The Political Process

Question 1

Three ways to express public opinion

Answer 1

1. Writing emails or letters to public officials
2. Testifying at public hearings
3. Taking part in demonstrations/marches

Question 2

Three ways your political views can be influenced

Answer 2

Family, School/work, Personal factors

Question 3

Criticisms of the media

Answer 3

Bias in story selection- media outlets focus on one issue and ignores others
Media Consolidation- small amount of companies own most news outlets
Factual inaccuracy- carelessness in reporting w/o checking the facts first
Bias in reporting- slanted towards a certain point of view

Question 4

Must haves for a public opinion poll

Answer 4

Sufficient sample size (larger=more accurate, chosen at random), unbiased (cannot show favoritism to one side), Objectivity (not letting personal feelings affect poll results)

Question 5

4 functions of interest groups

Answer 5

Endorsing candidates
Lobbying
Informing public opinion
Filing Lawsuits

Question 6

Endorsing candidates (interest groups)

Answer 6

publicly declare its support for a certain candidate

Question 7

Lobbying (interest groups)

Answer 7

contacting public officials to persuade them to support a group’s interest

Question 8

Informing public opinion (interest groups)

Answer 8

use grass root politics to organize demonstrations and marches to get politicians to notice

Question 9

Filing lawsuits (interest groups)

Answer 9

use the legal system as a way to accelerate or help create change

Question 10

Three main roles of political parties

Answer 10

nomination process, educating voters about party issues, political parties run the government

Question 11

Three types of party systems

Answer 11

one party system, two party system, multi-party system

Question 12

Multi-party system

Answer 12

several parties compete for control. Most common party system. Could lead to an unstable government but also represents more people’s interest

Question 13

Direct Primary

Answer 13

candidate chosen directly by voters

Question 14

Closed Primary

Answer 14

only voters registered as a party member can vote in selecting that party’s candidates

Question 15

Open Primary

Answer 15

registered voters may vote in either party’s primary election, but only in one or the other

Question 16

Public Opinion

Answer 16

views shared by a segment of society on issues of interest/concern to the people

Question 17

Political Socialization

Answer 17

the process in which someone acquires their political beliefs

Question 18

Electoral College

Answer 18

body of electors that are representing the states, they cast votes for the election for the President and Vice President

Question 19

Mass Media

Answer 19

means of communication that provides information to a large audience

Question 20

Interest Groups

Answer 20

association of people who have similar views/goals, they represent those goals/views and and try to influence public policy and the public agenda to achieve them

Question 21

Political Party

Answer 21

organization that tries to elect its members to public office so that its views can become public policy

Question 22

Political Spectrum

Answer 22

the social and political beliefs that stretches from the conservatives to the right, to the liberals on the left

Question 23

Two main parties in the US

Answer 23

Republican- traditional values, small government

Democrat- more open minded, large government

Question 24

Benefits of political parties

Answer 24

• Gives people representation based on their beliefs
• Candidates have a political party to help them with their ideas and people can choose a candidate w/ similar beliefs w/o having to know everything about them.

Question 25

Criticisms of political parties

Answer 25

• The parties will do anything to win (could be corrupt/unconstitutional)
• Can divide the country into two or more groups (very different beliefs/ideas)

Question 26

Hard Money

Answer 26

money donated to an individual campaign. State and federal laws limit the amount of $$ and individual is able to give

Question 27

Soft Money

Answer 27

money given to a party, rather than a specific candidate. no limit on amount of $$

Question 28

Caucus

Answer 28

meeting of party members who selects candidates to run for election