Public Opinion and Political Action in the U.S.-Chapters 6-8

Immigration

Process of entering a country to live permanently.

Minority Population

Group making up less than half the total population.

Merit-Based Immigration

System prioritizing skills over family reunification.

Simpson-Mazzoli Act

1986 law requiring citizenship verification for employees.

Melting Pot

Blending of diverse cultures and peoples in America.

Minority Majority

Scenario where minority groups outnumber non-Hispanic whites.

Political Power

Influence and authority in political decision-making.

Reapportionment

Reallocation of House seats based on census data.

Aging Population

Increasing number of individuals over 65 years old.

Political Socialization

Process of acquiring political attitudes and knowledge.

Family Influence

Parental political views shaping children's beliefs.

Mass Media

Main source of political information for the public.

Public Opinion Polls

Surveys measuring public attitudes on various issues.

Random Sampling

Technique ensuring equal selection chance for poll accuracy.

Census Data

Official count of the population used for representation.

Economic Disadvantage

Lower economic status affecting specific demographic groups.

Latino Political Power

Increasing influence of Latinos in political processes.

Asian American Skills

Highly skilled immigrant group impacting U.S. politics.

Social Security System

Government program providing retirement benefits to citizens.

Political Participation

Engagement in political processes and activities.

Demographic Disparities

Differences in social and economic conditions among groups.

Longer Lifespans

Increased life expectancy affecting population dynamics.

Sampling error

Margin of error in poll results based on sample size.

Margin of error

Indicates the range of uncertainty in poll results.

Random-digit dialing

Method for selecting participants using random phone numbers.

Low political knowledge

Public shows consistently low understanding of politics.

Declining trust in government

Trend of reduced confidence in government since 1960s.

Political ideologies

Coherent sets of values regarding public policy.

Liberalism

Supports government action to reduce social inequalities.

Conservatism

Advocates for limited government and individual responsibility.

Ideological trends

Patterns in political beliefs across different demographics.

Gender gap

Women more likely to support Democrats and liberal policies.

Religiosity

Influences political ideology more than religious denomination.

Ideological consistency

Degree to which individuals maintain consistent beliefs.

Symbolic ideology

Preference for smaller government without practical application.

Operational ideology

Support for specific government programs despite symbolic beliefs.

Forms of participation

Ways Americans engage in political processes.

Voting

Most common method of political participation.

Conventional participation

Accepted methods like voting and contacting officials.

Unconventional participation

Dramatic actions like protests and civil disobedience.

Factors influencing participation

Race and income affect political engagement levels.

Public attitudes

General opinion on the role and size of government.

Media politics

Evolution of political communication through various media.

Newsworthiness

Criteria determining what news is reported.

Sensationalism

Media tendency to prioritize dramatic stories.

Media Bias

Tendency to favor certain political viewpoints.

Agenda Setting

Media's role in shaping public issue priorities.

Policy Entrepreneurs

Advocates using media to promote specific issues.

Digital Divide

Unequal access to information affecting democracy.

High-Tech Politics

Political behavior increasingly influenced by technology.

Mass Media

Various platforms influencing public opinion and behavior.

Media Events

Staged occurrences to attract media coverage.

Narrowcasting

Targeted media content for specific ideological audiences.

Selective Exposure

Consuming information that aligns with existing views.

Political Polarization

Division into opposing political factions or ideologies.

Cynicism

Distrust in political processes and leaders.

Media Coverage

Reporting that shapes public perception of events.

Watchdog Function

Media's role in monitoring government power.

Press Releases

Official statements to attract media attention.

Press Conferences

Events for media interaction and information dissemination.

Dramatic Events

Staged incidents designed to capture media interest.

Public Opinion

Collective attitudes toward political issues and figures.

Political Capital

Resources and influence invested in advocacy efforts.

Negative Stories

Media focus on adverse events influencing public sentiment.

Media Strategy

Planned approaches to gain media attention.

Influence of Technology

Impact of digital tools on political engagement.

Media's Role

Shaping perceptions and influencing political behavior.

Media Sensationalism

Focus on entertainment over in-depth analysis.

Conflict Stories

News stories involving conflict attract audience interest.

Media Watchdog Role

Media holds government accountable and constrains power.

Government Intervention

Media coverage can prompt calls for more government action.

Individualistic Media

Empowers candidates, reducing party influence.

Digital Divide

Unequal access to information affects democratic participation.

High-Tech Politics

Political behavior shaped by technology since late 20th century.

Decline of Newspapers

Newspaper sales ratio dropped from 1:2 to 1:9.

Public Agenda Influence

Television news alters priorities of public concerns.

Protest Group Strategies

Interesting events attract media attention for visibility.

Party Identification

Influences voter behavior and electoral outcomes.

Realignment

Significant shifts in party support among voters.

Dealignment

Voters' detachment from traditional party affiliations.

Responsible Party Government

Challenges in governance due to decentralized systems.

Third Party Barriers

Structural obstacles limit third party electoral success.

Candidate Nomination

Parties nominate candidates through primary elections.

Campaign Management

Parties organize and support electoral campaigns.

Voter Cues

Party labels provide shortcuts for informed voting.

Policy Articulation

Parties outline stances on key issues in platforms.

Entertainment vs Education

Public prefers entertaining news over educational content.

Media Coverage Superficiality

Executives blame capitalism for shallow news reporting.

Media's Audience Focus

Surveys indicate preference for dramatic news stories.

Coordinate Policymaking

Facilitates coordination between executive and legislative branches.

Three-Headed Giant

Parties operate on three interconnected levels.

Party in the Electorate

Citizens identifying with a party based on values.

Party as an Organization

Formal structure including national, state, and local committees.

Party in Government

Elected officials translating party platforms into policy.

Declining Party Identification

Decrease in Americans identifying as Democrats or Republicans.

Youthful Independence

Younger generations show stronger independence from major parties.

Ticket Splitting

Voting for candidates from different parties in one election.

State-Level Power

Significant autonomy in candidate selection and electoral processes.

Open Primaries

Allow any registered voter to participate in primaries.

Closed Primaries

Restrict participation to registered party members only.