Midterm 2

Question 0

Political socialization

Answer 0

Process through which underlying political beliefs are formed

Question 1

Public opinion

Answer 1

Attitudes

Question 2

Agencies of political socialization

Answer 2

• Family (most influential)
• education
• social groups (religion)
• political environment

Question 3

Gender gap

Answer 3

The tendency of men’s and women’s opinions to differ

Question 4

Political ideology

Answer 4

A set of complex beliefs and values that has a whole, form a general philosophy about government

Question 5

Conservative

Answer 5

Support social and economic status, oppose government involvement with business, support school prayer

Question 6

Liberal

Answer 6

Favors individual initiative, suspicious of governments and their ability to manage economic and social affairs. Expansion of government

Question 7

Polling Sample

Answer 7

Small group selected by researchers

Question 8

Question wording

Answer 8

By the way a sentence is phrased it can have an impact on your answers and greatly affect the poll’s results (i.e. gov’t assistance vs. welfare)

Question 9

Government policy

Answer 9

Even though there is no one-to-one correlation between public opinion and the policy decisions made on public’s behalf, studies generally do suggest that elected officials pay attention to the preferences of the public

Question 10

Television

Answer 10

Reaching more Americans than any other single news source; provides the least amount of depth in news coverage

Question 11

Newspapers

Answer 11

Mainly used to influence politicians
Mostly facts; unbiased
Set agenda
Not popular

Question 12

Corporate consolidation

Answer 12

75% of media

Question 13

Media influence

Answer 13

Lies in their ability to shape Americans decisions and opinions about issues in politics (framing & priming)

Question 14

Agenda setting

Answer 14

• 1st source of media power
• Bring issues & probs to public attention
• Selection bias

Question 15

FCC

Answer 15

Federal communications commissoon

Question 16

Government and the media

Answer 16

Fed gov’t doesn’t own media but regulates broadcast media

Question 17

Proliferation of news sources

Answer 17

Encourages polarization cuz many media outlets seek to position themselves within a specific ideology

Question 18

A free media

Answer 18

• Sheds light on matters that may be unknown
• Publicize and explain gov’t actions
• Evaluate politicians

Question 19

Political party

Answer 19

Organize groups that attempt to influence gov’t by electing their members to important gov’t offices

Question 20

Party systems

Answer 20

For most of US history 2 major parties have had enough of an organize presence to compete in elections

Question 21

Incumbent

Answer 21

Candidates running for reelection to positions they already hold

Question 22

Realignments

Answer 22

• When one party dominates another politically

* occurs when new issues are combined with economic and political crises

Question 23

Divided Government

Answer 23

Where presidency is controlled by one party while other party controls one or both houses of Congress

Question 24

Party identification

Answer 24

An individual voters psychological times to one party or another
• most important que as to how to vote in elections

Question 25

Turnout

Answer 25

Percentage who actually vote

Question 26

Non-electoral participation

Answer 26

Time money effort

Internet makes this easier

Question 27

Socioeconomic status

Answer 27

Level of education, income, occupational

Question 28

Factors influencing voters

Answer 28

1. Partisan loyalty
2. Issues/policy concerns
3. Candidate characteristics

Question 29

Closed primary

Answer 29

Only if you’re a member & registered voter

Question 30

State and local government

Answer 30

Have responsibility of conducting elections

Question 31

Pluralism

Answer 31

• Citizens connect to the gov’t through interest groups

* theoretical assumption competition will create balance

Question 32

Types of interest groups

Answer 32

1. Business & agriculture
2. Labor union
3. Professional
4. Ideological
5. Public-sector
6. Public interest

Question 33

Membership

Answer 33

Typically those with more education and income

Question 34

Increased number of interest groups

Answer 34

Response to increase in the size of activity of gov’t

Question 35

Lobbying

Answer 35

Pressure members of Congress

Question 36

Iron triangle

Answer 36

Executive branch
Senate or House
Interest group

Question 37

Ligitation strategy

Answer 37

Use of courts to affect public-policy in three ways:

1. Group brings their own suit
2. Financing for person’s suits
3. Filing a companion brief as an amicus curiae (friend of the court)

Question 38

Political action committee

Answer 38

Most common and electoral strategy interest groups use, giving financial support to parties or candidate

Question 39

Issue advocacy

Answer 39

They can spend as much money as long as they do not collaborate with candidate