third test, political socialization Flashcards
public opinion
Collective set of beliefs the public holds
what was james madison worried about
feared tyranny of the majority. popular opinion=disaster
why did james madison think we need elected representatives
elected representatives as a defense against peoples own errors, helps against tyranny of majority
political socialization
how you form your political beliefs
what groups influence your political socialization
family race religion gender school
who do african americans align with
democrats
what is the largest minority group
hispanics
how do hispanics vote
democrat
how do Evangelical Christians closely aligned
republican
how do catholics vote
democratic
what is the gender gap
Women are more likely to vote Democrat than men.
what are voting blocs
sections of the us divided by voting. south, midwest, west coast, northeast
how does the south vote
conservative
how does the midwest vote
swing states
how does the west coast vote
liberal
how does the northeast vote
liberal
pacific states
liberal
what is the chief source of politics for those under thirty
media
political ideology
set of beliefs you hold about politics and the role of the government
wedge issues
a controversial issue that one party uses to split the voters in the other party (abortion war)
Liberal
democratic
low income, urban, minorities, gov regulation, welfare, abortion. oppose military spending, tax cuts for wealthy, prayer in school
conservative
high income, republican, white, older, higher degree, suburbs, like free market, gun, millitary power
libertarian
fiscally conservative (economically), socially liberal. support tax cuts but support legal marijuana
populist
fiscal liberal, social conservative, support paid maternity, oppose abortion. appeal to common man
moderate
most americans, independant swing voters,
hyperpartisan
totally committed to their own party, no compromise
bipartisanship
compromises
how do the jewish vote
liberal
polling
is a means to assess public opinion on issues or a candidate
george gallup
founder of modern day polling
straw polls
unscientific survey used to gauge public opinion on a variety of issues and policies
internet polls
not reliable
push polls
Intended to influence your opinion
tracking polls
continuous surveys that enable a campaign or news organization to chart a candidates daily rise or fall in support
exit polls
Conducted just outside of polling places
focus group
conversations on the issues
literary digest
correctly predicted from 1920-1932
sent survey from phones and cars but during great depression so not accurate
1936 predicted alfred landon
valid polling needs
random sample
marginal (sampling) error
wording cant lead to some answer, unbiased
approval ratings
presidents job performance high after crisis when president brings people together
margin of error should be
usually most valid pols are +/- 3%
what is the best way to know the publics opinion
voting
15 amendment 1870
african americans can vote
19 amendment 1920
women could vote
23 amendment 1961
washington DC got 3 electoral college votes
24 amendment
eliminated poll tax
26 amendment 1971
now only 18 years old to vote
precinct
where you are assigned to vote
initiatives
citizens can approve a law
referendum
citizens can remove an existing law
recall
citizens can recall an elected official before their term is over
motor voter act (national voter registration act)
when people renewed their license or got their license they were automatically registered to vote, increased registration but not turnout
what is the number one reason people dont vote
not enough time
australian ballot
printed uniformly by gov
all candidate names t appear
completion in private
political culture
set of ideas which americans share widely about gov; freedom, equality not economically, individualism, democracy
incumbency advantage
incumbents are more likely to win reelection. 95% in house, 90% in senate
reason for incumbency effect
money, visibility, constituent service, franking privilege, gerry mandering
legalized corruption
campaign donations are perfectly legal as long as the donations are recorded publicly
gerrymandering
district lines redrawn to give one party an advantage
franking privilege
incumbents are allowed free mailing
earmark
added on pieces of legislation with the purpose of funding things constituents want
political efficacy
how likely you feel your vote affects politics
vested interest
more at stake, mostly financially
first catholic president
JFK
pork barrel politics
bringing home projects for home district, help get jobs and federal money
riders
earmarks, pork, special projects for home state
census
every ten years federal government does calculation of population
reapportionment
re distribution of congressional seats according to changes in census
who redraws district lines
the party who is the majority of votes
voter apathy
doesnt care, no political efficacy
why do americans have lower voter turnout than other countries
lower political efficacy, barriers, registration ID
why did voting population double between 1915 and 1925
19 amendment
