All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Identify a factor that influences voter turnout.
Answer: Education level. Higher education correlates with increased likelihood of voting.
Flashcard 2: What is a political caucus?
Answer: A meeting of party members to select candidates or decide policy. Less formal than primary elections but important in delegate selection.
Flashcard 3: What is a referendum?
Answer: A direct vote by the electorate on a particular proposal or issue. Allows direct democratic participation on specific policy questions.
Flashcard 4: What is the 'echo chamber' effect?
Answer: The phenomenon where beliefs are amplified by communication within a closed system. Reinforces existing beliefs and limits exposure to opposing views.
Flashcard 5: What is 'political polarization'?
Answer: The growing ideological gap between political parties or groups. Reduces compromise and increases partisan conflict in governance.
Flashcard 6: Identify a method used by interest groups to influence policy.
Answer: Lobbying. Direct communication with lawmakers to advocate for specific policies.
Flashcard 7: Define interest group.
Answer: An organization that seeks to influence public policy. Uses lobbying, litigation, and grassroots mobilization tactics.
Flashcard 8: What does 'bipartisanship' mean?
Answer: Cooperation between two major political parties to achieve common goals. Becomes rarer in era of increased political polarization.
Flashcard 9: What is a political ideology's influence on policy?
Answer: It shapes the policy priorities and legislative goals of political actors. Guides decision-making on government role and policy approaches.
Flashcard 10: What is agenda-setting?
Answer: The media's ability to influence the importance placed on topics of the public agenda. Determines which issues receive public attention and concern.
Flashcard 11: What is the 'horse race' aspect of media coverage?
Answer: Focus on polling data and public perception rather than substantive issues. Emphasizes competition and strategy over policy substance.
Flashcard 12: What is the role of media in politics?
Answer: To inform the public and act as a watchdog on government. Sets public agenda and frames how political issues are understood.
Flashcard 13: What is a political campaign?
Answer: An organized effort to influence decision-making within a specific group. Involves fundraising, messaging, and voter mobilization strategies.
Flashcard 14: Define grassroots mobilization.
Answer: Efforts to influence the political process through community-based actions. Mobilizes ordinary citizens to pressure lawmakers through collective action.
Flashcard 15: What is a political action committee (PAC)?
Answer: An organization that raises money to influence elections or legislation. Subject to contribution limits and disclosure requirements under federal law.
Flashcard 16: Define political participation.
Answer: Activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders. Ranges from voting to campaigning to contacting elected officials.
Flashcard 17: What is a random sample?
Answer: A sample that gives each member of the population an equal chance of being selected. Eliminates bias and ensures results represent the broader population.
Flashcard 18: Define margin of error in polling.
Answer: A measure of the accuracy of a public opinion poll. Indicates the range within which the true result likely falls.
Flashcard 19: What is a sample in polling?
Answer: A subset of the population selected to represent the entire group. Must be random and large enough to be statistically representative.
Flashcard 20: Identify a method for measuring public opinion.
Answer: Polling. Uses scientific sampling methods to gauge public attitudes accurately.
Flashcard 21: What is public opinion?
Answer: The distribution of the population's beliefs about politics and policy issues. Measured through scientific polling and surveys of representative samples.
Flashcard 22: What does the term 'swing state' mean?
Answer: A state where both major political parties have similar levels of support. Neither party dominates, making electoral outcomes highly competitive.
Flashcard 23: What is voter turnout?
Answer: The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election. Varies by election type, with presidential elections having highest rates.
Flashcard 24: Define political efficacy.
Answer: Belief in one's ability to influence the political process. Higher efficacy leads to increased political participation and voting.
Flashcard 25: What is a political party?
Answer: An organized group seeking to influence policy by getting candidates elected. Differs from interest groups by directly running candidates for office.
Flashcard 26: Name a key characteristic of conservative ideology.
Answer: Preference for limited government and individual liberties. Emphasizes tradition, free markets, and minimal government interference.
Flashcard 27: Name a key characteristic of liberal ideology.
Answer: Advocacy for social equality and government intervention. Supports progressive policies and active government role in addressing inequality.
Flashcard 28: Identify one primary agent of political socialization.
Answer: Family. Most influential agent, shaping early political values and party identification.
Flashcard 29: What is political socialization?
Answer: The process by which individuals acquire political beliefs. Learned through family, school, peers, and media throughout life.
Flashcard 30: What is 'soft money' in political campaigns?
Answer: Funds raised for political parties not subject to federal limits. Banned by McCain-Feingold Act but later replaced by Super PAC donations.