Exam 2 Study Guide: Political Socialization and Elections

Political socialization

Process by which we develop our political values and opinions

Contributors to political socialization

Family and school

Peers' contribution to political socialization

They reinforce already held beliefs

Gender gap

The measurable difference in the way women and men vote for candidates and in the way they view political issues

Generational effect

A major external event such as 911 or covid, that affects multiple generations

Random sampling

A scientific method of selection in which each member of the population has an equal chance at being included in the sample

Quota sampling

Pollster using this method structures the sample so that it is representative of the characteristics of the target population

Stratified sampling

National population is divided into fourths, and certain areas within these regions are selected as representative of the national population

Effective survey

That it accurately reflects the target population

Public opinion

Individuals can convey their opinions and priorities to policy makers

Public opinion poll

A survey of a given population's opinion on an issue at a particular time

Tracking poll

Tracks or follows people's public opinion over issues at given points in time

Push poll

Skew people's views of different candidates

Exit poll

A poll given to people as they leave the polling place on election day in order to attempt to forecast or predict the winner of the election

Largest generation in the USA

The millennials

Interest group

A group or organization which seeks to achieve their goals by influencing policy makers

Pluralist theory

A multitude of interests that cover a wide variety of diverse interests

Elite theory

The top people and organizations/universities (ivy leagues) decide what is the most important issues and push them onto policy makers

Key functions of interest groups

Educate the public about policy issues, perform electoral functions, can protect the common good

PAC

Political action committee, alliance between the PAC and a candidate who have similar ideology and goals, they raise and spend money on the candidate in order to get them elected

Incentives for joining an interest group

Purposive: you believe in the group's message, values, or purpose; Solidary: you want to belong to a group; Economic: you want to receive economic benefit

Free rider problem

People getting benefit without putting in any effort or contributing or incurring costs

Rational choice theory

Why would I put in any effort, if I can receive the benefit without doing so

Direct strategies to advance interests

Lobbying, litigation, and expert testimony

Iron triangle

The relational dynamics of interest groups, bureaucracies, and legislature/congress/policymakers

Electioneering

Working to influence the election of candidates who support an interest group's issues

Solidary incentives

the feeling of belonging, companionship, friendship, and the satisfaction derived from socializing with others

Purposive incentives

believing in the groups cause from an ideological or moral standpoint

Economic incentives

wanting to support groups that work for policies that will provide them with economic benefits

Political party

A politically motivated group or organization who hold similar ideals. A group that runs candidates seeking election in order to shape public policy.

Party in the electorate

people who identify with a specific party and are eligible to vote.

Party identifier

someone who identifies with a particular party

Independent

a person who has not declared to support a specific party, a person who does not affiliate with a particular party.

Republicans

white, men, older, less educated, religious

Democrats

other race, women, younger, more educated, non religious

Election influence

includes both overt and secret efforts by foreign governments to directly or indirectly affect US election

Election interference

a form of election influence that targets the technical aspects of the election

Civil engagement aspects

Campaigns, elections, and voting

Party column ballot

organizes the candidates by party, so that all of a given parties candidates for every office are arranged in one column

Office block ballot

arranges all candidates for a particular office under the name of that office

Absentee voting

In which voters cast their ballots in advance by mail, was allowed only when disability illness, school, work, service in the armed forces, or travel prevented voters from casting a ballot in their voting precincts

Requirements to hold office (President)

natural citizen, at 35 years old, at least 14 year resident

Requirements to hold office (VP)

natural born citizen, at least 35 years old, THEY HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF A DIFFERENT STATE THAN THE PRESIDENT

Primary election

comes first and determines the party's nominees-those who will run for office

General election

the parties respective nominees run against each other, and voters decide who should hold office, since the person with the most votes wins

Open primary

any registered voter can vote in any party primary, as can independent voters not registered with a party

Closed primary

voting in a party's primary is limited to members of that party

Electoral college

There are 538 electors in the electoral college. Number of electors is based on the number of members of congress, plus three electors who represent the district of columbia. Presidential candidate needs a simple majority of votes (270) to win.

Predictors of voting

Higher education, higher income, urban, older, high efficiency.

Winner-take-all

Even without majority, most votes win.