AP US GOV UNIT 2: Political Culture and Participation

Political Culture

the dominant set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that define the relationship between citizens and government.

Individualism

the belief that individuals should be responsible for themselves and for the decisions they make.

Laissez-faire or free enterprise

an economic system in which the government intrudes as little as possible in the economic transactions among citizens and businesses.

Rule of law

the principle that no one, including public officials, is above the law.

Political socialization

the experiences and factors that shape an individual's political values, attitudes, and behaviors.

Political ideology

an individual's coherent set of beliefs about government and politics.

Generational effect

the impact of historical events experienced by a generation upon their political views.

Life-cycle effect

the impact of a person's age and stage in life on his or her political views.

Globalization

the increasing interconnectedness of people, businesses, and countries throughout the world.

Outsourcing

when a company moves its business to a place where labor costs are cheaper or production is more efficient because workers work longer hours.

Intergovernmental Organizations

Organizations that tie different governments/states together. Ex) European Union and World Trade Organization.

Social capital

The potential to obtain resources, favors, or information through personal connections.

Key tenets of American political culture

Core American political values include individualism, equality of opportunity, free enterprise, rule of law, and limited government.

Influences on political beliefs

Family, peers, school, the media, and civic and religious organizations influence political beliefs and values.

Stage in life influence

An individual's stage in life, as well as the events experienced by his or her generation, influence political beliefs and values.

Globalization and American political values

Individuals, businesses, and countries are becoming more interconnected.

Actors on the world stage

Actors on the world stage include countries, multinational corporations, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations.

Globalized economy

The economy has become more globalized through free trade agreements.

Democratic ideals and globalization

Globalization can spread democratic ideals, and technology can help citizens hold their governments more accountable.

Negative consequences of globalization

Negative consequences of globalization include poor working conditions, environmental degradation, loss of local culture, and the increased ease of planning terror attacks and other criminal activity.

Public opinion

Sum of individual attitudes about government, politics, and issues

Focus group

A small group of individuals assembled for conversation about a certain issue

Scientific Poll

A representative poll of a randomly selected group of respondents with a statistically significant sample size, using neutral language

Sample

A group of individuals from a larger population used to measure public opinion

Random Selection

Everyone who is an appropriate subject of a poll has an equal chance of being selected

Representative Sample

A sample that reflects the demographics of a population

Weighting

A procedure in which the survey is adjusted according to the demographics of a larger population

Sampling Error

Calculated to +/- 3%

Mass Survey

A survey designated to measure the opinions of the population, usually consisting in 1500 responses

Straw Poll

Unofficial tally of opinion at a meeting or event

Entrance survey

A poll conducted of people coming to an event

Exit poll

Survey conducted of people leaving an event

Benchmark Poll

A survey taken at the beginning of a political campaign to gauge support for a candidate and determine important issues to voters

Tracking Polls

A survey determining level of support for a candidate or issue throughout the campaign

Random Digit Dialing

Use of telephone numbers randomly generated by computer to select potential survey respondents

Push Poll

Presents voters with negative portrayals of opposing candidates with false or exaggerated information

Gender Gap

Women more likely to vote democrat than republican compared to men

Factors influencing survey outcome

Question order, Question wording, Interviewer appearance

Political Party

An organized group of party leaders, office holders, and voters that work together to elect candidates to political office

Party identification

The degree to which a voter is connected to and influenced by a particular political party

Straight ticket voting

Voting for all of the candidates on the ballot from one political party

Split ticket voting

Voting for candidates from different parties in the same election

Party Platform

A set of positions and policy objectives that members of a political party agree to

Recruitment

The process through which political parties identify potential candidates

Party Coalition

Groups of voters who support a political party over time

Realignment

Change in groups who support one party to another

Critical election

Major national election that signals a change in the balance of power between the two parties

Party era

A time period when one party wins most national elections

Era of divided government

Trend since 1969 in which one party controls one or both houses and the president is from the opposing party

Nomination

The formal process by which parties choose their candidates for political office

Delegate

A person who acts as the voters representative at a convention to select the party's presidential nominee

