federal government exam 2

public opinion

citizen views on politics and government that is a social construct that influences presidential candidates

measuring public opinion

polls that measure a representative sample of an entire population.

political socialization

process by which we are trained to understand or to join a countries political world

representative sample

a smaller group of individuals selected to represent a larger population

population

the group to which you are generalizing your poll

random sample

subset of the population where each participant has an equal chance of being selected for a poll 

margin of error

a number stating how far the poll results can vary from the actual opinion of the total population. 

question-wording

how the wording of a poll question can influence someone’s answer

social desirability bias

saying one thing even if it’s not how you feel because there is a desire to be seen in a certain way

primary

canidates debate with one another

open vs closed primary

anyone can attend an open primary but only registered party members can attend a closed primary

winner takes all

canidate just needs the majority to win the election 

proportional allocation

set number of votes needed to win an election

caucuses

holding a mini election in a community

general election

national election in early November

electoral college

voting process for presidential elections

federal election commission (FEC)

government agency that enforces and regulates election laws and limits like the amount of money a single person can donate to prevent corruption.

citizens united vs FEC

Supreme Court invalidated spending limits on “independent” political spending because money is speech. 

prospective evaluation

how we vote based on what we think a candidate will do specifically IN THE FUTURE. 

retrospective evaluation

voting based on what we think about a candidates past

median voter theorem

candidate positions themselves in the middle of the left and right scale to ger the most overall votes. 

paradox of voting

decisions to vote= probability of casting a deciding vote X benefits recieved if a canidate wins- cost associated with voting + support for democracy 

v=p(b)-c+d

national voter registration act of 1995

required states to provide opportunity for people to register to vote while renewing their drivers license

role of mass media

allows for different perspectives and information to be shared and directed at a certain group of people

participatory democratic theory

media should be completely free from government or economic control

penny press

form of print media that is affordable for the general public

wire service

organization that gathers news and sells it to others like associated press

yellow journalism

style of newspaper emphasizing sensationalism and exaggeration over factual accuracy

muckraking

growth of investigative reporters that are often times reporting on working conditions 

citizen journalism

regular people covering and sharing actions of an event on a public platform.

federal communication commission (FCC)

government involvement in media in 1934

fairness doctorine

required media to present scandals in a balanced manner.

equal time provisions

The station must give equal time to candidates on a non-news platform.

non-profit media corporations 

goal of providing news without seeking profit

agenda setting

the act of choosing which issues of topics deserve public discussion

priming

when media coverage predisposes the viewer or reader to a particular perspective on a subject

framing

the creation of a narrative or context for a news study

hypodermic needle model

claimed media is able to inject messages to the public

minimal effects model

citizens have prior attitudes and predispositions on media so the media has small impacts 

subtle effects model

has a slight impact on viewer attitude 

political parties

a group organized to nominate candidates and attempt to win political power through elections

realignment

shifting of party alliances within the electorate

party-in-the-electorate

members of the voting public who consider themselves to be apart of a political party who consistently prefer one candidate over another. 

party in government

party identifiers who have been elected or appointed to hold public office and achieve policy goals.

party organization

formal structure of a political party where active members are responsible for coordinating behavior and supporting candidates.

party strategy

recruits candidates, raise money, influence priorities, mobilize voters and allocate resources.

duvergers law

The principal that in a democracy that only two party candidates will have a realistic chance of winning a political office spot. 

plurality voting

whoever gets the most votes will win the election without majority needed

interest aggregation

process of combining and prioritizing the diverse interests of individuals and groups into coherent policy programs

minority party limits

ballot access requirements by state, signatures to get name on ballot, 5% minimum for federal funding, not reimbursed until after the election. 

polarization

growing ideological divide between two major political parties.

divided government

when one or more houses of the legislature are controlled by the opposing party to the executive

gerrymandering

the manipulation of legislative districts in atteman pt to favor a particular candidate.

redistricting

Redrawing of electoral maps only if a party lost or gained seats in the House or representatives 

interest groups

any formal association of individuals or organizations that attempts to influence government decision-making or political policy

economic interest group

seeks government policies that provide tangible benefits to members 

citizen interest groups

seek changes in spending regulations of government programs covering a broad range of policies 

single issue interest groups

seeking narrowly focused changes on a single topic

disturbance theory

Why groups mobilize due to an event in political, economic, or social environments

collective action

public or collective goal that all will benefit from if the group benefits

solidary benefits

satisfaction from being with like minded people

purposive benefits

satisfaction towards working for a desired goal. 

coercion

require participation in order for the benefit to be granted to all participants.

selective incentives

little benefits like getting free items

inside game

involves direct, personal contact with lobbyists and government officials.

outside game

involves mobilizing the mass public to indirectly pressure government officials. 

pluralism

The idea that groups with shared interests are able to come together to positively influence government so no group becomes dominant.

iron triangle

hypothetical arrangement among an interest group, a congressional committee member or chair, and an agency within the bureaucracy.

revolving door laws

prevents lawmakers from lobbying the government immediately after leaving public office.