Midterm 2 Flashcards
Political socialization
Process through which underlying political beliefs are formed
Public opinion
Attitudes
Agencies of political socialization
- Family (most influential)
- education
- social groups (religion)
- political environment
Gender gap
The tendency of men’s and women’s opinions to differ
Political ideology
A set of complex beliefs and values that has a whole, form a general philosophy about government
Conservative
Support social and economic status, oppose government involvement with business, support school prayer
Liberal
Favors individual initiative, suspicious of governments and their ability to manage economic and social affairs. Expansion of government
Polling Sample
Small group selected by researchers
Question wording
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)
Government policy
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
Television
Reaching more Americans than any other single news source; provides the least amount of depth in news coverage
Newspapers
Mainly used to influence politicians
Mostly facts; unbiased
Set agenda
Not popular
Corporate consolidation
75% of media
Media influence
Lies in their ability to shape Americans decisions and opinions about issues in politics (framing & priming)
Agenda setting
- 1st source of media power
- Bring issues & probs to public attention
- Selection bias
FCC
Federal communications commissoon
Government and the media
Fed gov’t doesn’t own media but regulates broadcast media
Proliferation of news sources
Encourages polarization cuz many media outlets seek to position themselves within a specific ideology
A free media
- Sheds light on matters that may be unknown
- Publicize and explain gov’t actions
- Evaluate politicians
Political party
Organize groups that attempt to influence gov’t by electing their members to important gov’t offices
Party systems
For most of US history 2 major parties have had enough of an organize presence to compete in elections
Incumbent
Candidates running for reelection to positions they already hold
Realignments
- When one party dominates another politically
* occurs when new issues are combined with economic and political crises
Divided Government
Where presidency is controlled by one party while other party controls one or both houses of Congress
Party identification
An individual voters psychological times to one party or another
• most important que as to how to vote in elections
Turnout
Percentage who actually vote
Non-electoral participation
Time money effort
Internet makes this easier
Socioeconomic status
Level of education, income, occupational
Factors influencing voters
- Partisan loyalty
- Issues/policy concerns
- Candidate characteristics
Closed primary
Only if you’re a member & registered voter
State and local government
Have responsibility of conducting elections
Pluralism
- Citizens connect to the gov’t through interest groups
* theoretical assumption competition will create balance
Types of interest groups
- Business & agriculture
- Labor union
- Professional
- Ideological
- Public-sector
- Public interest
Membership
Typically those with more education and income
Increased number of interest groups
Response to increase in the size of activity of gov’t
Lobbying
Pressure members of Congress
Iron triangle
Executive branch
Senate or House
Interest group
Ligitation strategy
Use of courts to affect public-policy in three ways:
- Group brings their own suit
- Financing for person’s suits
- Filing a companion brief as an amicus curiae (friend of the court)
Political action committee
Most common and electoral strategy interest groups use, giving financial support to parties or candidate
Issue advocacy
They can spend as much money as long as they do not collaborate with candidate
