Beliefs & Identity
This lifelong process shapes a person's political beliefs and values.
What is political socialization
This Ideology generally emphasizes traditional values, lower taxes, and limited government involvement in the economy.
What is conservatism?
This organized group nominates candidates and tries to win elections to shape public policy.
What is a political party?
These organizations focus on influencing policy on shared concerns rather than primarily winning elections.
What are interest groups?
This term means people's collective attitudes about political issues, leaders, and policies.
What is public opinion?
This term means a set of beliefs about how government and society should operate.
What is ideology?
This ideology generally supports government action to address inequality and protect civil rights.
What is liberalism?
Name the third party focused on environmental protection and the third party focused on limited government and personal liberty.
What are the Green Party and Libertarian Party?
Meeting with lawmakers to urge support for or opposition to a policy is this activity.
What is lobbying?
These surveys ask voters questions after they cast their ballots.
What are exit polls?
This way of organizing beliefs often places liberals on the left, conservatives on the right, and moderates in the middle.
What is the political spectrum?
This ideology emphasizes individual freedom and limited government in both personal choices and the economy.
What is libertarianism?
Hamilton led this early party. Jefferson and Madison both led its main rival. Name both.
What are the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans?
These organizations collect and spend money to influence elections.
What are Political Action Committees (PACs)?
A poll says 62% support a law. A focus group explains why people support it. Identify each group of data.
What are quantitative data (62%) and qualitative data (explanations)?
Family, Schools, Peers, Media, Religion, Community/culture, Major events.
This system favors strong centralized authority and may limit speech and political opposition.
What is authoritarianism?
Explain one reason the U.S. has 2 major parties and one way third parties matter.
Reasons:
winner-take- all elections, ballot access barriers, historical tradition, or strategic voting.
Third parties introduce ideas, offer choices, influence results, or push major parties to adopt issues.
Classify newspapers and radio, then social media and podcasts, into two media categories.
What are old media and new media?
Name two ways to measure public opinion other than exit polls.
Public opinion polls, tracking polls, interviews, focus groups, surverys, questionnaires
One person understands government and evaluates political information. Another believes participating can make a difference. Name both concepts.
What are political literacy and political efficacy?
Give the general ideology alignment of the Democratic and Republican parties.
Democrats: liberal/progressive ideas
Republicans: conservative/traditional ideas
Jackson's supporters formed this party. In 1854, this other party formed to oppose slavery's expansion. Name both.
What are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.
Lincoln became the first Republican president. Party beliefs and coalitions changed over time.
WHy is the media sometimes called the "fourth branch," and what is one role it plays in elections?
It acts as a watchdog by investigating government and holding officials accountable. Election roles include informing voters, setting the agenda, framing issues, carrying ads, covering debates, or reporting polls/results.
Name 3 features of a reliable poll.
A representative sample, sound random sampling, adequate sample size, neutral wording, current timing, transparent methods/source, or reported margin of error