Public Opinion Flashcards
What is a reactionary?
A reactionary is one who advocates a return to a previous state of affairs. As an example, an American reactionary may argue that Social Security should be abolished.
On the spectrum of American political opinion, reactionaries are on the far right.
Which political polling organization is widely considered to be America’s most reliable one?
Gallup Inc., which conducts the Gallup Poll, is widely considered to be the most reliable polling organization. Gallup not only conducts polls within the United States, but around the world.
Gallup has correctly predicted the results of each presidential election from 1936-2012, with the exception of the 1948 and 1976 elections.
What is push polling?
Push polling is a tactic in which political organizations will call large numbers of voters, ostensibly to poll the voters’ preferences, but with the real purpose of spreading rumors and swaying voter opinions.
What general belief systems do conservatives have about the role of government?
Conservatives view government action with suspicion. As such, they argue for limits on government’s size. Conservatives also believe in slower, more gradual change and an emphasis on government’s primary role in assuring national security.
Who are the neoconservatives?
The neoconservatives (neocons) support free markets, an assertive foreign policy, overseas promotion of democracy, and political individualism. Neocons are typically members of the Republican Party.
What do libertarians advocate?
Libertarians advocate for an extremely limited government, with limited involvement in either the economy or social issues.
Where do moderates fall on the political scale?
Moderates fall midway between conservatives and liberals and usually identify with positions from both camps. In political elections, moderates are typically independent and become the target of appeals from both Democratic and Republican candidates.
What political beliefs do populists generally hold?
Populists generally hold conservative social beliefs, but liberal economic beliefs. They view the government as having a strong role in the economy, with increased regulation and enforcement of laws related to the economic sector.
Define liberals.
Liberals typically promote a more expansive government, believing that the government should be involved to affect social and political change. Most liberals identify with the Democratic Party.
What is a sample size?
A sample size refers to the number of persons surveyed by a poll. The larger a sample size, the more accurate the poll.
What is a radical?
A radical advocates extreme changes to political and societal systems and may often suggest violence as the means to accomplish this change.
Define public opinion.
Public opinion is the collective view of the vast majority of the population on a given issue or policy.
In the context of political beliefs, what is the gender gap?
The gender gap refers to the difference in political and public opinions between men and women. In recent years, women have tended to support more liberal policies, while men have supported more conservative ones.
_____ _____ are polls taken of voters immediately upon their exit from a polling station.
Exit polls are useful for news organizations that are attempting to gauge the results of an election, without waiting for the official election results to be announced.
Define sampling.
Sampling refers to the random selection of people to be polled.
