Political Attitudes and Congressional Approval

This set of flashcards covers important vocabulary terms related to political attitudes, presidential and congressional approval ratings, and public perceptions in government.

Presidential Honeymoon

The initial period of high approval ratings that most presidents experience at the beginning of their term.

Public Approval

The level of public support or disapproval for government entities such as the President or Congress.

Coalition of Minorities

A group formed by different minority interests that can influence political decisions.

Partisanship

The strong allegiance to one's own political party, often leading to a biased evaluation of the other party.

Approval Ratings

A measurement of public approval that reflects how the population views the performance of political figures.

Incivility in Political Discourse

A manner of communication that is rude and offensive, often seen in media coverage.

Trust in Government

The belief that government entities will act in the best interest of the citizens.

Congressional Approval

The public's assessment of how well Congress is performing its job.

Electoral Incumbency

The advantage that current officeholders have when they run for re-election.

Media Explanations

The role that media plays in shaping public perceptions of political figures and events.

Economic Performance

An assessment of how well an economy is doing, often influencing public approval of the government.

Divided Government

A situation in which different political parties control different branches of government.

Public Expectations

The anticipations that people have regarding the actions and performance of their government.

Negativity Bias

The psychological phenomenon where negative experiences or information are more influential than positive ones.

Approval of Members of Congress

The level of approval that constituents have for their individual representatives compared to Congress as an institution.

Congressional Approval Trends

The variations in public approval ratings for Congress over different time periods.