Media
This term describes the role of the media in monitoring government actions and exposing wrongdoing.
What is the watchdog?
This term refers to the official declaration by a political party of its chosen candidate for office, typically decided at conventions or through primary elections.
What is a nomination?
Conducted every 10 years, this official national survey provides demographic data used to understand public opinion trends and allocate political representation.
What is the Census?
A coherent set of beliefs about the proper role of government and politics that shapes how individuals think and act in the political arena.
What is political ideology?
Why is the media often referred to as the “fourth branch of government”?
Because it holds the government accountable and informs the public.
Despite the presence of third parties, American politics is largely dominated by this type of party system.
What is a two-party system?
This term refers to the process by which individuals form their political values and beliefs, often shaped by factors like family, education, peers, and media.
What is political socialization?
This ideology emphasizes government intervention to promote social welfare, economic equality, and protection of civil liberties.
What is liberalism?
This former FCC rule required broadcasters to present opposing views on controversial issues.
What is the Fairness Doctrine?
This type of election marks a significant shift in voter loyalty, often leading to a long-term change in party dominance.
What is a realigning election?
Despite political differences, most Americans share support for core democratic values such as liberty, equality, and this economic ideal that hard work leads to success.
What is the American Dream?
Centered on intergenerational justice and the precautionary principle, this ideology argues that economic growth must be balanced against preserving ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate stability.
What is Environmentalism?
What impact did New York Times v. Sullivan (1964) have on journalistic freedom in the U.S.?
What is it protected media from libel lawsuits unless “actual malice” is proven by public officials?
Political parties once heavily relied on this form of largely unregulated campaign funding for party-building activities, which was limited by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act due to concerns about corruption.
What is soft money?
This term refers to the study of population statistics and characteristics, often used to explain voting patterns and ideological divides.
What is demography?
Advocates of this ideology call for minimal government interference in both personal lives and economic markets, prioritizing maximum individual freedom.
What is libertarianism?
This media function helps set the political agenda by choosing which issues to cover and which to ignore.
What is the gatekeeper function?
his historic alliance of diverse voter groups—including labor unions, urban voters, and African Americans—helped Democrats dominate American politics from the 1930s through the 1960s.
What is the New Deal coalition?
These occur when individuals belong to multiple social groups that may differ politically, making polling and predicting behavior more complex.
What are cross-cutting cleavages?
This stance, often characterized by anti-elitism and appeals to “the common folk,” can cut across traditional left-right divisions and reshape party competition.
What is populism?