Unit 4 Flashcards
political culture
set of attitudes that shape political behavior
individualism
belief in the fundamental worth and importance of individual
enlightened self-interest
one’s own interest is best served when the good of the group is also considered
free enterprise
governemnts should take a laissez-faire apporach; economy would regulate itself over time
limited government
government is kept under control by checks and balances
valence issue
policies that are viewed the same way by people with various ideaologies
wedge issues
issues that sharply divide the public
saliency issues
issues with a high level of importance to people
libertarians
socially liberal, but fiscally conservative
populists
working class families that are protestant; from the south and midwest
progressives
workers over corporate rights; wealthy pay more in taxes than the poor
what is the biggest influence on political socialization
the family
civic institution
non-governmental, voluntary sector
globalization
ever expanding and increasingly interactive global economy
Impressionable age hypothesis
most people form their political attitudes between ages 14-21
lifecycle effects
age of a person impacts a person’s political priorities
benchmark poll
used to gather initial info to a candidate
tracking poll
same questions over time to track opinion
exit poll
poll taken outside polling place to predict the outcome of an election
3 factors of polling methodology
objectiveness
question order
framing
representative sample
group of people meant to represent a larger population
random sample
all members of a population must have an equal chance of selection
random digit sample
computer calls random numbers until enough people respond
weighting/stratification
making sure demographics are properly represented
sampling error
difference between poll results
push poll
pulling but trying to get particular responses from a poll
bandwagon effect
shift of candidate support to whoever holds the lead in polls
non-response bias
when voters do not response to
conservative
follow tradition and high reverence for authority
liberal
less holding to tradition; want govt to act flexibly
moderate
fall between the middle of either side (liberals and conservatives)
party platform
shows what the party stands for and what they hope to do
majoritiarian policy making
interaction of people with govt in attempt for the govt to carry out the will of the people
agenda
list of potential policy ideas, bills, or plans to improve society
16th Amendment
income tax
flat tax rate
all citizens pay the same tax rate
trade balance
import/export ratios of a country
NAFTA
lifted trade barriers between Mexico Canada and US
Social security act of 1935
created by FDR during the great depression to give a safety net for the elderly
