Unit 4 Flashcards (PART 1) (not w/ cases)
Political Culture
- the dominant set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that define the relationship between citizens and the government.
- Includes individualism, equality of opportunity, the free enterprise system, rule of law, and limited government.
individualism
the belief that individuals should be responsible for themselves and the decisions they make.
Declaration of Independence (AP REQUIRED)
- Philosophical statement of natural rights
- Argument that governments are put in place to protect natural rights
- Argument that citizens have the right to rebel when government infringes on citizens’ rights
Federalist No. 51
- Explanation of checks and balances
- Argument that checks and balances limit the power of the government and prevent it from taking away citizens’ rights
Federalist No. 78
- Discussion of the independent judiciary
- Argument that an independent judiciary prevents other branches of government from becoming too powerful and protects citizens’ rights and the rule of law
Equal Opportunity / Equality of Opportunity
- Americans value equality of opportunity, but they do not support equality of result
- We don’t have economic equality , but instead the opportunity to be rewarded.
Laissez-faire / Free enterprise
an economic system in which government intrudes as little as possible in the economic transactions among citizens and businesses.
Rule of Law
- the principle that no one, including public officials, is above the law.
- involves Fed. 51 - “if all men be angels…”
United Government
Government must be limited to prevent it from taking away rights and liberties, and the government’s legitimacy is based on public support.
Need - Based Assistance
- One of the biggest areas of disagreement is need-based assistance welfare programs
- Entitlement programs - such as Social Security and Medicare
- Funded through payroll taxes (paid by the employer and employee on a percentage of salaries)
Political Socialization
the experiences and factors that shape an individual’s political values, attitudes, and behaviors
Political Ideology
an individual’s coherent set of beliefs about government and politics
Things that play a role in political socialization:
- Families, Schools, and Peers
- Civic and Religious Organizations
- Generational and Life-Cycle effects
Generational Effect
the impact of historical events experienced by a generation upon their political views
Life-cycle effect
the impact of a person’s age and stage in life on they political views
Globalization
the increasing interconnectedness of people, businesses, and countries throughout the world.
Individuals, businesses, and countries are becoming more interconnected
Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
- are independent groups outside of the government that work toward a public cause
Doctors Without Borders - Can be a lifeline for people in need
How can Globalization help?
Globalization can spread democratic ideals, and technology can help citizens hold their governments more accountable
Outsourcing
when a company moves its business to a place where labor costs are cheaper or production is more efficient because workers work longer hours
Individualism (2)
Individuals should be self-reliant and valued/respected
Tension about collectivity + how much government should help individuals
Equal Opportunity (2)
Ability to succeed and be successful based on abilities
Differences over equal opportunity vs outcomes
Free Enterprise (2)
Generally value a market economy with individual choice
Questions over how much regulation is necessary
Rule of Law (2)
- No one individual is above the law
- Equal application of law regardless of power, race, class, etc.
- Is this actually true in practice?
- Continuing debate about fairness and application of laws in our system
Limited Government
- Value checks and balances that limit government scope and power
- Questions arise involving freedom v. security
- Ex: Patriot Act, decisive executive in war time, etc.
Younger vs Older Americans - Life Cycle Changes in Voting
—- Younger Americans: Tend to be more open to new social change
Main issues are education costs, jobs, etc.
—— Older Americans: Tend to be less open to social reform and change
Main issues involve retirement, social security, etc
How does the Media shape public opinions?
Priming (before) and Framing (during)
Who shapes public opinion?
Gov, private interest groups, and the media shapes public opinion
Political Efficacy
the feeling that political and social change is possible and that the individual citizen can play a part in bringing about this change
The citizens’ trust in their ability to change the government and belief that they can understand and influence the government
Democratization (globalization)
Increase in democracy since the end of the Cold War (
Free Markets (globalization)
Increase in capitalist or market economics
Cultural Diffusion (globalization)
Spread of new cultures, religions, ideas, and values through global trade and immigration
Democratic Backslide
Some countries moving towards authoritarian views / away from democratic views
Public Opinion
- Public opinion involved two components: individual attitudes and aggregation of individual attitudes
- Public opinion is important in a representative democracy because it helps policy makers understand citizens’ pereferences.
- Even though individuals sometiems lack the information they need to form opinions, they can find ways to overcome or work around these challenges by making inferences based on cues from their political ideology, peers, or political parties.
What can affect polling?
- random sampling
- way that questions are worded / phrased / framed
Focus Group
a small group of individuals assembled for a conversation about specific issues
Scientific Poll
a representative poll of randomly selected respondents with a statistically significant sample size, using neutral language
Sample
a group of individuals from a larger population used to measure public opinion
Random Selection
a method of choosing all poll respondents in a way that does not over- or underrepresent any group of the population.
Representative sample
a sample that reflects the demographics of the population
Weighing
a procedure in which the survey is adjusted according to the demographics of the larger population
Sampling Error
the margin of error in a poll, which usually is calculated to plus or minus three percentage points
Mass Survey
a survey designed to measure the opinions of the population, usually consisting of 1,500 responses
Entrance Survey
a poll conducted of people coming to an event
Exit Poll
a survey conducted outside a polling place in which individuals are asked who or what they just voted for and why
Benchmark Poll
a survey taken at the beginning of a political campaign in order to gauge support for a candidatee and determine which issues are important to voters
Tracking Poll
a survey determining the level of support for a candidate or an issue throughout a campaign
Random Digit Dialing
the use of telephone numbers randomly generated by computer to select potential survey respondents