Unit 2 IDs Flashcards
Political culture
The characteristic and deep-seated beliefs of a particular people about government and politics.
Political socialization
The learning process by which people acquire their political opinions, beliefs, and values.
Agents of socialization
Those agents, such as the family and media, that have a significant impact on citizen’s political socialization.
Public opinion
A collection of shared attitudes of citizens about government, politics, and the making of public policy; these citizens usually express these opinions openly.
Straw polls
An early form of polling that asks the same question of a large number of people.
Sampling
Using a representative cross-section of the general population chosen at random in the polling process in order to estimate the opinions of the entire population.
Random sample
Theoretically based on probability sample, random sampling is based on the idea that each individual in the population has a known probability of being chosen at random for inclusion in a poll.
Sampling error
Percentage of possible errors in the polling process; a measure of the accuracy of a public opinion poll.
Preparing valid questions
Directions should be clear and questions should be phrased and ordered in a way that does not lead the respondent to a particular answer.
Controlling how the poll is taken
Making sure the respondent has some knowledge of the issues addressed in the poll and that the pollsters appearance and tone do not influence the responses.
Analyzing and reporting results
Reporting the results of the polls without providing information about how the poll was conducted, sampling errors, or when the poll that was taken can lead to misinformation and error.
Political ideology
A consistent set of beliefs about politics and public policy that sets the framework for evaluating government and public policy.
Radical
Term for a person who favors rapid, fundamental change in existing social, economic, or political order. They may be willing to resort to extreme means, even violence or revolution to accomplish such change.
Liberal
The term for a person who supports active government in promoting individual welfare and supporting civil rights, and accepts peaceful political and social change within the existing political system.
Moderate
Political ideology that falls between liberal and conservative and which may include some of both; usually thought of as tolerant of others’ political opinions and not likely to hold extreme views on issues.
Conservative
Promotes a limited governmental role in helping individuals economically, supports traditional values and lifestyles, favors a more active role for government in promoting national security, and approaches change cautiously.
Reactionary
Advocates a return to previous states of affairs, often a social order or a government that existed earlier in history; they are willing to go to extremes to achieve their goals.
Economic liberal
Those who believe government should do more to assist people who have difficulty meeting their economic needs on their own.
Economic conservatives
Those who believe government tries to do too many things that should be left to private interests and economic markets.
Social liberals
Those who believe it is not government’s role to buttress traditional values at the expense of unconventional or new values.
Social conservatives
Those who believe the government power should be used to uphold traditional values.
Libertarians
Those who believe government tries to do too many things that should be left to firms and markets; they oppose government as an instrument for upholding traditional values.
Economic conservative and a Social liberal
Populists
Those who believe government should do more to assist people who have difficulty meeting their own economic needs and who look to the government to uphold traditional values.
Economic liberal and a social conservative.
Incumbent
A person who is currently holding office.
Suffrage
The right to vote
Electorate
People qualified to vote
Voter turnout
The proportion of persons of voting age who actually vote in a given election.
Direct primary
Party members vote to nominate their candidate for the general election.
Recall
A special election initiated by petition to allow citizens to remove an official from office before a term expires.
Referendum
Procedure whereby the state submits legislation to its voters for approval, allowing citizens to vote directly on issues called propositions.
Initiative
Allows voters to petition to propose issues to be decided and submitted for votes by qualified voters.
Low voter turnout reasons
Expansion of the electorate, failure of political parties to mobilize voters, no perceived difference between the candidates or parties, mistrust of government, apathy, satisfaction with the way things are, lack of political efficacy, mobility of electorate, and the registration process.
Factors affecting voting
Education, occupation and income, age, race, gender, religion, marital status, union membership, community membership, party identification, and geography.
Primary elections
Nominating elections in which voters choose the candidates from each party who will run for office in the general election.
Closed primary
Only voters who are registered in the party may vote to choose the candidate; separate primaries are held by each party.
Open primary
Voters may vote to choose the candidates of either party, whether or not they belong to that party or not; voters make the decision of which party to support in the voting booth.
Blanket primary
Voters may vote for candidates of either party, choosing a republican for one office and a democrat for another; used only in Alaska and Washington.
Runoff primary
When no candidate from a party receives a majority of the votes, the top two candidates face each other in a runoff election.
General elections
Voters choose office holders from among all the candidates nominated by political parties or running as independents.
Special elections
Elections held whenever an issue must be decided by voters before a primary or general elections are held.
Coattail effect
Weaker or lesser-known candidates from the president’s party profit from the president’s popularity, thus winning votes.
Caucus
Locally held meetings in a state to select delegates who, in turn, will nominate candidates to political offices.
Presidential preference primary
Voters select delegates to vote in the presidential nominating convention.
Electoral college
Representatives from each state who formally cast ballots for the President and Vice Presidents.
Deviating elections
Occurs when the minority party is able to win with the support of majority party members, independents, and new voters.
Realigning elections
Occur when the minority party wins by building a new coalition of voters that continues over successive elections.
Dealigning elections
Occurs when party loyalty becomes less important to voters, as may be seen with the independents and split-ticket voting.
Hard money
Campaign funds given directly to candidates to spend as they choose.
Soft money
Campaign contributions that are not subject to legal limits and are given to parties rather than directly to the candidates.
