Civ-Mil Relations, Public Policy, and Political Dynamics

Civil-military gap

The divide between civilian society and the military in values, experiences, and political engagement.

Partisan (Urben)

A military member who publicly supports a political party or candidate, violating the ethic of nonpartisanship.

Political (Urben)

When military members engage in political issues or discourse without necessarily aligning with a party.

Institutional confidence

The public's trust in major institutions like the military; essential for maintaining legitimacy.

Public policy

Government actions taken to address public issues, often shaped by both formal and informal actors.

Elites

Powerful individuals or groups (e.g., business leaders, think tanks) who influence policy outside of elected office.

Policy window

A short time when conditions are right for policy change, where problems, solutions, and politics align.

Visible participants

High-profile actors such as politicians and media figures who influence the policymaking process.

Hidden participants

Behind-the-scenes actors like staffers and lobbyists who shape policy out of the public eye.

Punctuated equilibrium

A theory stating that policy change happens in sudden bursts after long periods of stability.

Public opinion

The collective preferences and attitudes of citizens regarding political issues, leaders, institutions, and events.

Reception axiom

People must be exposed to and receive political information for it to affect their opinions.

Resistance axiom

People resist arguments that contradict their prior beliefs unless they possess the knowledge to counter them.

Accessibility axiom

The more recently a consideration has been called to mind, the more easily it can influence opinion.

Response axiom

People form opinions by sampling from considerations that are most accessible at the time.

Latent opinion

An opinion formed on the spot when it is needed, rather than being deeply held in advance.

RAS model

Zaller's model (Receive-Accept-Sample) describing how individuals form opinions based on reception, resistance, and accessibility of political information.

Filtering

The process by which journalists and editors decide which stories to report.

Framing

The way in which a news story is structured or presented to influence perception.

Priming

The media's ability to influence which issues are considered important in evaluating political figures.

Mirror model

A model where news reflects reality without interpretation.

Professional model

A model focused on attracting audiences through newsworthiness and journalistic standards.

Organizational model

A model where internal norms and routines within news organizations shape coverage.

Political model

A model where journalists' political biases influence how news is reported.

Public/civic model

A model where news is produced to promote informed citizenship and civic engagement.

Social information

Data shared by individuals through social media, which can influence public perception and behavior.

Visibility

The degree to which an issue, individual, or group receives attention in the media.

Fake news

Deliberately false or misleading information presented as legitimate news.

Misinformation

Incorrect or misleading information shared without the intent to deceive.

Disinformation

False information deliberately spread to deceive or manipulate.

Interest group state

A political system where policy decisions are heavily influenced by organized interest groups.

Business of lobbying

The professional practice of attempting to influence lawmakers on behalf of clients.

Organizational structures

The ways in which interest groups are arranged internally to achieve goals.

Staff

Individuals employed by interest groups to manage operations and lobbying efforts.

Revolving door

The movement of individuals between roles as legislators and lobbyists or interest group staff.

Mass associations

Large interest groups composed of individual citizens (e.g., AARP).

Peak associations

Groups representing businesses or industries at the national level (e.g., U.S. Chamber of Commerce).

Resources

Assets such as money, time, expertise, or membership that help interest groups achieve goals.

Collective action problem

The difficulty in getting individuals to contribute to a common goal when they can benefit without participating.

Selective incentives

Benefits available only to those who join or participate in an interest group.

Inside strategies

Lobbying tactics that involve direct contact with policymakers.

Outside strategies

Tactics used to influence public opinion and indirectly pressure policymakers.

Pluralism

A theory that a diverse array of interest groups compete for influence in a balanced political system.

Factions

Groups with shared interests that may pursue goals contrary to the common good.

Party organization

The formal structure of a political party, including leadership, committees, and volunteers.

Party in government

Elected officials affiliated with a political party who organize and operate within institutions.

Party in the electorate

Citizens who identify with and support a political party.

Party system

The pattern of competition and cooperation between political parties in a given period.

Spoils system

The practice of rewarding political supporters with public office positions.

Realignment

A long-term shift in party coalitions, often tied to critical elections or major social changes.

Nominating convention

A gathering where a party selects its presidential candidate and outlines its platform.

Party platform

The official statement of a party's policies and goals.

Duverger's Law

The principle that single-member district, plurality systems tend to favor two major parties.

Primary

A state-level election where party members vote for their preferred candidate.

Caucus

A meeting of party members to select candidates and propose policies.

General election

An election in which voters choose among candidates from different parties.

Electoral college

A group of representatives chosen by each state to formally elect the president and vice president.

Swing state

A state where both parties have similar support and which can decide the outcome of an election.

Incumbents

Current officeholders running for re-election.

Voting cues

Information that helps citizens make decisions without full knowledge of all issues or candidates.

Social movements

Collective efforts by groups of people to drive political or social change outside of formal institutions.

Public discourse

The open discussion and debate of public issues in society.

Political acceptance

When movements achieve legitimacy or recognition by political institutions or the broader public.

Emergence

The initial stage of a social movement when people begin to organize around a shared grievance.

Partisan coalition

A group of voters with shared interests who consistently support a particular party.

Affective polarization

When partisans view opposing party members with distrust or hostility.

Sorting

The alignment of political beliefs with party identity, leading to more ideologically consistent parties.