Political Culture & Interest Groups Flashcards
This states that society is split according to class, with the upper-class holding all the power and refusing to share it. It says that only a few people benefit from lobbying.
Elitist Theory
A theory stating that people will choose the option that will be the most to their advantage and personal gain
Rational choice theory
A direct technique that is used by interest groups when they make a monetary contribution to the political campaign of an individual they hope will help them out.
Interest Group Strategies: Campaign Assistance
A citizen’s obligation to obey the law and participate in the political process. This could include things like jury duty and voting.
Civic duty
This type of media is completely controlled by the government.
State Media
Contentment (satisfaction with the way things currently are,) apathy (lack of interest or caring,) and alienation (feeling like a vote won’t make any difference.)
Causes of nonparticipation in voting
When groups don’t gain new members because the rewards of membership are available to non-group members.
Free rider problem
When an interest group uses outside party to impact the decision making of government officials. For example, using constituents to lobby for a cause of the interest group.
Indirect technique in interest groups
Interest groups that work for legislation to help a certain company, product or business group. This is the most common kind of interest group.
Economic Interest Group
A type of media bias that occurs when a news organization uses critical terms in relation to certain groups.
Bias by Labeling
Forms of participation that are alternative to conventional actions, usually used when conventional methods aren’t effective. This could include things like protests and boycotts.
Unconventional political participation
Rules set up by the FCC that forbid the broadcast of obscene and indecent programming as well as profanity during certain times of day.
Public Decency Standards
A journalist to goes through the process of digging into instances of political corruption and injustice.
Muckraker
Most citizens of the U.S. believe the government supports this by creating a level playing field for everyone to compete on.
Views of the American Political System: Equality
This act was created in 1934. It set up the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Federal Communications Act
The kind of media bias that occurs if an organization presents a story based on one single interpretation, when other interpretations may be equally valid.
Bias by Spin
Standard, customary forms of participation in the political process, such as voting, making campaign donations, or serving in political office.
Conventional political participation
A way for polling organizations to account for inevitable inaccuracies and errors in the process
Margin of error
A theory stating that power in politics is distributed among various groups, and that while those groups acknowledge the interests of others, each group pursues its own interests
Pluralist theory
In reference to America, this means that the nation made up of diverse groups of people, sometimes called a ‘melting pot.’
Multiculturalism
A kind of journalism that focused on attracting readers through exaggeration and distortion of the truth.
Yellow Journalism
The process of establishing political opinions and values, which can last an entire lifetime
Political socialization
The media demonstrates this type of bias when it reports only information that fits in with its point of view.
Bias by Story Selection
We see this type of media bias in organizations that place stories that support their point of view in a position of prominence, while hiding stories that don’t match their beliefs.
Bias by Placement
Specific situations and policies that prevent a certain group from voting. This may include challenges registering, voting on a weekday or getting in an absentee vote.
Institutional Barriers to Voting
A sample that matches the population at large in its traits
Representative sample
This type of interest group is concerned with supporting the greater good of the community or the nation.
Public Interest Group
