Public Opinion and Political Parties

These flashcards cover the essential vocabulary and concepts relating to public opinion, political parties, and elections as presented in the lecture notes.

Public Opinion

The collective attitudes and beliefs of individuals on certain issues.

Political Socialization

The process through which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values.

Cleavages in Public Opinion

The divisions in public opinion that arise from various factors like income, age, ethnicity, and geography.

Gallup Poll

A polling organization that measures public opinion through surveys.

Sampling Error

The degree of error that occurs in polling results, often reported as a margin of error.

Political Party

An organization of people who share similar political beliefs and work to influence government policy.

Two-Party System

A political system where two major parties dominate politics, typically seen in the United States.

Majority Rule

A fundamental principle of traditional democratic theory, which holds that policies are determined by the majority of voters.

Interest Groups

Organizations of people with shared policy goals that seek to influence government decisions.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Organizations that raise money to elect or defeat political candidates.

Candidate Nomination

The process by which political parties select their candidates for the general election.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election.

Media Bias

The tendency of media outlets to report news in a way that supports a particular political agenda.

Campaign Finance Reform

Laws aimed at limiting campaign contributions and regulating the financing of political campaigns.

Exit Poll

A survey conducted with voters right after they have cast their votes, used to predict the outcome of an election.