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Describe the concept of individualism in American core values.
Individualism is the belief that individuals should be responsible for themselves and for the decisions they make.
Define political culture.
Political culture is the dominant set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that define the relationship between citizens and government.
How does equality of opportunity differ from equality of result?
Equality of opportunity means everyone should have the chance to succeed based on their own effort, while equality of result focuses on equal outcomes regardless of individual effort.
What is free enterprise?
Free enterprise, or laissez-faire, is an economic system in which government intrudes as little as possible in the economic transactions among citizens and businesses.
Explain the role of family in political socialization.
Family is the most important factor in the process of political socialization, as party identification is strongly linked with the family’s political beliefs.
How does education contribute to political socialization?
Education helps transmit norms, teach American civics, and introduce students to political participation and volunteering.
Describe the political tendencies of different religious groups in the U.S.
Catholics and Jews are generally more liberal than Protestants, with white Catholics voting for Trump and Hispanic Catholics voting for Clinton. Evangelicals are among the most conservative, while Muslims strongly favor Democrats.
What is the significance of civic engagement in political organizations?
Civic engagement helps group members develop skills and experience in organizing, public speaking, fundraising, and interacting with government officials.
Define generational effect in political views.
Generational effect refers to the impact of historical events experienced by a generation upon their political views.
What is the life-cycle effect in political views?
Life-cycle effect is the impact of a person’s age and stage in life on his or her political views.
How do equality and freedom relate to each other in American values?
Equality and freedom can contradict each other, as efforts to ensure equality of outcome may limit individual freedoms.
Describe how Millennials are shaped by global events.
Millennials are shaped by terrorism similarly to how Baby Boomers are influenced by events like the Vietnam War and the Watergate Scandal.
Do younger people engage politically compared to older generations?
Younger people are generally less politically engaged than older people.
Define globalization in the context of international relations.
Globalization refers to the increasing interconnectedness of people, businesses, and countries throughout the world, blurring the lines between international and domestic politics.
How has America's status changed in the global landscape?
America is no longer the only superpower, with China emerging as a global economic power and Russia asserting its interests in Europe.
Identify types of organizations that have a global impact beyond countries.
Multinational corporations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) all have significant global influence.
What are multinational corporations?
Multinational corporations are companies that make, transport, manufacture, and market goods and services in two or more countries.
Explain the role of NGOs in the global context.
Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are independent groups outside of the government that work toward a public cause, often holding authoritarian regimes accountable.
How do IGOs challenge national sovereignty?
Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) can challenge the sovereignty of countries by imposing regulations and standards that member states must adhere to.
What is free trade?
Free trade imposes few restrictions on the flow of goods and services across national borders.
Describe the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
NAFTA is a free trade agreement between the US, Canada, and Mexico, criticized by the Trump administration for its impact on American manufacturing jobs.
What was the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)?
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was a regional trade agreement struck between twelve nations, endorsed by Obama and later abandoned by Trump.
How has globalization affected service jobs and consumer prices?
Globalization has led to an increase in service jobs and lower prices for consumers.
Explain how globalization can promote democracy.
Globalization can encourage democratization by requiring states to reach certain levels of democracy to be accepted in international organizations.
What role do watchdog NGOs play in global politics?
Watchdog NGOs hold authoritarian regimes accountable to an international audience, promoting transparency and accountability.
How does technology empower citizens in authoritarian regimes?
Citizens in authoritarian regimes have access to technology that allows them to better question their governments and organize for change.
What is outsourcing in the context of globalization?
Outsourcing occurs when a company moves its businesses to a location where labor costs are cheaper or production is more efficient, often resulting in longer working hours for employees.
Describe the impact of globalization on domestic job markets.
Globalization can result in the loss of jobs domestically as companies may outsource work to countries with lower labor costs.
How does globalization affect environmental and labor standards in foreign countries?
Globalization may lower environmental and labor standards in foreign countries as companies seek to reduce costs.
Define public opinion in the context of a democratic system.
Public opinion is the sum of individual attitudes about government, policies, and issues, serving as a cornerstone for citizens to access information and for officials to understand constituents' wishes.
How did the events in Ferguson influence public opinion on police-citizen interactions?
The events in Ferguson led to a shift in public opinion regarding police-citizen interactions, particularly highlighting racial issues, with a significant majority of the African American community recognizing the importance of these issues.
Explain the significance of the 'Take a Knee' movement in shaping public opinion.
The 'Take a Knee' movement highlighted ongoing race relations and sparked political debate, reflecting differing public opinions on race and respect for American customs.
