Political Science Study Set: Political Beliefs & Terms

public policy

the choices the government makes and the actions it takes in response to a particular issue or problem

political parties

groups that help elect people and shape policies

third parties

rarely win, but want to get attention for their issues

Partisanship

Government action based on firm allegiance to a political party

gender gap

The regular pattern by which women are more likely to support Democratic candidates.

electorate

All of the people entitled to vote in a given election

horse race journalism

news coverage that focuses on which candidate is ahead in rather than on the issues

political socialization

the process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions

family

the number one agent of political socialization

liberal

open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values, presently associated with the views of the Democratic Party

conservative

holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change, typically in relation to politics or religion, presently associated with the views of the Republican Party

opinion polls

A method of systematically questioning a small, selected sample of respondents who are deemed representative of the total population.

random sampling

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

exit poll

a poll taken by the media of people leaving a polling place, asking how they voted, in order to predict the results more quickly

Suffrage

the right to vote in political elections

voting rights act of 1965

a law designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African-American suffrage

15th Amendment (1870)

U.S. cannot prevent a person from voting because of race, color, or creed

19th Amendment (1920)

U.S. cannot prevent a person from voting because of gender.

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

National Voter Registration Act of 1993

"Motor voter Act"- required states to allow voters to register when they get their driver's license

politicial socialization

the process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions

early voting

the option in some states to cast a vote at a polling place or by mail before the election

voter registration

System designed to reduce voter fraud by limiting voting to those who have established eligibility to vote by submitting the proper documents in advance of the election.

literacy test

A test administered as a precondition for voting, often used to prevent African Americans from exercising their right to vote.

poll tax

A requirement that citizens pay a fee in order to register to vote

voter fraud

Illegal interference with the process of an election. Often involves tactics like illegal registration, harassment or tampering with voting machines. It is an attempt to narrow an election by swaying the direction of a vote

exit polls

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

name calling

an attack on a person instead of an issue

Testimonial

attempts to persuade by using a famous person to endorse a candidate

simplification

The ad makes broad, vague statements that they don't define.

bandwagon

encourages the voter to follow the crowd, be with the majority

plain folks

the candidate pretends to be one of the common people

transfer

the ad uses symbols to help voters make connections between an object and the candidate (i.e. the American flag evokes feelings of patriotism).

Electoral College

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

270

magic number to win the presidency

Iowa Caucus

The first caucus of the presidential campaign season, which is closely watched and strongly contested.

Primary elections

A preliminary election in which voters nominate party candidates for office.

voter turnout

the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election

factors affecting voter turnout

(1) Education- the more you are the more you're likely (2) Age- the older you are the more likely (3) Women more likely (4) Marital Status- Married people more likely (5) Union members more likely. These factors can also add up together to make someone even more unlikely or likely to vote.

Reasons for not voting

reasons for which a citizen will not vote including the limited choices for the office, too much work to register, apathy (JUST DON'T CARE), or education

Democrats and Republicans

2 major parties since mid-1800s; inform Americans on issues

Donald Trump (Republican)

2024 Candidate for President

Kamala Harris (Democrat)

2024 Candidate for President

winner-take-all system

an election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins

proportional system

Maine and Nebraska; split electoral votes

US Territories voting

Cannot vote for President