Political Participation

Question 1

Define free enterprise.

Answer 1

Free enterprise is economic competition without government involvement or interference.

Question 2

Define individualism.

Answer 2

Individualism is the belief that the government should leave the citizen alone. It is the predominance of this belief that has kept the government small and unobtrusive.

Question 3

Define capitalism.

Answer 3

Capitalism is the private ownership of the means of production, such as factories and land.

Capitalism is marked by private property, competition, and minimal government involvement in the production and pricing of goods and services.

Question 4

Beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, Americans’ distrust of the government began to increase. Why?

Answer 4

During the period, the Vietnam War and the anti-war demonstrations began to signal a shift in Americans’ attitude toward the government, which was exacerbated by the Watergate Crisis and the resignation of Richard Nixon.

Question 5

Political efficacy refers to a citizen’s belief that he/she can accomplish what task?

Answer 5

A citizen’s belief that he/she can influence political affairs.

Question 6

Define political culture.

Answer 6

Political culture is a set of commonly held beliefs, values, and norms concerning the manner in which economic and political life should be carried out.

Question 7

Define internal efficacy.

Answer 7

The belief that one can understand political events enough to participate in them.

Question 8

How do families affect political affiliation?

Answer 8

Most children adopt the same political affiliation as their parents.

Question 9

How do conflicting political culture and consensual political culture differ?

Answer 9

A conflicting political culture is one in which groups with opposing beliefs and viewpoints clash, sometimes violently. On the other hand, the disagreements in consensual political cultures are much less strident, because as a whole the cultures share many common values.

Question 10

What age group is more likely to vote, younger people or older people?

Answer 10

While voting among people aged 18-29 has been increasing, the youth vote still represented only 19% of those who voted in the 2012 presidential election.

Question 11

_____ _____ refers to the difference in the way men and women vote.

Answer 11

Since 1952, there has been a fairly significant gender gap between men and women voters. The 2012 election saw not only a record number of women voters, but also the highest gender gap in polling history.

Question 12

Define civic duty.

Answer 12

Civic duty refers to the commonly held belief that individuals have an obligation to take local affairs seriously and become involved where possible.

Question 13

Define external efficacy.

Answer 13

The belief that one can make a difference by participating in politics, and that one’s government will respond to demands of its citizens.

Question 14

What do studies show about people of one political belief who move into politically homogeneous neighborhoods that don’t share that belief?

Answer 14

Studies show that individuals adopt the political beliefs of their neighborhoods and peer groups which may result in the changing of their political affiliation. (Big Sort)

Question 15

What is political socialization?

Answer 15

Political socialization refers to the process by which an individual acquires certain political beliefs.

Question 16

What efficacy trend have political scientists noted in recent years?

Answer 16

Political scientists believe that both internal and external efficacy are on the decline; citizens no longer believe that they can either understand or meaningfully participate in the government.

Question 17

How does religious affiliation affect voting patterns?

Answer 17

People with strong religious beliefs are more likely to vote than those with minimal ties to religious communities.

Catholics and Jews tend to vote in extremely high numbers, and are more likely to vote for Democratic Party candidates. In recent elections, most Protestants have typically voted for Republican candidates.

Question 18

Most Americans believe that all citizens should have _____ of opportunity and should be treated the same before the law.

Answer 18

The vast majority of Americans believe that equality of opportunity and equal treatment by the law are hallmarks of the American system.

Question 19

How have racial voting patterns developed in recent decades?

Answer 19

African-Americans tend to overwhelmingly support the Democratic Party, as do a large majority of Hispanics, with the exception of Cuban-Americans, who tend to vote for Republican candidates. Asian-American voting patterns tend to split evenly between the parties.

Question 20

What effect does higher education have on political participation?

Answer 20

Studies show that people with at least some college education are more likely to vote and tend to support more liberal candidates.