PSCI Exam 1

Public Opinion

People's attitudes about political issues, events, leaders, and institutions.

Political Socialization

The process through which people form their political beliefs and values, influenced by family, social networks, education, and environment.

Agents of Socialization

Family, social groups, media, education, and the political environment that influence political beliefs.

Political Participation

Actions that influence policies, such as voting, volunteering for campaigns, and contacting public officials.

Traditional (Conventional) Political Participation

Involves voting, volunteering, working for political organizations, petitions, and rallies.Protests can be either supportive or intended to challenge the government, depending on the context.

Unconventional Political Participation

Actions outside cultural norms, including boycotts, strikes, protests, and sit-ins.

Policymaking Lifecycle

The process involving identifying problems, creating an agenda, formulating solutions, enacting laws, implementing policies, and evaluating outcomes.

Iron Triangle

A model showing the relationship between Congress, bureaucracy, and interest groups in policymaking.

Contributory Programs

Programs to which individuals contribute (through taxes) and then receive benefits; examples include Social Security and Medicare.

Non-Contributory Programs

Programs that provide benefits to individuals without requiring contributions; need-based examples include Medicaid and TANF.

Economic Philosophies

Different approaches to government involvement in the economy, including laissez-faire, Keynesian, and the shift towards less government involvement.

Redistributive Policies

Policies aimed at redistributing wealth, such as progressive taxation and fiscal policies.

Regulatory Policies

Policies that regulate behavior through penalties, implemented via taxation and expropriation.

Foreign Policy

Policies and programs that guide the U.S.'s relations with other nations.

Unilateralism

A foreign policy approach where a country acts alone to achieve its goals.

Multilateralism

A foreign policy strategy involving multiple participants and seeking coalitions with allies.

Who Makes Foreign Policy?

mostly President; Congress funds and declares war; Bureaucracies implement policies

Foreign Policy Strategies

Isolationism, Interventionism

Beneficiaries

People who are benefiting from programs. Programs assist different groups, such as the elderly, working poor, minorities, and the non-working poor.

History of Welfare

Social policies have evolved, with key moments like the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, which transformed the welfare system.

• before(1960s to 1990s), welfare users were thought of as lazy and undeserving

Who Makes Policy?

Federal, state, and local governments all contribute to policy making. The bureaucracy also plays a significant role in implementing and informing policy decisions.

• Fragmentation: overlapping jurisdictions; causes confusion on who is in charge?

Public Policies

government decisions aimed at solving societal problems.Can include laws, regulations, executive orders, or lack of action.

Forces Shaping Public Opinion

Government actions, interest groups, and media play a role in shaping public opinion.

Political Knowledge:

Often low because being informed takes time and energy. Many people rely on shortcuts (e.g., party elites, interest groups) to form opinions.

• Implication: Low political knowledge can weaken democracy and increase vulnerability to manipulation.