What are the two components of public opinion?
The two components of public opinion are an individual’s own beliefs and attitudes, and the blending of these preferences into a larger concept.
How do party preference and political ideology influence public opinion?
Party preference and political ideology serve as cues that help citizens form opinions on complex political issues, even if they are not well informed.
Describe the requirements for effective representative democracy regarding public opinion.
For effective representative democracy, voters must have opinions and preferences that can be communicated to representatives, and elections must measure these preferences.
What is a focus group and its purpose in measuring public opinion?
A focus group is a small group of individuals assembled for a conversation about specific issues, used to gauge public opinion and preferences.
How does scientific polling work to measure public opinion?
Scientific polling involves taking a representative sample of randomly selected respondents with a statistically significant sample size, using neutral language to avoid bias.
Define a representative sample in the context of polling.
A representative sample is a group that reflects the demographics of the larger population, ensuring accurate measurement of public opinion.
What is sampling error and how is it calculated in polls?
Sampling error is the margin of error in a poll, usually calculated to plus or minus three percentage points, indicating the potential inaccuracy of the poll results.
How does random selection contribute to the accuracy of polls?
Random selection ensures that all poll respondents are chosen in a way that does not over- or underrepresent any group of the population, enhancing the reliability of the results.
What role do polls play in understanding public opinion?
Polls measure public opinion by capturing the preferences and attitudes of a sample population, providing insights into the views of the larger community.
Describe the characteristics of straw polls.
Straw polls are informal surveys that are not considered reliable due to their lack of scientific methodology and potential biases.
How do entrance surveys differ from exit polls?
Entrance surveys are conducted with individuals as they enter an event, while exit polls are conducted after an event or at polling places to gather information on how individuals voted.
Define benchmark polls and their purpose in political campaigns.
Benchmark polls are surveys taken at the beginning of a political campaign to gauge support for a candidate and identify important issues for voters.
Explain the role of tracking polls in a political campaign.
Tracking polls measure the level of support for a candidate or issue over the duration of a campaign, allowing for analysis of trends and changes in public opinion.
How does random digit dialing work in survey techniques?
Random digit dialing uses computer- generated telephone numbers to randomly select respondents for surveys, aiming to create a representative sample.
What impact can question order have on survey results?
The sequencing of questions in a public opinion poll can influence how respondents answer, potentially leading to biased or skewed results.
Discuss the concept of push polls and their purpose.
Push polls are negative campaign tactics designed to influence respondents' opinions about a candidate by framing questions in a biased manner.
What challenges do polls face in accurately measuring public opinion?
Polls can face challenges such as low response rates from certain demographics, leading to potential inaccuracies in the data collected.
Identify a significant predictor of public opinion in the United States.
Party identification is one of the most effective predictors of public opinion, influencing how individuals align with political issues and candidates.
How does public opinion vary across different demographics?
Public opinion in the U.S. is often divided along racial, ethnic, gender, socioeconomic, and age lines, reflecting diverse perspectives and priorities.
What is the 'gender gap' in voting?
The 'gender gap' refers to the difference in voting behavior and preferences between men and women, often resulting in distinct electoral outcomes.
How are polls utilized by various groups in society?
Polls are used by researchers, candidates, elected officials, interest groups, and media to gauge public opinion on government and political issues.
In what way do public officials consider polling data in policy making?
Public officials take polling data into account when making policy decisions, but it is not the sole factor influencing outcomes in a representative democracy.
What was the public's stance on welfare reform in the early 1990s?
In the early 1990s, the public largely supported welfare reform, leading to the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act.
How did public opinion differ regarding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act?
Only 3 in 10 Americans supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, yet it was still passed by Congress in the fall of 2017, indicating a disconnect between public opinion and legislative action.
Describe the political motivations behind the policies following the 2016 election.
The policies were influenced by a Republican Congress, a Republican President, interest groups, and donors who aimed to translate the results of the 2016 election into actionable policy.
How did public opinion influence police tactics in Ferguson during the protests in 2015?
Public opinion shifted, leading to changes in police tactics as authorities attempted to address and improve the negative perception of their actions.
Define the role of interest groups and donors in shaping post-2016 election policies.
Interest groups and donors played a significant role by advocating for policies that reflected the outcomes of the 2016 election, aligning with the Republican agenda.
Do police tactics change in response to public opinion?
Yes, police tactics can change in response to public opinion, as seen in Ferguson where negative perceptions prompted a shift in approach during protests.
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