Primary election

An election in which the state's voters choose delegates who support a candidate for nomination

Open primary

A primary election in which all eligible voters may vote regardless of their partisan affiliation

Closed primary

A primary election in which only registered voters from a political party may vote

Caucus

A process through which a state's eligible voters meet to select delegates to represent their preference in the nomination process (public, not secret ballot)

Super delegate

Usually a party leader or activist who is not pledged to a candidate based on the outcome of the state's primary/caucus

Front Loading

State decision to push primary or caucus as early as possible in season to become more influential in the nomination process

National Convention

A meeting where delegates officially select their party's nominee for the presidency

Candidate-centered campaign

A trend in which candidates develop their own strategies and raise money with less influence from the party elite

Two party system

A system in which 2 political parties dominate politics, winning almost all elections

Proportional representation system

Election system for a legislative in which citizens vote for parties, rather than individuals, and all parties represented in the legislative according to percentage of vote received

Single Member Plurality System

Election system for choosing members of the legislative where the winner is the candidate who wins the most votes, even if it's not a majority

Third party

Minor political party in competition with the 2 major parties

Winner take all system

Candidate who gets the popular vote wins all of that state's electoral votes (except Maine and Nebraska)

Recruit candidates

Recruit candidates to run for office at all levels

Candidate selection process

Shape candidate selection process by setting rules for how candidates are nominated

Support of delegates

Candidates must seek support of delegates who vote for their nomination

Nomination rules

Federal and state laws, and state parties establish rules by which candidates are nominated for the presidency

National convention

National convention where state delegates are bound to vote for the candidate voters chose in the primary/caucus

Role of party elites

Decreased role of party elites in choosing party nominees

Phases of a campaign

Candidate decides to run, Parties choose a nominee, Parties support a nominee

Open primary pros

Candidate in line with party ideals

Open primary cons

Incentivizes candidates to appeal to extremists

Closed primary cons

Unfair for non affiliated voters to diminish party member voices

Closed primary pros

Increases competition and decreases power of senior party officials

US party system

2 party system, SM plurality for electing members of congress, Winner take all + electoral college for electing president → 2 parties, 3rd parties form around a specific issue or personality of the candidate

Pros of two parties

Stability, clarity, manageable, efficiency

Cons of two parties

Limited choice, Possible corruption, Limits debate, Hard to change

Republican values

Small government, less taxation, traditional morals, emphasis on liberty, more restrictions on border crossing

Democrat values

Big government, more taxation on the wealthy, emphasis on equality, environment, more open border

Third Parties influence

Can shift attention to specific issues, Can split votes, Can be elected to office

Ross Perot

Third party candidate in 1992, Split the republican vote, Pressed for a balanced budget

Political Participation

Different ways in which individuals take action to shape laws and policies in a government

Linkage Institutions

Connect people with the government

Social Movement

The joining of individuals seeking social or political change with the goal of placing issues on the policy agenda

Political Action Committee (PAC)

An organization that is subject to limits on giving money to elect/defeat candidates and may donate money to their campaigns.

Voter turnout

The number of eligible voters who participate in an election as a percent or total number of voters.

Socioeconomic Status

Measure of a person's wealth, income, occupation and educational attainment.

Political efficacy

A person's belief that they can make effective political change.

The Obama Effect

High level of African voter turnout, stalled in 2016 because of candidate race.

Political Mobilization

Efforts by political parties to encourage their members to vote

Motor Voter Act of 1993

Americans can register to vote when applying or renewing their driver's license.

Poll tax

Payment required by a state or federal government before a citizen is allowed to vote

Demographic characteristics

Measurable traits of a population (economic status, education, age, race, ethnicity, gender)

Absentee Ballots

Voting submitted before the day of an election without going to the polls.

Rational Choice voting

Voting based on their own interest

Retrospective voting

Reflecting back on an incumbent past performance before voting

Prospective voting

Voting for a candidate who promises to enact policies favored by the voter.

Party Line Voting

Voting for candidates who belong only to one political party for all offices held on the ballot

Faithless Elections

Voting for the opposite candidate of a majority vote.