APGOPO - Political Beliefs and Behaviors

efficacy

Citizens' belief that they have the ability to achieve something desirable and that the government listens to people like them.

civic engagement

individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern

civic competence

a combination of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that enable a person to perform real world tasks

citizens

members of a political community with both rights and responsibilities

natrualization

A legal process to obtain citizenship (in the case of immigrants)

Legitimacy

a quality conferred on government by citizens who believe that its exercise of power is right and proper

Natrual law

law that applies to everyone and can be understood by reason

political culture

commonly shared attitudes, beliefs, and core values about how government should operate

political ideology

integrated system of ideas or beliefs about political values in general and the role of government in particular

liberalism

A political ideology that advocates for change socially, politically, and economically to better protect the wellbeing of individuals and to produce equality within society.

Conservatism

A political or theological orientation advocating the preservation of the best in society and opposing radical changes.

radical

extreme

moderate

average

political equality

the principle that all citizens are the same in the eyes of the law

economic equality

A situation where there are only small differences in wealth between citizens

equality of opportunity

giving people an equal chance to succeed

equality of results

making certain that people achieve the same result

consent of the governed

government derives its authority by sanction of the people

majority rule

the principle that the greater number should exercise greater power.

political socialization

the process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions

agents of socialization

people or groups that affect our self concept, attitudes, behaviors, or other orientations toward life

gender gap

Difference in political views between men and women

political elite

persons with a disproportionate share of political power

political activists

people who regularly participate in politics; they are more interested in and committed to particular issues and candidates than are ordinary citizens

public opinion

how people think or feel about particular things

public opinion polls

interviews or surveys with samples of citizens that are used to estimate the feelings and beliefs of the entire population

straw poll

a poll conducted in an unscientific manner, used to predict election outcomes

Population

group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area

random sampling

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

quota sampling

A nonprobability sampling technique in which researchers divide the population into groups and then arbitrarily choose participants from each group

stratified sampling

a variation of random sampling; the population is divided into fourth's and certain of these are representative of a larger population

sampling error

an error that occurs when a sample somehow does not represent the target population

tracking polls

continuous surveys that enable a campaign or news organization to chart a candidate's daily rise or fall in support

push polls

polls that are designed to manipulate the opinions of those being polled

exit polls

polls based on interviews conducted on election day with randomly selected voters

electorate

the citizens eligible to vote

caucus

a meeting of members of a political party to choose candidates for upcoming elections

open primary

Primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote.

blanket primary

a primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties

straight ticket voting

casting votes only for candidates of one's party

Super Tuesday

the Tuesday in early March on which the most primary elections are held, many of them in southern states

runoff election

a "second round" election in which voters choose between the top two candidates from the first round

referendum

a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision.

recall

procedure whereby voters can remove an elected official from office

coattail effect

The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot, especially the president.

absentee ballot

a ballot that allows a person to vote without going to the polls on election day

Realigning ("critical") election

an election in which there is a long term change in party alignment

Electoral College

the body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice-president

campaign consultant

paid professional who specializes in the overall management of political campaigns or an aspect of campaigns

campaign strategy

blueprint for the campaign, including a budget and fund-raising plan, advertising strategy, and staffing plan

campaign manager

the person responsible for the overall strategy and planning of a campaign

fundraising consultant

a professional who works with candidates to identify likely contributors to the campaign and arranges events and meetings with donors

straw poll

unscientific survey used to gauge public opinion on a variety of issues and policies

front-loaded campaign

campaigning heavily in the early primaries (usually if the candidate is relatively unknown)

clothespin vote

the vote cast by a person who does not like either candidate and so votes for the less objectionable of the two

PAC (Political Action Committee)

a private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns

Super PACs

Independent expenditure-only PACs are known as Super PACs because they may accept donations of any size and can endorse candidates. Their contributions and expenditures must be periodically reported to the FEC.

independent expenditures

Spending by political action committees, corporations, or labor unions that is done to help a party or candidate but is done independently of them.

501(c)(4)s

Active nonprofits; under federal law, these nonprofits can spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns and not disclose their donors as long as their activities are not coordinated with the candidate campaigns and political activities are not their primary purpose.

527 groups

Tax - Exempt organizations set up by interest groups to engage in political activities

soft money

Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state or local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.

hard money

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed.

dark money

spending by groups that do not disclose their donors

campaign spots

availability of spots in order to run for a government office

voting-age population

the number of citizens over eighteen

voting eligible population

the number of citizens eligible to vote

turnout rate

the proportion of eligible voters who actually voted

prospective voting

voting for a candidate because you favor his or her ideas for handling issues

retrospective voting

voting based on the past performance of a candidate

incumbency

already holding an office

voter fatigue

the result when voters grow tired of voting and stay home from the polls