We the People

Question 1

Linkage Instituttions and 3 Main Examples

Answer 1

The channels or access points through which issues and people’s policy preferences get on the government’s policy agenda.

Ex:

Political Parties
Interest Groups
Mass Media

Question 2

Democracy

Answer 2

A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences.

Question 3

Individualism

Answer 3

The belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government. One of the primary reasons that the Government plays such a small role is this political thought/practice

Question 4

Politics

Answer 4

Theprocess by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues.

Question 5

Political Ideology

Answer 5

A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose. Liberals and Conseravites

Question 6

Political Culture

Answer 6

An overall set of values widely shared within a society.

Question 7

Classis Political Spectrum

Answer 7

(Left to Right)

Communism
Socialist
Liberal(Democrat)
Moderate(Middle)
Conservative(rep.)
Reactionist
Facist

Question 8

Classic Liberalism

Answer 8

• Free open society
• Humans are rational
• Limited gov.
• Gov. protects property
• Liberty and equality

Question 9

Modern/New Deal Liberalism

Answer 9

• Social conditions result of individual choices/actions
• Society works best when individuals get to choose what to do
• New Deal helped expand government
• Government provides opportunity for all citizens

Question 10

New Left Liberalism

Question 11

Classic Conservatism

Answer 11

• Focused on conserving existing social order
• Acceptance of Inequality
• Organic view of society

Question 12

Modern Conservatism

Answer 12

• Distrust government
• Faith in private enterprises and a free market
• lower taxes
• larger military
• resurgence since late 70’s
• strength in the formerly “solid south”

Question 13

New Right Conservatism

Answer 13

• More extreme conservatives
• Sometimes called neo-conservatives

Three types of Neo-Cons:

• Foreign policy
• Social policy
• Economic

Question 14

Socialism

Answer 14

• Economic equality, true equality

Question 15

Libertarianism

Answer 15

• Extreme emphasis on individual liberty
• against government

Question 16

Demography

Answer 16

The science of population changes

Question 17

Census

Answer 17

The Constitution requires us to conduct a counting of all the people in the U.S. every 10 years, and we do it through the census

Question 18

Melting Pot

Answer 18

The mixing of cultures, people, and ideas that have shaped america. Has been called this because of the mass immigration

Question 19

Minority Majority

Answer 19

When the population of the minorities will outnumber that of the white population. Estimated to happen around 2060

Question 20

Political Socialization

Answer 20

The way we are taught our beliefs

2 main ways ( in order of importance):

1. Family
2. School
3. Media

Question 21

Sample

Answer 21

A small proportion of people who are chosen in a survey to be representative as a whole

Question 22

Random Sampling

Answer 22

A technique that operates on the principle that everyone should have an equal probability of being selected for the sample

Question 23

Random Digit-Dialing

Answer 23

Conducting random telephone calls to listed and unlisted numbers when conducting a survey

Question 24

Sampling Error

Answer 24

The level of confidence in the findings of a public opinion poll. More people interviewd, the more confident you can be of the results

Question 25

Exit Poll

Answer 25

Public opinion surveys used by major media pollsters to predict electoral winners with speed and precision

Question 26

Gender Gap

Answer 26

A term used to refer to the fact that women tend to vote for Democrats, while men tend to vote for Republicans

Question 27

Political Participation

Answer 27

All activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders.

Ex:

Voting
Protest
Civil Disobedience

Question 28

Protest

Answer 28

A form of political participation designed to achieve policy change through dramatic and unconventional tactics

Question 29

Civil Diisobedience

Answer 29

A form of political participation that reflects a conscious decision to break a law believed to be immoral and to suffer the consequences

Question 30

Suffrage

Answer 30

The right to vote

Question 31

Political Efficiacy

Answer 31

The belief that political participation really matters, that one’s vote really matters

Question 32

Civic Duty

Answer 32

The belief that in order to support democracy, a citizen should always vote

Question 33

Voter Registration

Answer 33

A system adopted by the states that requires voters to register in advance of Election Day

Question 34

Motor Voter Act

Answer 34

Required states to permit people to register to vote at the same time they apply for a driver’s license. Passed in 1993, went into effect for 96 election

Question 35

Blacks

Answer 35

• Until recently, largest minority group
• 1:8 people descended
• Most economically disadvantaged, ‘02 census showed that 24% live below the poverty line
• Recently been gaining a lot of political power

Question 36

Hispanics

Answer 36

• ‘00 first time Hispanics outnumbered blacks
• concerned w/ illegal immigration
• Simpson-Mazzoli act requires employers to document citizenship of their employees
• gaining power in midwest

Question 37

Native Americans

Answer 37

• Worst off out of all the other minorities
• least healthy, educated, poorest
• few have found wealth, fewer have found power
• half live below poverty line