Chapter 6: The Politics of Public Opinion

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts, political ideologies, polling methodologies, and institutional approval from Chapter 6: The Politics of Public Opinion.

Public Opinion

A collection of popular views about something, such as a person, a local or national event, or a new idea.

Political Socialization

The process of learning the norms and practices of a political system through others and societal institutions.

Agents of Political Socialization

Persons or entities who teach and influence others about politics through the use of information, such as family members, religious leaders, teachers, friends, and work colleagues.

Political Ideology

The attitudes and beliefs that help shape individual opinions on political theory and policy.

Political Polarization

A condition occurring when individuals' political ideologies and opinions are more likely to be strictly defined by the political party with which they align.

Overt Content

Political information presented by a news source in which the author makes it clear that only one side is being presented.

Covert Content

Ideologically slanted information presented as unbiased information in order to influence public opinion.

Guns vs. Butter Debate

The conflict over dividing a limited national budget between military spending (guns) and social benefit schemes (butter), forcing citizens into opposing ideological camps.

Communism

An ideology in which the government promotes common ownership of all property, means of production, and materials to prevent worker exploitation, maintaining societal equality and control by force.

Socialism

An ideology where the government uses its authority to promote social and economic equality by providing basic services and equal opportunities, requiring wealthier citizens to contribute more.

Classical Liberalism

An ideology that emphasizes individual liberties and rights, the concept of free will, and a very limited role for government.

Modern Liberalism

An ideology that prioritizes individual liberties, preferring a smaller government that stays out of the economy.

Classical Conservatism

An ideology in which individuals support the authority of the monarchy and the church under the belief that government provides the rule of law.

Modern Conservatism

An ideology that prioritizes individual liberties, preferring a smaller government that stays out of the economy.

Fascism

An ideology where a ruling party or political leader wields total control over the economy, the military, society, culture, and frequently the private lives of citizens.

Straw Polls

Informal polls that do not apply a rigorous scientific methodology.

Random Sample

A limited number of individuals selected from a population in such a way that each has an equal chance of being chosen.

Representative Sample

A surveyed group whose demographic distribution closely mirrors that of the overall population.

Leading Questions

Polling questions phrased in a way that intentionally encourages respondents to provide a specific, desired answer.

Push Polls

Polls that intentionally ask leading questions to convey politically biased campaign information designed to change voters' minds.

Margin of Error

A statistical calculation stating how far poll results may deviate from the actual opinion of the total population.

Favorability Polls

Polls measuring the public's positive feelings toward a politician, which can impact voter turnout.

Horse-Race Coverage

Constant media reporting that focuses on candidate performance and polling rankings, making elections appear closer than they are and swaying voter behavior.

Bandwagon Effect

A phenomenon in which increased media attention on candidates with strong poll numbers leads voters to presume that candidate will be the winner.

Diffuse Support

The widespread, foundational belief among citizens that their country and its legal system are legitimate.