs

Getting married, having children gets, perpetuated stereo type

55
Q

Modern welfare state

A

Not a lot of assistance if you are able bodied

Small size

Small coverage

Focus on specific groups

More business friendly

56
Q

Great society programs

A

Lyndon B Johnson

Medicaid, Medicare, welfare, food stamps

57
Q

Foreign policy president

A

Receive ambassadors
International agreements
Treaties - senate approval - 1500
Agreements - 12000, no cong approval, temp
Appointments
Appoints key members of national security
Use of military force
Cic. Repel invasion
Negative powers, to seize war
Act of 1983 - 60 days to notify congress, with extra 30 or withdraw troops

58
Q

Foreign policy congress

A 
International agreements
   Approve treaties
Appointments
     Approval
Use of military force
     Declare war
Power of the purse

American Government (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions