Unit 4 Vocabulary (Robbins)

civic competence

A belief that one can affect government policies.

civic duty

A belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs.

civil society

Voluntary action that makes cooperation easier.

class-consciousness

A belief that one is a member of an economic group whose interests are opposed to people in other such groups.

equality of opportunity

The belief that all individuals should have the same chance at success from the outset of a particular venture/phase of life. How they utilize/capitalize on this opportunity is completely up to them.

generational effect

The tendency of events from one’s lifespan to influence overall political attitudes. For example, the Great Depression made an entire generation more skeptical of banks and the stock market.

free enterprise

The idea that the economy should be governed by the principle that individuals are free to make their own business decisions and seek their own profit and prosperity.

individualism

The belief that it is desirable for individuals to work and achieve with as little help from others (especially government) as possible.

lifecycle effect

The tendency of one’s position/time in life to influence political opinions. People are more likely to be more forward-looking and open to change when they are young, for example.

limited government

The idea that government is constrained by a written set of rules. Government can only act using the power granted to it.

orthodox

A belief that morality and religion ought to be of decisive importance.

political culture

A patterned and sustained way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out.

political socialization

The process by which one acquires their political beliefs through contact with various agents of political socialization.

progressive

A belief that personal freedom and solving social problems are more important than religion.

rule of law

The extent to which the law is enforced by the government and followed by citizens. Opinions can vary widely as to how strictly the government goes about ensuring this.

benchmark poll

A poll taken immediately after announcing intent to run for office. It is used to determine if the “starting position” of a particular candidate.

elite

People who have a disproportionate amount of some valued resource.

entrance/exit polls

Polls based on interviews conducted on election day with randomly selected voters.

focus group

A type of survey that is conducted face-to-face with a smaller number of people. There are fewer respondents, but the level of depth and detail is much greater.

gender gap

Difference in political views between men and women.

mass survey

A survey given to a large number of people that usually consists of closed-ended questions. It provides lots of data points but little detail.

norm

A standard of right or proper conduct.

opinion poll

The most basic type of poll, asking citizens how they feel about a particular issue or person.

political elites

Persons with a disproportionate share of political power.

political ideology

A more or less consistent set of beliefs about what policies government ought to pursue.

political socialization

Process by which background traits influence one’s political views.

poll

A survey of public opinion.

public opinion

How people think or feel about particular things.

random sample

Method of selecting from a population in which each person has an equal probability of being selected.

sampling error

The difference between the results of random samples taken at the same time.

scientific polling

Polls conducted by professionals with strict statistical standards to ensure accuracy.

tracking poll

Used during a campaign to see how a candidate’s popularity fluctuates with various events (commercials, debates, media events, etc.) during the campaign.