Power and Politics Final

Political socialization

The process by which we learn our political orientations and allegiances.

Agents of socialization

The family, schools, houses of worship, and peer groups that shape our political beliefs.

Socialization and shared beliefs

The process that creates a common "civic culture" by teaching shared democratic values like liberty and equality, even when people disagree on policy.

Dunning-Kruger effect

A cognitive bias where people with low knowledge of a subject overestimate their own expertise.

Partisanship vs. Demographics

The fact that Party ID is usually a stronger predictor of a person's opinion than their race, age, or gender.

Politician information sources

Letters, social media, and activists; these are usually inaccurate because they represent the most extreme or vocal views rather than the average voter.

Random sample

A sample in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected for a poll.

Sampling error

Also known as the margin of error; the number that indicates the range within which the actual results of a poll are likely to fall.

Nonresponse bias

A bias that occurs when the people who choose not to answer a survey are significantly different from those who do.

Survey weighting

Adjusting poll results so the sample matches the actual demographics (age, race, etc.) of the population being studied.

Quality poll criteria

A poll that uses a random sample, neutral question wording, and has a clear margin of error.

Tracking poll

An ongoing series of interviews that allow a campaign to monitor daily changes in candidate support.

Exit poll

Interviews conducted with voters immediately after they leave the polling station on election day.

Straw poll

An unscientific poll that simply asks for the opinions of whoever is available, like an online click-poll.

Benchmark poll

An initial poll taken at the start of a campaign to see where a candidate stands and help set strategy.

Pseudo poll

Misleading polls, like "push polls," that are actually designed to change minds rather than measure them.

Political knowledge levels

Most Americans have better knowledge of the government system (how it works) than they do of current events.

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts used to make decisions without deep research, such as following a trusted peer or a political elite.

Spiral of silence

The tendency for people to stay silent when they believe their views are in the minority.

The gender gap

The measurable difference in the way men and women vote and their political preferences.

Party organization

The central committees and workers who represent the official structure of the political party.

Party-in-government

The members of a party who have been elected to serve in government offices.

Party-in-electorate

Ordinary citizens who identify with and support a specific political party. Winner-take-all system / The U.S. system where the top vote-getter wins the seat, which is the primary reason for our two-party system.

Third party obstacles

Campaign finance rules, being left out of debates, ballot access rules, and voters' fear of "wasting their vote.

"Ross Perot (1992)

A successful third-party candidate who won about 19% of the popular vote as an outsider focused on the economy.

Proportional representation

An electoral system where parties gain seats based on the percentage of the total vote they receive; leads to more parties.

Ranked choice voting

A system where voters rank candidates 1, 2, and 3; votes are redistributed if no one gets a majority.

Party discipline

The ability of party leaders to get their members in government to vote together as a single block.

Responsible party model

A system where parties offer clear choices and voters hold candidates accountable to the party platform.

The New Deal Coalition

The group of working-class, Southern, and minority voters that kept Democrats in power from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Patronage

Rewarding loyal party workers and followers with government jobs or favors. Political machines / Strong party organizations that controlled local politics by providing services to voters in exchange for support.

Critical election

An election that marks a long-term shift in the loyalty of large groups of voters.

Realignment

The long-term shift in party allegiance that follows a critical election.

5th Party Era

The era triggered by the Great Depression and the New Deal, which moved power to the Democrats.

6th Party Era

The current era defined by hyper-partisanship and "geographic sorting" (red states vs. blue states).

15th, 19th, 26th Amendments

Amendments that granted the vote based on race (15th), gender (19th), and to those 18 or older (26th).

Virginia voting law

Allows 45 days of early voting, same-day registration, and mail-in ballots without needing an excuse.

Voter turnout in U.S.

Turnout is highest in Presidential years (~60%) and much lower in local and state-level elections.

Highest turnout demographics

People who are older, have more education, and higher income levels.

Factors reducing turnout

Midweek voting (Tuesday), frequent elections, and strict registration requirements.

2024 Top Issues (pg 465)

The Economy/Inflation, Immigration, and Threats to Democracy. Motor Voter Act / A law that allows people to register to vote when they apply for or renew their driver's license.

Felon disenfranchisement

The loss of voting rights due to a felony; in VA, these rights must be restored manually by the Governor.

Political efficacy

A citizen's belief that their vote matters and that they can influence the government.

Retrospective voting

Basing a vote on a candidate's past performance—looking back at what they did.

Prospective voting

Basing a vote on future promises and what a candidate says they will do. Single largest predictor of vote / A person's Party Identification (Party ID).

Open vs. Closed Primary

Open (any voter can participate); Closed (only registered party members can vote).

Invisible primary

The early period of a campaign where candidates compete for money and media attention before any voting starts.

National convention

The meeting where a party officially names its candidate and writes its Party Platform.

Electoral College impact

It forces candidates to spend almost all their time and money in a few "Swing States."

Valence issue

An issue that everyone agrees on, such as having a "strong economy."

Wedge issue

A controversial issue used by one party to split up the supporters of the other party.

Hard money

Regulated campaign funds given directly to a candidate that have strict legal limits.

Commercial bias

The tendency of media outlets to choose news stories based on what will attract the most viewers and profit.

Equal time rule

The requirement that stations provide equal airtime opportunities to all political candidates.

Fairness doctrine

A former rule (ended in 1987) that required broadcasters to give time to both sides of a story.

Gatekeeper

Journalists and media elites who decide which stories make it into the news and which do not.

Agenda setting

The media's ability to tell the public "what" to think about by focusing on certain issues.

Framing

The way the media presents a story to influence how the audience understands it. Priming / Highlighting certain issues so that voters use those specific issues to judge a politician's performance.

Narrowcasting

Targeting a small, specific audience (like a partisan group) rather than the general public.

Horse-race journalism

Focusing on who is winning or losing in the polls rather than on the actual policy differences between candidates.

Misinformation vs. Disinformation

Misinformation is false info shared by mistake; Disinformation is false info shared on purpose to lie.