Unit 4 & 5

Question 1

Political culture

Answer 1

The widely shared beliefs, values, and norms about how citizens relate to governments and to one another.

The U.S. and Canada both are democracies but we have different political cultures

Question 2

Social capital

Answer 2

Democratic and civic habits of discussion, compromise, and respect for differences, which grow out of participation in voluntary organizations.

Networks such as churches, clubs, schools express social capitals

Question 3

Natural rights

Answer 3

The rights of all people to dignity and worth; also called human rights.

Right to life, liberty, and property

Question 4

Democratic consensus

Answer 4

Widespread agreement on fundamental principles of democratic governance and the values that undergird them.

The U.S. has a democratic consensus on the transition of power and the fairness of elections

Question 5

Majority rule

Answer 5

Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority.

A jury decision will be made if at least 12 jurors support the decision

Question 6

Popular sovereignty

Answer 6

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

The Constitution is an example of this because it gives the people power to protect themselves from the government

Question 7

American dream

Answer 7

The widespread belief that the United States is a land of opportunity and that individual initiative and hard work can bring economic success.

The common American Dream is immigrating here and working from the ground up to have your own business and a plentiful life

Question 8

Capitalism

Answer 8

An economic system characterized by private property, competitive markets, economic incentives, and limited government involvement in the production, distribution, and pricing of goods and services.

U.S., Hong King, Singapore are all examples of capitalist countries

Question 9

Suffrage

Answer 9

The right to vote.

Women’s suffrage was ratified in August 18, 1920

Question 10

Monopoly

Answer 10

Domination of an industry by a single company that fixes prices and discourages competition; also, the company that dominates the industry by these means.

Andrew Carnegie created a monopoly in the steel industry by gaining control of every level of steel production from raw materials to distribution.

Question 11

Antitrust legislation

Answer 11

Federal laws (starting with the Sherman Act of 1890) that tried to prevent a monopoly from dominating an industry and restraining trade.

The Federal Trade Commission Act (1914) was an antitrust law that banned unfair competition methods and deceptive practices and established the Federal Trade Commission.

Question 12

Political ideology

Answer 12

A consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government.

Communism, liberalism, socialism, environmentalism, and conservatism are some political ideologies

Question 13

Liberalism

Answer 13

A belief that government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity.

Liberalism in the United States currently has issues on its agenda such as reproductive and women’s rights, civil rights, and same-sex marriage

Question 14

Conservatism

Answer 14

A belief that limited government insures order competitive markets and personal opportunity.

Conservatism in the United States holds individual liberty as a core value and stands in opposition to liberal issues of equality, instead in favoring monetary policy

Question 15

Socialism

Answer 15

An economic and governmental system based on public ownership of the means of production and exchange.

Socialism places focus on the community rather than the individual, and is based on the idea that cooperation is part of human nature. Each person receives a share of production based on how much they have contributed to society.

Question 16

Libertarianism

Answer 16

An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on minimal government, promoting a free market economy, a non-interventionist foreign policy, and an absence of regulation in moral, economic, and social life.

Libertarianism has its roots in personal autonomy and is opposed to state power. Today in the United States, the Libertarian Party promotes civil liberties, laissez-faire capitalism, individual sovereignty, and limited government

Question 17

Environmentalism

Answer 17

An ideology that is dominated by concern for the environment but also promotes grassroots democracy, social justice, equal opportunity, nonviolence, respect for diversity, and feminism.

Environmentalism is in favor of the preservation, restoration, and conservation of the environment through actions like controlling pollution, protecting plant and animal diversity, practicing sustainability.

Question 18

Fixed Term

Answer 18

Length of term in office is specified, not indefinite

Members of Congress and the President serve fixed terms

Question 19

Staggered Term

Answer 19

Not all offices are up for election at the same time; this occurs in the Senate where 1/3 of seats are up for reelection every two years

Many Senates utilize staggered terms such as Brazil, Chile, France, Australia, etc.

Question 20

Lame Duck

Answer 20

A politician who cannot, or has announced he or she will not, run again

When a president is at the end of their second term such as Obama in 2016

Question 21

Winner-take-all-system

Answer 21

An election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins

The winner of an election must win absolute majority

Question 22

Majority

Answer 22

Receiving more than half of the votes cast

The US Presidential election

Question 23

Plurality

Answer 23

Receiving the largest number of votes (can be less than half)

These types of elections are commonly used in trade unions to select officers

Question 24

Single-Member District

Answer 24

An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official

Single-Member House districts became law on December 14, 1967

Question 25

Proportional Representation

Answer 25

Election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote

European parliament uses proportional representation

Question 26

Electoral College

Answer 26

Electoral system used in electing the president and vice president, in which voters vote for electors pledged to cast their ballots for particular party’s candidates

The electoral college elects the U.S. president through representation of the 50 states

Question 27

Safe Seat

Answer 27

Elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of the party’s candidate is almost taken for granted

The election of Peter Law and George Galloway in 2005

Question 28

Coattail effect

Answer 28

The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot, especially the president.

This often occurs in U.S. presidential elections where the winning candidate’s party often also wins numerous seats in Congress. Thus, members are voted into Congress ‘on the coattails’ of the President.

Question 29

Caucus

Answer 29

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.

For example, Democrats in Kentucky hold a primary whereas Republicans conduct a caucus.

Question 30

National party convention

Answer 30

A national meeting of delegates elected at primaries, caucuses, or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president, ratify the party platform, elect officers, and adopt rules.

The formal purpose of such a convention is to select the party’s nominee for popular election as President, as well as to adopt a statement of party principles and goals known as the party platform and adopt the rules for the party’s activities, including the presidential nominating process for the next election cycle.

Question 31

Interested money

Answer 31

Financial contributions by individuals or groups in the hope of influencing the outcome of the election and subsequently influencing policy.

Someone giving large sums of money to the advertising campaign for Trump’s election in hope it will make him more likely to be president.

Question 32

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

Answer 32

A commission created by the 1974 amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act to administer election reform laws. It consists of six commissioners appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Its duties include overseeing disclosure of campaign finance information and public funding of presidential elections, and enforcing contribution limits.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the independent regulatory agency charged with administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance law.

Question 33

Soft money

Answer 33

Contributions to a state or local party for party-building purposes.

There are no limits on soft money and some examples are donations for stickers, posters, and television and radio spots supporting a particular party platform or idea but not a concrete candidate.

Question 34

Hard money

Answer 34

Donations made to political candidates, party committees, or groups which, by law, are limited and must be declared.

“Hard money” donations to candidates for political office (tightly regulated, as opposed to unregulated “soft money”)

Question 35

Issue advocacy

Answer 35

Promoting a particular position or an issue paid for by interest groups or individuals but not candidates. Much issue advocacy is often electioneering for or against a candidate, and until 2004 had not been subject to any regulation.

It does not attempt to persuade the public of particular electoral outcomes, but rather seeks to highlight broader political or social issues.

Question 36

527 groups

Answer 36

Interest groups organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code may advertise for or against candidates. If their source of funding is corporations or unions, they have some restrictions on broadcast advertising. 527 organizations were important in recent elections.

Examples of 527s are Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, The Media Fund, America Coming Together, the Progress for America Voter Fund, and the Secretary of State Project.

Question 37

Independent expenditures

Answer 37

Money spent by individuals or groups not associated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office.

An independent expenditure is an expenditure for a communication, such as a website, newspaper, TV or direct mail advertisement that: Expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate

Question 38

Public opinion

Answer 38

The distribution of individual preferences or evaluations of a given issue, candidate, or institution within a specific population.

Support for the legalization of abortion

Question 39

Random Sample

Answer 39

In this type of sample, every individual has unknown and random chance of being selected.

Random samples can be utilized to see citizens’ perspectives on legislation and laws in their nation

Question 40

Margin of Error

Answer 40

Rate of error in a random sampling – usually +/- 3% for a sample of at least 1,500 individuals.

As there are many variables with sampling, the actual representation of a population may be inaccurate by a small percentage

Question 41

Intensity

Answer 41

How strongly people feel about certain political issues.

Political issues such as equality, immigration and taxes may increase intensity

Question 42

Latency

Answer 42

Political opinions that exist but have not been fully expressed.

Depending on what political party is in control, opinions such as increasing taxes may not be as fully expressed as previous political terms

Question 43

Salience

Answer 43

Extent to which people believe issues are relevant to them.

If someone is not a member of the LGBT Community, they may not advocate for equal rights as this community does not apply to them

Question 44

Political Socialization

Answer 44

The process – most notably in families and schools – by which we develop our political attitudes, values, and beliefs.

Those who grow up in a Democratic household will tend to share similar, liberal values as their parents

Question 45

Attentive Public

Answer 45

Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.

One who continuously stays up to date on governmental actions would be considered to be a part of the attentive public

Question 46

Voter Registration

Answer 46

System designed to reduce voter fraud by limiting voting to those who have established eligibility to vote by submitting the proper documents.

This process takes into account statuses such as citizenship

Question 47

Australian Ballot

Answer 47

A secret ballot printed by the state.

Used to eliminate voting fraud

Question 48

General election

Answer 48

Elections in which voters elect officeholders.

President Joe Biden secured a victory over Donald Trump in the general election.

Question 49

Primary election

Answer 49

Elections in which voters determine party nominees.

In 2016, Trump won Florida in a primary election.

Question 50

Presidential election

Answer 50

Elections held in years when the president is on the ballot.

The 2020 presidential election was held in November and included Trump and Biden on the ballot.

Question 51

Midterm election

Answer 51

Elections held midway between presidential elections.

Midterm elections help determine which political party will control Congress halfway through a president’s term.

Question 52

Off-year elections

Answer 52

Elections held in odd-numbered calendar years.

Often off-year elections happen when neither a presidential or midterm election takes place in that year

Question 53

Turnout

Answer 53

The proportion of the voting age public that votes, sometimes defined as the number of registered voters that vote.

The 2020 voter turnout was the highest in over a century, with 66.3% of the population having voted.

Question 54

Party identification

Answer 54

An informal and subjective affiliation with a political party that most people acquire in childhood.

The majority of children oftentimes adopt their parents’ party identification.

Question 55

Candidate appeal

Answer 55

How voters feel about a candidate’s background, personality, leadership ability, and other personal qualities.

Andrew Jackson had a great candidate appeal as he portrayed himself as the relatable common man.

Question 56

Prospective issue voting

Answer 56

Voting based on what a candidate pledges to do in the future about an issue if elected.

Trump failed to keep his promise of banning foreign lobbyists from raising election money when he got elected.

Question 57

Retrospective issue of voting

Answer 57

Holding incumbents, usually the president’s party, responsible for their records on issues, such as the economy or foreign policy.

Part of George Bush’s win in the 1988 election can be attributed to the past president Ronald Reagan’s success in office, being of the same party, giving voters a good retrospect.