Studied by 20 people
Public opinion
the distribution of the population's beliefs about politics and policy issues
Political Socialization
the process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions
Scientific Poll
define population, make sample, construct unbiased questions, conduct poll, and analyze and report data
Opinion Poll
a method of measuring public opinion by asking questions of a random sample of people and using their answers to represent the views of the broader population
Benchmark Poll
initial poll on a candidate and issues on which campaign strategy is based and against which later polls are compared
Entrance/Exit Polls
They are conducted outside of polling places on Election Day to predict the outcome of an election. Ask as participants walk in or out of a poll
Sampling Error
an error that occurs when a sample somehow does not represent the target population
Margin of Error
an amount (usually small) that is allowed for in case of miscalculation or change of circumstances.
Random Sample
a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion
Public Policy
A choice that government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem.
Political Ideology
A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose, which helps give meaning to political events.
Liberalism
A belief that government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity through high government intervention of spending. (democratic)
Conservatism
A political or theological orientation advocating the preservation of the best in society and opposing radical changes.
Libertarianism
An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on minimal government, promoting a free market economy, a noninterventionist foreign policy, and an absence of regulation in moral, economic, and social life.
Free Enterprise
Economic system in which individuals and businesses are allowed to compete for profit with a minimum of government interference
Keynesian Economics
Theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes, stating that government spending should increase during business slumps to help the market
Supply-side economics
An economic philosophy that holds the during a recession, the government must sharply cut taxes
Rational-Choice voting
voting based on what a citizen believes is in his or her best interest
Prospective Issue Voting
Voting based on what a candidate pledges to do in the future about an issue if elected.
Retrospective Issue Voting
Voting to decide whether the party or candidate in power should be re-elected based on the recent past.
Party-line voting
process in which voters select candidates by their party affiliation
voter registration
System designed to reduce voter fraud by limiting voting to those who have established eligibility to vote by submitting the proper documents.
General election
An election held to choose which candidate will hold office
Primary Election
Nominating election held to choose party candidates who will run in the general election
Presidential Election
Elections held in years when the president is on the ballot.
Midterm Election
The congressional election that occurs midway through the president's term of office
Off-year elections
congressional election that occurs between presidential election years
Turnout
The proportion of the voting age public that votes, sometimes defined as the number of registered voters that vote.
Winner-take-all system
an election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins
Single-member district
An electoral district in which voters choose only one representative or official.
proportional representation
An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.
electoral college
a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.
safe seat
an office that is extremely likely to be won by a particular candidate or political party
coattail effect
The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot, especially the president.
candidate appeal
How voters feel about a candidate's background, personality, leadership ability, and other personal qualities.
name recognition
Voters are more likely to recognize the office holder than the challenger
incumbents
Those individuals who already hold office. In congressional elections, incumbents usually win.
caucus
A meeting of members of a political party to choose the official candidate
national party convention
A national meeting of delegates elected in primaries, caucuses, or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president, ratify the party platform, elect officers, and adopt rules.
efficacy
the ability for voters to feel as though their vote matters
bonds
A certificate issued by a government or private company which promises to pay back with interest the money borrowed from the buyer of the certificate: The city issued bonds to raise money for putting in new sewers.
agenda
Plan of action; purpose
discount rate
the minimum interest rate set by the Federal Reserve for lending to other banks.
entitlements
A claim for government funds that cannot be abridged without violating the rights of the claimant; for example, social security benefits or payments on a contract.
federal reserve
the central banking system of the United States
progressive tax
A tax graduated so that people with higher incomes pay larger fraction of their income than people with lower incomes.
flat tax
a tax system in which all people pay the same percentage of their income
globalization
Actions or processes that involve the entire world and result in making something worldwide in scope.
inflation
a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money.
mandatory spending
spending on certain programs that is mandated, or required, by existing law
medicaid
A federal and state assistance program that pays for health care services for people who cannot afford them.
medicare
A federal program of health insurance for persons 65 years of age and older
monetary policy
Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and thus interest rates.
reserve requirement
the percentage of deposits that banking institutions must hold in reserve
16th amendment
Allows the federal government to collect income tax
social security act
(FDR) 1935, guaranteed retirement payments for enrolled workers beginning at age 65; set up federal-state system of unemployment insurance and care for dependent mothers and children, the handicapped, and public health
social welfare
A nation's system of programs, benefits, and services that help people meet those social, economic, educational, and health needs that are fundamental to the maintenance of society.
conventions
Meetings of groups of professionals that provide a way for sellers to show potential customers different products
critical election
An electoral "earthquake" where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party.
dark ads
Ads run from funds given to politically active nonprofits that can receive unlimited donations from corporations, individuals, and unions but are not required to disclose their donors.
hard money
Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed.
soft money
Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes.
independent expenditures
Expenses on behalf of a political message that are made by groups that are uncoordinated with any candidate's campaign.
issue ads
ads that focus on issues and do not explicitly encourage citizens to vote for a certain candidate
party realignments
dramatic shifts in partisan preferences that drastically alter the political landscape
political action committee (PAC)
A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations. Can give money directly to candidate
Dark money
political money where the donors of the money do not have to be disclosed
single-issue parties
Parties that concentrate on only one public policy matter
multi member districts
more than one legislative seat is contested in each district
splinter parties
parties that have split away from one of the major parties
super PAC
an organization that may spend an unlimited amount of money on a political campaign, as long as the spending is not coordinated with a campaign
third parties
electoral contenders other than the two major parties.
bandwagon effect
When people join a cause because it seems popular or support a candidate who is leading in the polls
commentary
(n.) a series of notes clarifying or explaining something; an expression of opinion
confirmation bias
a tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence
gate keeper
what is news and for how long; sets and swings political agenda
horse-race journalism
The tendency of the media to cover campaigns by emphasizing how candidates stand in the polls instead of where they stand on the issues.
investigative reporting
Enterprise reporting that reveals new information, often startling; most often these are stories that official sources would rather not have told
political analysis
a form of journalistic expression that explores and provides opinions on a topic in depth
political reporting
standard "just-the-facts" kinds of stories
scorekeeper
The role played by the national media in keeping track of certain political reputations and progression
push poll
A type of poll that attempts to influence opinions secretly using a poll
individualism equality of opportunity, free enterprise, rule of law, and limited gov
core values
bipartisan campaign reform act of 2002
banned soft money donations to national parties
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
A 2010 landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that individuals, corporations, and unions could donate unlimited amounts of money to groups that make independent political expenditures.
dealignment
Weakening of partisan preferences that points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of independents.
delegate
A person appointed or elected to represent others
iron triangle
The three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests.
linkage institutions
the political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. Media, political parties, interest groups.
lobbying
Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact.
realignment
A process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape.
voter mobilization
a party's efforts to inform potential voters about issues and candidates and to persuade them to vote
15th amendment
Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color , or precious condition of servitude
17th amendment
Direct election of senators
19th amendment
Gave women the right to vote
24th amendment
Abolishes poll taxes
26th amendment
Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
501 (c)
Nonprofit Super PAC that is permitted to lobby and campaign; donations to it are not tax deductible. Doesn't need to disclose money sources and cannot directly promote a candidate
527
a tax-exempt super PAC that raises money for political activities but must disclose money sources. Cannot advocate directly for candidates
Free riders
People don’t physically vote but instead depend on the majority
Note 
Flashcard (21)