Public Opinion, Media, Participation, and Elections (Texas Focus)

Vocabulary flashcards derived from the lecture notes.

Public opinion

The culmination of individual attitudes, preferences, and beliefs on political policies, institutions, leaders, and events within a population.

Scientific polling

A method that can be very accurate for gauging public opinion when more people are polled. It uses random sampling and a representative sample to accurately reflect the population’s opinions with a known margin of error.

Education savings accounts (ESAs) poll example

Texas survey showing about 63% support for a school choice bill; indicated support across racial groups and political parties.

Legitimacy and consent

Public opinion helps show if an issue is relevant to the people and legitimizes government action.

Representative accountability

Public opinion helps get representatives to do what the people want.

Counterweight to special interests

Public opinion can outweigh the power of interest groups in policy decisions.

Focus groups

A cross-section of Texans in a room asked for opinions; less informative than scientific polls.

Exit polls

Polls taken after people vote; can be hit or miss.

Election data and analysis

Analysis of who voted and what policies were favorable; used for future reasoning.

Media

Mass communication channels used to inform and shape the political process; most media companies seek to make money and target niche audiences.

Agenda setting (media)

Media influence on which issues people think about.

Gatekeepers

Media can select and spotlight certain issues to attract attention.

Repetition (media)

Emphasizing what the media considers important.

Framing (media)

Framing and wording of issues to provoke a reaction from citizens.

Media bias

Inherent bias in media; trust in media is low; holistic coverage helps counteract leanings.

Aggregate attitudes

The combined or overall views formed by a population as a summary of individual attitudes.

Governor agenda setting

Governor’s ability to influence legislative priorities through sessions, speeches, and proposals.

Media trust

Public confidence in the accuracy and fairness of news sources.

Political participation

Any activity individuals choose to engage in to influence government and politics.

Voting

Giving a mandate to the elected representatives; a central form of participation.

Contacting public officials

Emails, calls, and letters that people send to express views.

Signing petitions

A form of participation that is usually not highly effective but can matter in some cases.

Attending rallies and protests

Public demonstrations; media coverage is common, but impact on policy is variable.

Joining a political party or interest group

Membership that can help mobilize support and influence policy.

Donating money to campaigns

Financial contributions that fund campaigns and show support.

Running for office

The process of seeking election; time-consuming and influential for policy outcomes.

Elites

People who follow politics closely; they should not be the only governors—non-elites also deserve a voice.

Non-elites

The general population who should have a voice in government alongside elites.

Political education and engagement

Critical for democracy; informed decision-making and participation sustain democratic governance.

Voting in Texas (requirements)

18+ years old, U.S. citizen, Texas resident, must pay taxes and live mostly in Texas, and be registered 30 days before the election.

Eligible voters

People who are legally able to vote (e.g., 23 million eligible to register in 2024 Texas).

Registered voters

People who have registered to vote (e.g., 18.5 million in Texas, 2024).

Voter turnout (Texas 2024)

About 61.15% of registered voters voted; roughly 50% of eligible voters voted.

White voters

About 66% of White registered voters voted in 2024 Texas elections.

Black voters

About 57.7% of Black registered voters voted; historically strong Democratic alignment.

Asian voters

About 52.3% of Asian registered voters voted.

Latino voters

About 44.5% of Latino registered voters voted; Latinos historically lean Democratic but vary.

Donald Trump (Texas 2024 votes)

6.3 million votes; about 56.14% of Texas votes.

Kamala Harris (Texas 2024 votes)

4.8 million votes; about 42.46% of Texas votes.

Latino voting shift

In 2024, Latinos voted 55% for Trump vs. 44% for Biden; reasons include social views, immigration concerns, and economic anxiety.

Black voting shift

2024 saw Trump gains among Black voters; Harris received strong Black support previously (about 83%).

2028 election prediction (Texas)

Texas expected to remain solidly Republican; economy and demographic shifts (Latino and Black voters) could influence outcomes.

Campaigns

Organized efforts to influence voters’ decisions and showcase policies.

Primary elections

Elections to select the party nominees.

Open primary

Voters can participate in either party’s primary on election day (Texas uses this).

Closed primary

Voters must declare party affiliation before Election Day and vote only in that party’s primary.

General elections

Elections to select policy-makers, typically contested by major parties; sometimes one side has no opponent.

Early voting

Voting before Election Day; Texas allows about 17 days prior and ends four days before election day.

Advertising budget

Campaign funds allocated to advertising; usually the largest line item.

Name recognition

How well voters recognize a candidate; crucial for electoral success, especially in nonpartisan races.

Special elections

Elections for local governments, constitutional amendments, or vacancies; held in January, May, and August.

Absentee voting

Voting by mail for those out of state/country or unable to attend polls; Texas has strict proof requirements.

Ballot harvesting

Submitting someone else’s ballot by a third party in some states (considered fraud there).

Legislative district

A geographic area represented by a legislator; boundaries drawn by state legislatures every 10 years and affect representation.

PACs

Political Action Committees; raise and donate money to influence elections.

Maximum contribution

Legal cap on how much one can donate to a candidate per election (e.g., $3,500 in Texas).

Reasons for non-voting

Common explanations include belief one vote doesn’t matter, lack of information, restrictive laws, inconvenient times, or being busy.

Gallup Poll

A Gallup poll is a type of scientific public opinion survey conducted by the Gallup Organization, a well-known research company. In a 2023 Gallup poll it showed Americans’ trust in the media is at an all-time low.