The American Political Landscape

Question 1

Ethnocentrism

Answer 1

Belief in the superiority of one’s nation or ethnic group

Question 2

Political Socialization

Answer 2

The process by which we develop our political attitudes, values, and beliefs

Question 3

Demographics

Answer 3

The study of the characteristics of populations

Question 4

Political Predisposition

Answer 4

A characteristic of individuals that is predictive of political behavior

Question 5

Reinforcing Cleavages

Answer 5

Divisions within society that reinforce one another, making groups more homogeneous similar

Question 6

Cross-cutting Cleavages

Answer 6

Divisions within society that cut across demographic categories to produce groups that are more heterogeneous or different

Question 7

Manifest Destiny

Answer 7

A notion held by a nineteenth-century Americans that the US was destined to rule the continent, from the Atlantic the Pacific

Question 8

Ethnicity

Answer 8

A social division based on national origin, religion, language, and often race

Question 9

Race

Answer 9

A grouping of human beings with distinctive characteristics determined by genetic inheritance

Question 10

Gender Gap

Answer 10

The difference between the political opinions or political behavior of men and of women

Question 11

Fundamentalists

Answer 11

Conservative Christians who (as a group) have become more active in politics in the last two decades and were especially influential in the 2000 presidential election

Question 12

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Answer 12

The total output of all economic activity in the nation, including goods and services

Question 13

Socioeconomic Status (SES)

Answer 13

A division of population based on occupation, income, and education