(WIP) AP Gov Linkage Institution Terms

#1-17 = chapter 6 (public opinion) // #18-27 = chapter 7 (media) // #27-50 = chapter 8 (political parties) // #50-67 = chapter 10 (interest groups) //// should cover units 4 and 5!!!

public opinion

The distribution of a society’s beliefs about politics & policy issues

demography

The science of how human population changes

census

Decennial process that allows for studying demographic changes in the United States

melting pot

Term used to characterize the United States’ diverse history of immigrating & mixing cultures/ideas

minority majority

Situation where a majority (such as non-Hispanic white people) ends up representing a minority of the population

political culture

The overall set of values widely shared within a society

reapportionment

Process of reallocating representative seats within states based on the census to reflect each state’s population

political socialization

Process where an individual determines their political views & opinions through social influences such as family, friends, & media

sample

A small portion of people who are chosen to be surveyed, representative of the whole population

random sampling

Techniue which gives everyone in the population an equal chance to be selected in the sample, allowing the sample to be properly representative of the population

sampling error

The confidence level in (public opinion) polls, depending on sample size & described by an interval ±x%

random-digit dialing

Method of random sampling where random phone numbers are dialed for interview

exit poll

Public opinion surveys which are conducted after someone votes in an election to quickly predict electoral winners

political ideology

a coherent set of beliefs about various aspects of politics & public policy

political participation

Any activity that is accomplished by a citizen(s) that influences political leadership and/or its policies

protest

Type of assembly that uses drama & vivid imagery to catch the nation’s attention in an attempt to change policy

civil disobedience

Form of protest, specifically against a law that is seen by its participants as unjust

high-tech politics

Type of politics where the behavior of individuals, policymakers, & policy media are shaped by technology

mass media

Popular communication, such as TV, radio, newspapers, social media, & the internet

media event

Events that are staged solely for the media to cover, and would have little to no significant impact without the media there

press conferences

Meeting between a government or public official & news reporters

investigative journalism

Type of reporting which attempts to uncover scandals, scams, & schemes; may involve reports pitting themselves against govt officials

narrowcasting

Media programming that is aimed at a particular audience & covers a particular interest; contrasts broadcasting

selective exposure

Process where people consciously choose to get the news from sources with viewpoints similar to their own

chains

Groups of newspapers published by a media corporation which owns multiple businesses; accounts for majority of nation’s daily papers

beats

Specific locations where news often originates from, such as Congress

trial balloons

Intentional news leaks for the purpose of assessing the political reaction to them

party competition

The conflict between parties for control for public offices; the ups & downs of major parties are a crucial element in American politics

political party

Organization that works to gain govt office, promoting & establishing the policies it believes in

linkage institutions

How people are connected with govt’s policy agenda (media, interest groups, political parties, public opinion)

rational-choice theory

Theory assuming that individuals act in their best interest, carefully weighing the costs & benefits of possible alternatives

party image

The voters’ perception of what a political party stands for

party identification

Concept where individuals align with and platform the party that matches their beliefs

ticket splitting

When someone votes with one party for one office and the other party for another office; common w/ independents who vote based on the person rather than the party

party machines

Type of political party organization which relies on material persuasions & rewards, such as patronage, to win votes & to govern

patronage

Job, promotion, or contract which is given for political reasons rather than by a merit system; used as a reward within party machines

closed primaries

election where only registered party members can vote for their party’s candidate

open primaries

elections where voters can decide on whether they want to vote in the democratic or republican primary election

national party convention

The meeting of a party’s delegates every 4 years to nominate the party’s candidates for POTUS & VP and write the party’s platforms

national committee

Institution which keeps the party operating between conventions

national chairperson

The person responsible for day to day activities of a political party

coalition

group of individuals with a common interest; backbone of every party

critical election

Time where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and where the majority party may be displaced by the minority party over time; sometimes marked by national crisis

party realignment

a set of large changes, or a displacement, of a political party; often happens during a critical election period

party dealignment

The disengagement of people from a political party

third parties

Electoral contenders other than the 2 major parties; rarely win elections

winner-take-all system

Electoral system where seats are only rewarded to whatever party gets the most votes in a state

proportional representation

electoral system that awards legislative seats to political parties proportionately to the number of votes every party won in an election; used in most of Europe

coalition government

When multiple parties join together to form a majority in national legislature; common in Europe

responsible party model

Belief that parties should be clear & concise in their plans & programs for governing the nation; party in office is held responsible for keeping these promises & their performance

interest group

organization which specializes in representing a certain (type of) policy; endorses political parties & lobbies govt officials

pluralism

Theory that the activities of interest groups harnesses equal representation for everyone

elitism

Theory that only a few wealthy groups/corporations hold all the power (in policy)

hyperpluralism

Theory that the interest group system is uncontrollable due to the sheer amount of interests that must be satisfied

iron triangle

relationship developed between interest groups lobbyists, government agencies, & congressional (sub)committees based around their self-interests over a policy

potential group

All the people who might be members of an interest group because they share a common interest

actual group

The people in a potential group who actually join the interest group in question

collective good

Goal which does not specifically benefit an interest group/organization & its members; cannot be withheld from a potential group member

free-rider problem

The problem of people not joining a group because they can benefit from the group’s activities without joining it

selective benefits

Goods & benefits that a group can restrict to those who actually join a group, mitigating free riders

single-issue group

Interest groups with a narrow interest; tend to oppose compromise & attract members that are newer to politics

lobbying

Communication directed to a governmental decision maker in hopes of influencing their decision (on policy)

electioneering

Direct group involvement in the election/electoral process, including aiding candidates financially & supporting them w/ group members

political action committees (PACs)**

Groups who partake in electioneering, funneling money openly to their supporter’s campaigns (w/ limits)

union shop

Provision established by unions requiring employees to join a union to hold their job

right-to-work laws

State laws which forbid union shops

public interest lobbies

Organizations with seek a collective good