Political Participation and Voting Lecture Review

Flashcards based on lecture notes for review on political participation, voting, voter competence, public opinion, and exam preparation.

Midterm Exam

A test consisting of 25 multiple choice questions and 2 short answer options, scheduled for Wednesday.

Blue Book

A type of booklet students need to bring to the exam for writing answers.

Green Scantron

The answer sheet used for multiple choice questions in the exam.

Voter Competence

The degree to which voters meet expectations in terms of knowledge, interest, and information about political decisions.

Public Opinion

The public's views and feelings about political issues, candidates, and institutions at any given time.

Heuristics

Cues or shortcuts that help voters make decisions based on limited information.

Partisanship

A psychological attachment to a political party that influences how individuals interpret political events and make decisions.

Political Orientation

An individual's underlying attitudes and beliefs about politics that guide their views and actions.

Public Opinion Poll

A survey that gathers information from a small group of people to estimate the opinions and attitudes of a larger population.

Democracy

A system of government where the citizens exercise power by voting.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals develop their political values, beliefs, and behaviors.

Vote Choice

The factors that influence an individual's decision on which candidate to support in an election.

Policy Preferences

An individual's attitudes or opinions regarding specific political issues or candidates.

Normative Reason

The belief that public opinion should influence government actions to reflect the will of the people.

Empirical Reason

The observation that public opinion actually affects government behavior and decisions.

Political Ideology

A set of beliefs about the proper role of government and its responsibilities.

Individualism

A cultural value emphasizing the importance of individual rights and personal initiative.

Equality

The principle that all individuals should be treated equally under the law and have equal opportunities.

Rule of Law

The principle that all individuals and institutions are accountable to the law, which is fairly applied and enforced.

Democratic Candidate

A candidate representing the Democratic Party in an election, typically favoring liberal policies.

Republican Candidate

A candidate representing the Republican Party in an election, typically favoring conservative policies.