Understanding Public Opinion and Political Parties

What is public opinion?

What people think about a topic.

What foundational factors shape public opinion?

Self-interest, values, and socialization.

What is political ideology?

A set of beliefs about political and cultural situations.

What is the difference between a political party and an interest group?

Political parties aim to elect members to office, while interest groups seek to influence policy.

What is identity politics?

Distinctive characteristics or group associations that individuals carry.

What are heuristics in the context of public opinion?

Information shortcuts that help people navigate political knowledge.

How does the media shape public opinion?

Through agenda-setting, priming, and framing.

What is the agenda-setting effect of the media?

The power of the media to focus public attention on particular issues.

What is priming in media context?

How engaging with a topic can make someone think about that issue more.

What is framing in media context?

How the events themselves are interpreted.

What is a referendum?

A direct vote on law that has been passed or on a government action.

What is an initiative?

A direct vote on a policy proposal.

What is a recall?

A direct vote to remove a public official.

What factors influence how voters decide?

Partisan loyalty, issues, and candidate characteristics.

What is issue voting?

An individual's tendency to base their voting decision on candidates' positions on specific issues.

What is plurality in elections?

The person who gets the most votes wins.

What is Duverger's law?

The simple-majority single-ballot system favors a two-party system.

What is the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)?

A law that limits donations to political campaigns.

What was the outcome of Buckley v. Valeo?

Money is considered speech, but the government can regulate it to prevent bribery.

What is the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act?

A law that banned soft money contributions to political parties.

What are the functions of political parties?

Recruiting candidates, getting out the vote, facilitating electoral choice, and influencing government.

What is the nomination process in political parties?

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

What is party realignment?

When the composition of political parties drastically changes.

What are the foundations of the social welfare state?

Social Security, unemployment assistance, and health programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

What are the goals of foreign policy?

Security, economics, and humanitarian concerns.

Who are the key players in influencing foreign policy?

The President, Congress, bureaucracy, and interest groups.

What are the interests of foreign policy?

Diplomacy, economic aid and sanctions, military force, and collective security.

What characterizes authoritarianism?

The rejection of democracy and political plurality.

What is mutual toleration in political context?

The ability to accept political opponents as legitimate.

What is forbearance in political context?

Avoidance of actions that violate the spirit of the law.

What has contributed to the success of American democracy?

Protection of democratic norms and institutions.